This past weekend the Nevada Trappers Association held its first annual Youth Outdoor Expo. Yes, it conflicted with the NTA National. Sorry, there are only so many weekends . . .
In any event, held at Illipah Reservoir in the central part of the state, the event was the brain child of our Association President, Neil Cheeney and Vice President of Youth Events, Joe Bennett. The genius of the event was that Neil and Joe got our Association to partner with a number of other outdoor/conservation groups who generously opened their wallets to fund the event, provide prizes, organize meals, and do unique demos. Groups like Nevada Department of Wildlife, Safari Club International, Bass Pro Shops, Las Vegas Woods & Waters, Meadow Valley Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat for Nevada all contributed money, prizes, personnel and meals for the event. Friday night was a scrumptious dinner provided and cooked by WHIN (Wildlife Habitat of Nevada). We ate carne asada tacos, seasoned fries, salad, etc. A relaxing evening of catching rainbow trout just a stone's throw from the tent door rounded out the day.

The next morning, WHIN again provided breakfast (pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, yogurt, fruit, etc.) and the events got off to a great start. The Nevada Department of Wildlife provided a .22 shooting range experience (after they did an appropriate firearm safety instruction), and an archery range. There was a cage trapping demo, a duck hunting demo where the kids got to hunt from a blind with trained retrievers, a bobcat trapping demo by two of the state's best cat trappers, a water trapping demonstration and there was an ongoing money pit where kids could use a sifter to find coins, pocket knives, flashlights, gift cards and the like. Lunch was equal to all the previous meals.

In the afternoon, the kids participated in a fishing derby at the reservoir. The competition was intense and some of the adults may have assisted more than needed but ultimately there were prizes of new fishing poles for the first couple of places, followed by a pocket knife and other goodies. After another dinner provided by WHIN, raffle prizes were drawn and EVERY SINGLE KID WALKED AWAY WITH A STELLAR PRIZE -- fishing poles, bows and arrows, duck calls, five .22 rifles with ammo, five Pellet/BB guns and ammo, etc. It was awesome. I heard lots of kids asking about next year and we have already gotten commitments from several of our partners to increase or double their financial contributions.

One totally unexpected, but extremely important, event happened at this experience. A young couple from Switzerland was traveling the US on a 2 month tour of our country. Somehow, some way, they found themselves Friday night camped next to a trapper at Illipah reservoir in central Nevada. Our good trapper was a great neighbor. He introduced himself. He made friends. He invited the couple to dinner Friday night. They came and were gracious and curious guests, honestly interested in everything they took in. They each received a free T shirt and other gifts. They came back for breakfast on Saturday and participated in the events. They were amazed that kids would be shooting real guns and bows and arrows and riding in the back of pickups. They had no idea about trapping or duck hunting or anything else we did. I saw many of our group feel a sense of empowerment that we are so blessed to have the heritage we enjoy in our country. Several times I heard this little couple express in their broken English how they felt they had accidently stumbled into "the real America." They had been to New York and other famous US cities but they said several times this would be the highlight of their trip.

Anyway, if you find yourself in central Nevada next summer camped beside a small reservoir loaded with hungry rainbow trout, you might just be in heaven . . . or at the Second Annual Nevada Youth Outdoor Expo.

Good job and thanks to everyone who helped put this on!

Awesome to be introducing youth into trapping. And great to be sending a positive message for your visitors to take back home.

Nice job stud,,,,and other that helped....

Still looking for your face on a billboard every time I drive around the town.....

A billboard or a post office wall . . .?

Great job, way to go on getting people involved. Eric

Around,,, not in.....to clarify the statement....

Don't hate, Vinke.

Contact the Laughlin Foundation,,,,,,,Donny would have liked what you guys are doing I think,,,

It was a great weekend and thanks to you sir i was told you provided everything for the sifting for prizes area. Everyone was enjoying and great to meet.

Fyi one of the things the couple mentioned were also amazed by with the number of full sized trucks.

The other highlight for me was meeting and helping a mom that has never done any hunting let alone trapping get the information she needed to take her son on his first hunt this fall. She had so many questions about trapping at the bobcat walk thru demo.

Congratulations on a successful event ! I look forward to hearing about many more in the years to come !

If I may make a suggestion get a hold of a 4H leader and they have fur ID thing's their members can do for projects for fairs , just a thought to help this grow and spread a positive message to others which will help support our consumptive use of a renewable resource .

i like it. good on you nv crew