The SHOT Show kicked off in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 20th with two different faces representing New York State 4-H Shooting Sports for 2015. Dr. Keith Tidball of Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources is attending the event for the first time and describes the show as “Keith’s Heaven.” Joining Keith is NYS4-HSS Assistant Director, John Bowe, who started opening day as the newest member of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee as Northeast Representative and then quickly on to his duties representing New York State at the Show.
The first day of the SHOT Show was a great success for NYS4-HSS with Keith and John spending quality time speaking with many long-term partners including Ryan Bronson from Federal Ammunition and Cathy Hale from Savage Arms – both companies are under the parent company ATK.
(L to R) Keith Tidball, John Bowe, Cathy Hale, Savage Arms and Ryan Bronson, Federal Ammunition
Wally Gardiner, President, Canal Street Cutlery, was proudly wearing his NYS 4-H Shooting Sports pin at his booth and showed Keith and John an exceptional new fixed blade knife they are just releasing.
Wally Garder, Canal Street Cutlery (L) with Keith Tidball (R)
John and Sherry Anthon welcomed our Reps at the GATCO/Timberline booth and shared the exciting news that they now have a Gas Monkey Garage line of knives and a new multi-task sharpener/fire starter. Our Reps also met up with Crosman Corporation’s Shooting Services Manager, Mark DeBoard, who showed them the highly impressive new Bulldog .357 pneumatic high-caliber air gun, powerful enough to take both white-tail deer and feral hogs.
John Bowe (L) holding the Bulldog .357 Airgun with Mark DeBoard (R) at Crosman
Over at the North American Arms booth, President, Sandy Chisholm was both eager and very pleased to hear what 4-H is doing to educate youth about firearms safety. At the Baron Technology booth, the Baron family and staff spoke with Keith and John about their dedicated support to the NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program. For 2015, Baron Technology will once again be custom engraving a special Limited Edition Firearm especially for NYS4-HSS.
The folks at Columbia River Knife & Tool showed several great new knife offerings and our Reps also enjoyed meeting with knife designer Pat Crawford from Crawford Knives. In another meeting at the J.P. Sauer & Sohn booth, Keith and John discussed potential options the company may be able to offer the NYS4-HSS program.
Keith and John also connected with our colleagues from the National 4-H Shooting Sports program, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Muzzeloading Rifle Association, Project Childsafe, and the International Hunter Education Association.
After a long and busy day covering over 6 miles of the SHOT Show floor, and as part of their cultural education, Keith and John partook of traditional Japanese cuisine for dinner – Sashimi and Nagari. It was John’s first experience with Japanese cuisine and he said it was … Delicious!
Shibuya Chef Harvo – preparing Salmon Sashimi
New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Blog 