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Home >>> "In The News" DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE BY MARCUS SCHNECK LEHIGH VALLEY HUNTING AND FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA
Local organizers of a big, new, local outdoor show have concentrated on bringing local outdoor organizations together to provide the type of hands-on experience that is missing from most outdoor shows pulled together by out-of-state companies focusing on profits from vendor and admission fees. The Lehigh Valley Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza promises to provide the forum of local sportsmen for outreach that many local sportsmen’s organizations had come to depend on in the Lehigh Valley Outdoor Expo, which was canceled earlier this year after a run of 31 years. “The Allentown show was big for their fundraising and membership efforts,” and just for an annual coming together of ideas from the outdoor community, said Bob Danenhower, owner of Bob's Wildlife Taxidermy in Orefield and one of the organizers of the new show, which is set for its first showing Friday, June 23, through Sunday, June 25, at the Kempton Fairgrounds. Dick Laros, organizer of the Allentown show, canceled the annual March expo in January, citing declining attendance, difficulty in attracting exhibitors, and increasing competition from large outdoor retailers. That set Danenhower into motion. He called his friend, Rick Weaknecht, owner of Wecknecht Archery in Kutztown and organizer of the annual summertime Weaknecht Bow Fair at the Kempton Fairgrounds for the past 15 years. The two soon came up with the idea for an expanded outdoor show in Weaknecht’s usual time slot at Kempton. The Lehigh Valley Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza promises to be a celebration of the region's outdoor heritage with plenty of family-oriented, hands-on activities. Another goal for Danenhower was to use the event to bolster interest in hunting and fishing among the region’s youth through “all the hands-on type stuff.” He explained, “We’re losing so many kids to the round-ball sports. We’re going to end up with a bunch of 50-year-old couch potatoes. Ball sports are great but you outgrow that and what do you have left?” Although the hands-on activities will be available for everyone attending the extravaganza, Danenhower has focused heavily on Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as likely sources of the interested youth he hopes to reach. All scouts and leaders in uniform will be admitted free. A Scout Challenge will consist of 10 stations set-up all throughout the show, with Scouts receiving brief instructions at each and then participating for a score. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three cumulative scores. Lehigh Valley Safari Club International will offer Top Gun Award prizes of $250 to the Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops with the best shooter in a Lazer Shot competition running throughout the show. A duck-blind building competition, with the blinds being built before the show and the delivered to the fairgrounds for judging and display also will offer cash prizes to the top three troops. The popular Weaknecht Bow Fair 50-target 3-D archery course and running-deer shoot will be in operation, joined this year by a 50-target sporting clay course, tomahawk throwing, a .22 rifle shoot and novelty shoots. Also new this year will be the Mr. Lehigh Valley Outdoorsmen Competition, with titles for both men and women. Taking place on Saturday of the extravaganza, the competition will feature the morning qualifying events of .22 small-bore shooting, archery, rod casting, black power shooting and outdoor knowledge test, followed by the afternoon championship events of deer dragging, tomahawk throwing, tree-stand climbing and log chopping. The show also will feature dog training demonstrations, an outdoor flea market, the Lehigh Valley Big Buck Display, a mountain man primitive encampment, trout fishing pond, pheasant hunting demonstrations, fly tying demonstrations, a 3-D target auction, trapping demonstrations and more. Seminars, the list of which is still building, will include Mike Gontar on coyote hunting; Tim Burger on fishing; Dave “Mr. Blackpowder” Ehrig on muzzleloader hunting; and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary with boat safety tips. Vendors also will be part of the show and more of them are signing up every day, according to Danenhower.
The first Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza will be held Friday, June 23, through Sunday, June 25, at the Kempton Fairgrounds, along Creek Road, off Rt. 737, at Kempton. Hours will be noon-8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission: fee-$4.Adults $1. Kids 8-12 More info: 610-398-7609; 610-683-7405; www.lvhfe.com.
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