UF’s student chapter of The Wildlife Society has hosted an annual dinner of exotic and game meats for the last 32 years.
On Saturday, the tradition continues at the Whitehurst Lodge on Archer.
Matt Akers, the president of TWS, said the event always features a variety of donated meats.
“Our big staple items are the traditional game meats,” Akers said. “We have things like bison, venison, elk and wild hog.”
Limited vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are also options, he said. As for the meat, most of the animals are hunted rather than raised for agriculture, and invasive species are always a target.
“There’s a balance between the native species and the native habitat,” Akers said. “They’re in equilibrium almost, and then these invasive species come in and overpower everything.”
The dinner also includes raffles, an exotic dish competition and a silent auction. Alcohol, pets and bonfires are prohibited, according to the event’s Facebook page.
Akers said about 450 people attended last year, and this year, he’s going for double. Tickets, which include all-you-can-eat access to the dinner, are $20 for adults and $12 for children.
Beast Feast is one of TWS’ only fundraisers, Akers said, and the money goes toward the costs of traveling to conferences and other events.
Ken Peng is the creator of “Ken Eats Gainesville,” which has more than 16,000 likes on Facebook as of press time.
Peng, 29, said he graduated from UF in 2008 but kept attending the dinner. He last attended Beast Feast in 2014 and remembers the cricket brownies.
“I just thought it was a really cool way for people to experience game meat, and it’s pretty affordable,” Peng said. “It’s just a cool experience in general.”
