RMEF’s biggest little volunteer

Still in elementary school, she’s a legacy partner wild about conservation

By Kathryn Brandos, Bugle Intern

Even amongst the most dedicated Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation members, few can say they were movers and shakers for conservation in elementary school, much less an RMEF legacy partner, for that matter. Ahnya Ivie—partial to her nickname Ahnie—is that 9-year-old, headed solidly into a lifestyle built around giving back for wildlife.

No stranger to the RMEF mission, Ahnie hit legacy partner status this year with a $900 donation to RMEF. How’d she do it? Selling candy bars for conservation. She’s always cooking up ideas, says her mom, Katie Moody, co-chair of the Buffalo Chapter in Wyoming. This year, Ahnie told her mom she wanted to sell something to raise money for the Elk Foundation. After some thought, Ahnie proceeded to use her own hard-earned money to buy 90 candy bars. She works for her money by picking up extra chores; mucking stalls and cleaning her mom’s pickup truck.

“I’ve never seen it cleaner,” Katie says. “I was just saying I need another raffle so that my truck can get cleaned again.”

With her supplies in hand, Ahnie was on a mission, chatting with everyone and selling candy bars until they were all gone. “She’s a heck of a sales lady,” Katie says.

The bars sold for $10 apiece, racking up the $900 donation, one of the largest in the chapter. It also officially made Ahnie an RMEF legacy partner. But this isn’t Ahnie’s first venture at raising money for elk country. Last year, she turned heads when she raised money at her RMEF-themed birthday party. Katie said when they talked about her party, “she very promptly replied that instead of birthday presents for her maybe people could give the RMEF a present to make money for the elk.” Mom helped her plan how to make it happen and Ahnie raised $200 at her party. Instead of simply donating it to RMEF, Ahnie used the money to purchase a .22 revolver that was later raffled off at the chapter’s annual big game banquet for $3,100.

Ahnie has a simple take on things—she just wants to have fun and donate. With hopes to one day become a veterinarian helping animals, especially horses, Ahnie spends her time cooking up ideas to help wildlife. She is a frequent attendee at chapter events, showing up at the Thermopolis Chapter's “Women for Wildlife” ladies' event this year and also volunteering at the Powder River Chapter's annual big game banquet, helping sell raffle tickets.

Getting involved clearly runs in the family, and Ahnie’s desire to raise money stems from watching others. “The Wyoming chapter is like a big family unit,” Katie says. “She went and saw other people getting involved and realized she could too.”