Day 4 – Homeward Bound

As we pack our things and remember to put any donated items, tools, or liquids into our checked baggage, I think we are all feeling a little relieved to be heading home. Vegas is an adventure, the SHOW is overwhelming, and the walking on concrete for hours on end is very hard on the feet.

However, we made a last couple of dashes around the floor where Lindsey and I secured several donations from Buck Knives and were told to send an inquiry to Helly Hansen to continue their support of the program.

A representative from GAMO is going to contact me about bulk purchases of non-lead pellets for our air rifle and air pistol program. They were very interested in the program I offered based on the scientific method and testing the pellets for performance.
Amazingly, we also had some people approach us on the floor because of the New York 4-H Shooting Sports logo on our shirt. They were from Suffolk County and wanted to become involved in a program there. While I did not have our contact list with me on the floor, these gentleman provided me with a card (and I provided them with one as well) so I can contact them after the show. This was the second group of people we met from New York who wanted to be more involved.

As we waited in the airport, the gentleman across the aisle from me asked if we had been at the SHOT Show and I responded we had as representatives of NYS 4-H Shooting Sports. He asked if I knew Bill Schwerd, “Yes, we all do and several of us work with him.” The stranger turned out to be Dr. Michael Zagata, President & CEO of The Ruffed Grouse Society, who lives in New York. Dr. Zagata mentioned how much he enjoyed 4-H youth development and wanted to continue to support us. I had the opportunity to thank him for the work of the New York/New England Biologist, Andy Weik, who came out to the Warren County Environmental Field Days and presented information on Ruffed Grouse to over 250 kids in the spring of 2011.

It may be a small world, but there is 4-H and 4-H Shooting Sports supporters at every corner! Sometimes you just have to say hello.

John

 

Thursday – Day Three by Kelsey Reppert and Mary Fairley

This trip has been so much fun! The Show is amazing, and it’s great to be around so many people who are as enamored with fine guns and knives as I am…I almost feel normal…almost.

We have talked to some amazing people here, but I especially enjoyed speaking with Andrea Olson at the Shooting Horse booth. She combines my two favorite things, shooting and horses. I’m definitely going to have to try that when I get home! (I’m going to love it, but I’m not sure how much my horse will appreciate it!)

Chiappa Firearms was another great place to visit. They had some great muzzle loaders for Kenyon to gawk at, and some beautiful revolvers for me; perfect balance. Can you say best birthday present ever? You know, I was thinking of saying that same thing about the knives, but I caved.  Stone River has the most beautiful ceramic knives I’ve ever seen, and after carefully browsing all the vendors, I couldn’t go home without one.

It hasn’t been all work here though .Yesterday, we all went to Hoover Dam for a little R&R combined with an educational opportunity, because, come on, this is still 4H. We had an amazing time, first in a tour of the electric plant, and then of the dam itself. Time really flew though, especially when we crossed into Arizona halfway through the tour! An hour has never gone by that quickly in my life! Mary identified some foliage on the way out, most notably a pine tree (later discover to be a Palm tree), and we headed back to the hotel. We had a quick stop at the Ethyl M. Chocolate factory, too weak from the trip to go any further without….eh hem…sustenance, and then it was back to the hotel.

Last night we also had an AMAZING dinner at Emeril’s Delmonico steak house in the Venetian, they had great food and ambiance. Our plates were so full though we hardly had the energy to eat our desserts. I certainly slept well after that day!

This has been an amazing trip from start to finish, and I am so grateful to have been able to come, and to spend it with such wonderful people! Time’s going to fly again today, most notably as we fly back and lose 3 hours, so I’ll see you all in a jiffy! Stay Warm!

Kelsey Reppert

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The last but not least day.  The aisles and rows seem to be longer, the feet are moving slower, but the interest in sharing the 4-H Shooting Sports Program is still high.  Vendors have been gracious, interested, and most importantly supportive of 4-H.  Lindsey and Kelsey have stepped up to highlight those aspects of the program that only they could do.  I have followed along handing them year-end reports and pats on the back as all know I am so out of my element here!  Getting better though.

I have had great conversations about fiber science in clothing and sewing techniques needed for making the perfect “girl” gun case.  Coming soon to 4-H – a sewing and shooting sports project.  Of course it is not just for girls.  Also, many unique opportunities to expand all of our horizons with STEM opportunities in Shooting Sports.

Even found some great display items.  Watch out anyone who can lift a hammer or use a saw when you see me coming!  These things will be perfect for the banquet and fair.  Everything will look so good on these display units.

The extras of being are the SHOT Show were great -lights of Vegas, Hoover Dam and BAM! dinner at Emeril’s.

Mary Fairley

 

Visit to Hoover Dam

Kelsey Reppert, Lindsey Draper and Chrys Nestle at Hoover Dam

 

Hoover Dam

 

Photos by John Bowe

 

Second Day of SHOT Show is Crunch Time

There seemed to be twice as many people at the SHOT Show today and many booths were so busy you literally could not get near them without waiting in line. Visits to companies like Smith Abrasive’s, Thompson Center, Crosman, Walther, and MEC as well as the Ruffed Grouse Society, Prios, Camp Chef, 10 – Minute Deer Skinner, Manzella, and Brownells were all extremely popular.

