Outdoor Activities and Outdoor Celebrities Abound at the S.D. Outdoor Expo

HURON, S.D.--Not your typical sports show, South Dakota’s first statewide Outdoor Expo is a free event that will provide activities for the enthusiast and take a hands-on approach to introducing families to outdoor activities.

Currently, more than 50 activity stations are planned for the event, including: kayaking, canoeing, bowfishing and spearfishing, fishing demonstrations, shooting sports (air rifle, shotgun shooting), archery, blackpowder/muzzleloader hunting and shooting, wildlife calling demonstrations, Dutch Oven cooking, geocaching, mountain biking, panning for gold, hunting dog demonstrations, birdwatching, waterfowl identification, and much more.

A special feature at the Outdoor Expo will be educational activities that will appeal to young children’s sense of wonder with South Dakota’s great outdoors.

All events will be held on the State Fairgrounds in Huron, with the exception of shotgun shooting that will be held at the Huron Gun Club. The canoeing and kayaking activities will be held in a man-made pond constructed on the fairgrounds and provided courtesy of the S.D. BASS Federation.

These activities will teach an understanding and appreciation for conservation and outdoor recreation and its importance in preserving our outdoor recreation heritage.

Besides having the opportunity to try their hand at various outdoor activities, attendees can also look forward to hearing from outdoor survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt, who will be on hand to educate people on how to survive the many predicaments they could face in the outdoors. The Bassmeister, who brings the excitement of fishing to his fun and entertaining “Fishing for Laughs” comedy show, will also make several appearances.

Many organizations are involved in making this event a reality. The founding agencies/organizations include the S.D. State Fair, S.D. Department of Agriculture, S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks and Weatherby Foundation International.

Major sponsors of the Outdoor Expo are: The Weatherby Foundation, Spader’s RV Center, S.D. Parks & Wildlife Foundation, S.D. Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Wildlife Protection Inc and Scheels.

Also taking a large role in making this event a reality are many organizations from across the state. They include: Huron Chamber and CVB, Outdoor Women of South Dakota, Huron Gun Club, Beadle County Sportsmen Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Izaak Walton League of America, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, S.D. BASS Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever, S.D. Office of Tourism and Frontier Partners.

The SD Outdoor Expo is FREE to all attendees. Anyone who is currently involved in the outdoors or would like to learn more is invited to attend the first S.D. Outdoor Expo, May 17-18. It is sure to be a great experience, no matter what your outdoor skill level may be. For more information, please call the S.D. State Fair office at (605) 353-7340.