I attended the 'pheasants forever' banquet and, while it was a good thing for a good cause, it wasn't a terribly "complex" event, i.e. there were no big-name keynote speakers like a college football coach or our district's US Congressman, and there were no break-out training sessions or anything like that. Basically a couple people spoke on national and chapter / local issues, there was food, and then just a whole night of gambling for guns and gear via raffle tickets. There were alcoholic drink options, but they weren't exactly sophisticated either: beer from a can or well drinks -- both for a hefty fee. There were some vendor tables set up. (I do not recall if the NFOA was present there or not.)
Yet, the Lancaster County Event Center hall was packed, and attendees were throwing their money at the raffle ticket girls like they had stacks of $20 bills to burn. And that's on top of a fairly substantial charge just to get in the door. And many of the same group of people will show up and do the same for the Whitetails forever (etc. etc.) events.
I'm not saying the NFOA could or should emulate those events exactly, but I'm saying that there is a huge demand and interest in firearms rights out there, to the point where people will show up for a good cause, and beer and raffles, if (repeat if) the organization is established and recognized.