Southeastern Kansas Hunting & Fishing Expo April 24
EMPORIA — On April 24, the Flint Hills Mall in Emporia will host the Southeastern Kansas Hunting & Fishing Expo from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature an NRA Eddie Eagle gun safety program, a turkey hunting seminar, a casting contest for young anglers, a quail management seminar, and a trapping seminar. Admission is free.

The day begins with first of three Eddie Eagle programs. The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program teaches children in pre-K through third grade four important steps to take if they find a gun. These steps are presented by the program's mascot, Eddie Eagle, in an easy-to-remember format consisting of the following simple rules if a child finds a gun: stop, don't touch, leave the area, and tell an adult. This program was developed through the combined efforts of qualified professionals, including clinical psychologists, reading specialists, teachers, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials, and law enforcement staff.

At 11 a.m., Gib Rhodes, from the Kansas state board of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and coordinator of the organization's youth program, JAKES, will conduct a seminar on wild turkey hunting techniques and safety.

At 12 p.m., the first round of the Kids Casting Contest will be conducted by the Flint Hills Bass Association. Youth will be grouped by age for the competition, and winners will advance to the second round later in the day.

At 1 p.m., the second Eddie Eagle Gunsafe program will be conducted. Concurrently, Roger Wells, upland wildlife biologist for NWTF, will conduct a quail management seminar. Wells formerly served as the national habitat director for Quail Unlimited, Inc., a national organization that supports upland game bird habitat projects, youth activities, and other conservation activities.

At 2 p.m., a seminar on fur trade, traps, and trapping techniques will be conducted by Bob Redeker. Redeker is District 9 director of the Kansas Fur Harvesters Association and a certified animal damage control agent.

The second round of the Kids Casting Contest begins at 3 p.m., and the final event of the day, the third Eddie Eagle Gunsafe program, begins at 4 p.m.

Throughout the day, vendors will have booths displaying outdoor products and services. Sponsors include radio stations FM 103.1 KISS, FM 97.7 Flint Hills Classic Rock, FM 96 The Wave, and FM 98.3 Coyote Country. Product and service sponsors include Gun Dog Supply, Prairieland John Deere, Best Western, Mark II Lumber, Waters True Value, Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply, West End Trail Rides, J. C. Construction, Waddell & Reed, First Start Rental and Sales, Budweiser, and Cat Daddy's Catfishing Adventures. Group sponsors include the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation, the Flint Hills Bass Association, NWTF, the Kansas Fur Harvesters Association, and the National Rifle Association.

For more information on the event, phone Jennifer Spencer at 620- 342-4631.
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