Kelsey with Russ at Smith's Abrasives

Here are some comments from Lindsey Draper about her visit here:
“The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) SHOT Show has been an amazing experience. I really enjoy being able to speak about my 4-H experiences with many different companies. So far, my favorite experiences have been speaking with Savage Arms, Canal Street Cutlery, and Ithaca Gun Company. The people at these companies took a lot of time to talk and show us their products. I even received a hat from Ithaca after thanking them for how well their guns work for my family.

Kelsey with Darlene Small at Thompson Center

More from Linsdey:
“I have even found a lot of products I wouldn’t mind owning; such as purple camo ATI stock cover, a canal street knife, and a pink (Yes, pink!) Akkar shotgun. During our free time we visited the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay; the aquarium was not only relaxing but educational. A few of the species were able to see included the golden crocodile,  zebra shark,  piranha, and my favorite – the jellyfish. I was even able to pet a Maturo Stingray!”

Golden Crocodile

Jellyfish Display

Guest appearances seem to be high demand with most of the attention on television stars like the cast of Sons of Guns and Man vs. Wild Bear Grylls.  Gerber had probably three hundred to four hundred people lined up to meet the adventure show star at their booth.

Chrys Nestle with Bear Grylls at Gerber

 

SHOT Show Opens to Thousands

Thousands of retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers made their way to the Sands Convention Center to participate in the SHOT Show. Chrys Nestle, who is attending for the first time as an educator and chaperon said, “It was overwhelming and awesome.”

Lindsey Draper and Kelsey Reppert spent most of the day traveling the show with Kenyon and Bill to meet some of the New York State companies and key supporters of the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Their visits included Pierce Bullets, Birchwood Casey, GATCO Ithaca Gun, Otis, Crosman, Canal Street Cutlery, and Savage Arms. Empire Pewter of Amsterdam received a visit and presented the crew with their 2012 custom pins.

Birchwood Casey

GATCO & John Anton

John with Les Stroud - The REAL Survivorman

While Kenyon and Bill were off at an industry event, the rest of the crew took in the Mandalay Bay Aquarium. The exhibits wind through the jungle then into shoreline exhibits and eventually into a simulated sunken ship where fish, sharks, and rays swim all around you. Literally, above, below, and to both sides. The aquarium also has a touching pool where you can touch the rays and horseshoe crabs.

Additionally, we met the two National 4-H Ambassadors, a young man from Mississippi and a young man from Louisiana.

John

 

Photos from the SHOT Show

Kelsey with Dale and Shawn at MEC

Kelsey with Sandy of North American Arms

Sharps Display

Photos by Kenyon Simpson

 

Photos from the SHOT Show – Tuesday January 17

Kelsey Reppert, Andrea Olsen, and Lindsey Draper at Cowboy Mounted booth

Lindesy and Kelsey with Denise Miller of Otis Gun Technology

Lindsey and Kenyon examine a shotgun at Akkar firearms

Kelsey showing an Akkar shotgun

Lindsey and Kelsey at Pierce Bullets.

Lindsey loves Ithacas! That’s an original Ithaca.

Joe Hufnagle of Stone River Gear with Lindsey and Kelsey.

John Anton of GATCO with Lindsey and Kelsey.

 

 

View from the 13th Floor

View from the 13th floor.

Folks,

The whole New York contingency has arrived at our SHOT Show Hotel, the Luxor, and are busy setting up the schedule for the next several days.  The Luxor is a very interesting hotel, shaped like an Egyptian Pyramid.  See the photo. So far today, Bill and Kenyon, who arrived yesterday, spent the day at the range session.  The session is open to outdoor writers primarily.  During the day they met with the producers of the Charles Daly shotgun line and had the chance to shoot a Gatling gun.

Chrys Nestle, Mary Fairly, Lindsey Draper, Kelsey Reppert, and I arrived in the evening.  On the flight out, we met two employees from law enforcement who work with armored vehicles.  Another passenger is a writer for NRA Hunter and Forbes Magazine.  More later . . .

 

Monday Afternoon

"A Six-Hour Cruise . . . er, flight."

The rest of the NYS4-HSS contingent arrived safe and sound to Las Vegas earlier this evening!
Kenyon and I were in Boulder City today for Media Day.  Tomorrow we’ll all head out early to the start of the SHOT Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

We hope to be posting more detailed updates from the Show here on our blog soon and some photos too.  In the meantime, be sure to check out the official SHOT Show website at: www.shotshow.org and especially the live updates section.
Bill

 

Las Vegas!

Kenyon and I have arrived safely in Vegas and are presently hunting for our luggage.  Wishing a safe trip to the rest of our NYS4HSS contingent heading out here tomorrow!

Bill