EDGEFIELD, S.C. — For men, women and kids who love the outdoors, there’s no better place to be than the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 34th annual National Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by MidwayUSA, in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 19 to Feb. 21.
Talk about looking at the future of hunting? Here's a busy mom with her daughters at last year's NWTF show. Photo by Paige Eissinger.
Families will flock to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center for one of the nation’s largest sport shows, which will have something for everyone. Showcased this year will be the NWTF’s three outreach programs – JAKES/Xtreme JAKES for youth, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF for outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities. Combined, these NWTF outreach programs host more than 1,600 events nationwide and all three will have activities taking place during this year’s convention.
“Part of what makes the NWTF convention and sport show unique is the family atmosphere that resonates throughout the weekend,” said Mandy Harling JAKES program coordinator. “Events during the day are designed to inform and entertain men, women and youth alike. We’ve got activities that the most skilled of outdoorsmen, as well as folks who are new to the outdoors, will enjoy.”
The NWTF’s JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program for kids ages 12 and under, and Xtreme JAKES program for youth ages 13 to 17, give young people the opportunity to explore the outdoors through hundreds of events nationwide. Both programs will have a lot going on at this year’s convention starting with the NWTF’s hub for families at convention – “The Roost.”
Opening at 9 a.m., “The Roost” will feature all-day activities and seminars for families. Activities will include face painting, turkey call making, arts and crafts, an archery range, hunting simulation games and more. Outdoor educators and industry experts will entertain and inform during seminars such as “Rockin’ Reptiles,” “Turkey Calling Family,” “Calls of the Wild” and “JAKES Fly-tying.”
Here are some women at work at one of the many workshops held in The Roost last year. Photo by Paige Eissinger.
The NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors program introduces thousands of women to outdoor fun with events nationwide that teach participants techniques for camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, shooting, boating, bird watching and more. Friendly instructors offer expertise in a stress-free environment that make for a great place for participants of all skill levels to enjoy the great outdoors.
Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF provides all people with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors through local chapter events nationwide. Whether it is shooting, hunting, fishing or archery, there is no limit to the outdoor opportunities Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF can bring to a person with disabilities who is eager to get outside and participate in an active lifestyle.
NWTF outreach events at the NWTF Convention for youth or adults who are interested in helping others get involved in the outdoors include:
Founded in 1973, the NWTF is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, raised and spent more than $306 million, and conserved nearly 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.
Each February, the NWTF’s volunteers, members, staff and general public gather to celebrate the Federation’s accomplishments and plan for the future at the NWTF convention and sport show. The 2010 convention will feature more than 550 vendor booths in the sport show, performances from entertainers Jeff Foxworthy, Little Big Town, Colt Ford, the Wild Turkey Bourbon Grand National Turkey Calling Championships and more.
In 2009, a record turnout of 43,000 people attended the NWTF National Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn. For more information about the NWTF or the 2010 NWTF convention and sport show, call (800) THE-NWTF or visit www.nwtf.org.
2010 Convention Sponsors:
Affinity4, ATK/Federal Premium Ammunition, Bank of America, Bass Pro Shops, Benelli, Browning, Call Makers and Collectors Association of America, CamoFX, Chevrolet, Farm Service Agency, Foxy Huntress, Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, HuntVe, Knight Rifles, Leupold & Stevens, Marlin Firearms Company, MeadWestvaco, MidwayUSA, Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, National Band & Tag Co., O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., Mossy Oak and The Pursuit Channel, The Outdoor Connection, Remington Arms Company, Inc., SHE Outdoor Apparel, TriStar Sporting Arms, USDA Forest Service, Weatherby, Inc., Wild Turkey Bourbon, Winchester Division/Olin Corp.
About the NWTF: The National Wild Turkey Federation is a nonprofit conservation organization that works daily to further its mission of conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.
Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its more than 350,000 members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, spending more than $306 million to conserve 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.
The Federation works to increase interest in the outdoors by bringing new hunters and conservationists into the fold through outdoor education events and its outreach programs – Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin’ Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES.
The NWTF was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C. According to many state and federal agencies, the comeback of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America’s wildlife history.
Visit www.nwtf.org or call (800) THE-NWTF for details.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
