News Releases

Weatherby Foundation International Intensifies Outdoor Expo Campaign

Weatherby Foundation International has dramatically intensified its campaign to promote and assist outdoor exposition events nationwide with more grants, an aggressive public relations program and the hiring of a campaign leader.

Hands-on teaching of outdoor skills and conservation education is the primary focus of these expos, which aim to preserve America’s outdoor heritage. Created especially for youth and families, they are unlike sports or trade shows that have a commercial emphasis.

Dave Lockman will lead the foundation’s charge to foster outdoor expo development throughout the U.S. Lockman recently retired from a 31-year career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, where he served as education branch supervisor and coordinator of the Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo. He will be available to provide states and organizations with advice and planning support for starting or enhancing an outdoor expo. On behalf of the foundation, Lockman will also work to form expo-related partnerships with government agencies, conservation organizations and outdoor recreation businesses.

At its January 29 meeting, the foundation’s board of directors approved Lockman’s appointment as well as grants for seven outdoor expos. The grants went to existing or start-up expos in Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming. (In 2002, the foundation gave grants to five expos.) In addition, the board approved funding for a public relations program directed toward those who can influence or make the decision to start an educational expo.

The foundation’s goal is to have six new expos scheduled and in the planning stages by 2004. An expo in Alabama, which has also received a grant from the foundation, is expected to debut later this year.

“These educational outdoor expos, which are non-commercial and free or of nominal cost to the public, have proven to be an extremely effective means of educating many thousands of youth and families on hunting, shooting and other pursuits related to the appreciation and conservation of our outdoor heritage,” said Andy Oldfield, president of Weatherby Foundation International. “We believe there is no better way to provide the hands-on opportunities and personal interaction needed to truly make an impact. We are very excited that Dave Lockman will be working with us in an official capacity to encourage and help with expo development in as many states as possible.”

In 2002, Lockman volunteered his time to assist the foundation in making a presentation at the annual meeting of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). As a result, WAFWA passed a resolution “that each member agency encourage, support and assist with an outdoor expo in their respective jurisdiction.” In 2003, Lockman and Ernie Gammage, director of the Texas Wildlife Expo, co-authored an outdoor expo planning guide that was produced and distributed by Weatherby Foundation International to all 50 states.

For more information on starting an outdoor expo or on how to join the foundation’s expo campaign, contact Dave Lockman at 307-635-3865 or at wyodave@qwestoffice.net.

Established in 1988, Weatherby Foundation International’s mission is to educate the public on the value of ethical hunting and its important contribution to wildlife conservation. The foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.