Cresco Wildlife Club hosts Gun, Sports Show Aug. 1-2

CRESCO - The Cresco Wildlife Club will host their 15th annual Wildlife Gun and Sports Show this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1-2, filling the Expo Center at the Warren County Fairgrounds.

The show, which will feature about 30 vendors that will fill nearly 100 tables, will offer outdoor sports equipment including new, used and antique guns plus products for trapping, fishing, hunting, boating, archery, outdoor sport books and more. There will also be boats from two different vendors on display outside the building along with deer stands, getting hunters ready for the fall season.

”We even had one guy selling diapers one year,” said Terri Webb, a board member for the non-profit organization, noting sometimes you never know what you’ll find at the show, pointing out there was one year they even hosted a fly fishing expert. “You never know what you might find,” she said.

Doors open to the public, with $10 adult admission for the two days while children 12 and under are free, on Friday at 3 p.m. with exhibits through 8 p.m. and again on Saturday at 8 a.m., closing at 3 p.m.

Jim Peter, president of the club and one of the original organizers, said the event would draw an expected 600-800 outdoor enthusiasts from all over northeast Iowa and beyond. He said vendors come from Waterloo, Rochester, Dubuque, Lacrosse and other communities to participate and he says he’s had inquiries about attending the show from all over the area.

Peter said the club got involved when outdoor shows were just becoming popular, crediting the brainstorming of John Pikkar for leading the charge for the nearly 200 member organization. 

Peter said the organization realizes there is a lot happening in Cresco this weekend with a Fly-In Breakfast at Ellen Church Field put on by the Chamber of Commerce as well as an annual Art Show on Sunday at Beadle Park, organized by the Cresco Fine Arts Council. He said although the outdoor show will draw a different crowd, it gives local residents and families an opportunity to gain a lot of experience and education.

Organizers for the Wildlife Club said proceeds from the event benefit programming for the local youth trap shooting team, including providing scholarships. 

It is the second largest fundraiser for the organization and Peter said it takes a lot of energy and manpower to make it reality, noting, “It’s not a one-man show.” There will also be sandwiches and drink available, served by the Wildlife Club.