First Annual Hunting And Fishing Expo

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Today was the first annual hunting and fishing expo at Big Brutus in West Mineral Kansas. Although it rained most of the day, we made the short journey with our granddaughter Aspen. Admission was $5 for adults and $3.00 for children but each ticket came with a coupon for $10 off a purchase at the Sporting Warehouse in Wichita.

They had drawings for door prizes every half hour while we were there. Aspen's number was called three times and she brought home a Bass Pro cup wrap, a rain poncho, a personal fan and a $25 gift card to Academy. OK - papa kept the gift card! Most of the door prizes were fishing lures, hats, and can wraps. They gave away about four to five items at each drawing with one of the prizes being a gift certificate of some type. They also had a silent auction set up as well.

Several vendors braved the rain and set up. Most were under the pavilion near Big Brutus and a few had brought awnings themselves. Some of the vendors / exhibitors were; the NWTF, Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks (they were scoring antlers for anyone that brought one in), DU, Academy Sports, a couple of local sporting goods stores, a gentlemen that collected antique fishing lures who also would appraise your lures if you brought them in and another that made homemade lures. A local fishing club held a casting contest for the kids (every kid won something) and you could tour Big Brutus while you were there. There was also a couple of hunting preserves present, one in particular was giving away a kids hunt for a ram. I tried to convince him I looked older than my age but he didn't buy it. Aspen was signed up so hopefully she'll get to go on a ram hunt soon. Of course, a parent or guardian has to accompany the child (guess who's getting that assignment?) Daisy was also represented and had a shooting booth set up for the kids.

Overall I'd give the event a "B". Of course, I'm sure the weather had alot to do with the turn out and any first time event seems to be a little slower than later ones. After word of mouth gets around I'd expect next years to be better. I also don't think they advertised this very much considering a friend of mine that lives in West Mineral didn't know anything about it when I asked him. My wife heard it on our local radio station and asked me about. That's how we found out it was going on. We'll be back next year for sure and I would recommend any reading this to be on the look out for next years. This years expo was worth giving them another try next year.

John Jackson