The Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and International Sporting Expo, “The Sheep Show” returned to Reno, NV after three years in Salt Lake City and raised nearly $5 million for wild sheep, other wildlife and their critical habitat, according to a release by the organization.
The February 3-6, 2010 event held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and Silver Legacy Resort and Casino raised about $3.6 million at the auction, including nearly $2.5 million on limited and special permits alone – nearly $600,000 more than 2009. The proceeds generated from these auction permits are directed back to state, provincial, and tribal agencies to support and fund their wildlife programs. Auction highlights included $275,000 paid for the Montana Rocky Mountain bighorn permit, $210,000 for the Alberta Minister’s Rocky Mountain bighorn license, a record breaking $135,000 for the Nevada desert bighorn and a record $120,000 for the Utah desert bighorn, which doubled the 2009 price paid.
“We spent four years building the convention in Salt Lake City with our industry friends and wanted our return home to Reno, our 19th annual convention to date in the city, to set the mark, tone, and stage for the next five years in Nevada,” WSF President & CEO, Gray N. Thornton commented on the show. “Reno welcomed us back and our members, exhibitors, donors, and sponsors responded in kind, raising record dollars for wildlife and our mission programs. Our challenge now is to build back our northern Nevada and California attendee base and to introduce and welcome the more than 5,000 new Wild Sheep Foundation members enlisted in the last quarter of 2009 to their national convention in Reno. With the support of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, Chamber of Commerce, our chapters and affiliates, and regional industry partners Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and Northern Nevada SCI, I look forward to the opportunity to market this great show this next year and break new records in 2011,” Thornton added.
Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA, the Official Sponsor of the Wild Sheep Foundation, gave a Keynote Address during the Saturday Grand Final Banquet before 1,000 attendees. In his keynote, he challenged the room to “give back” in time, money or talent to conservation and the hunting and shooting community. His message was heeded when nearly $1 million was raised with eleven auction items during the Finale auction in the Silver Legacy’s Reno Ballroom including $175,000 raised for the USA Olympic Shooting Team on the sale and resale of a special USA Shooting Winchester Model 1885 rifle, customized by Baron Technology. The Winchester rifle was sold, re-donated and re-sold six times before the final gavel fell and the stunning mark was reached for the USA Shooting program.
“Our goal for the 2010 ‘sheep Show was to have fun while raising money for wildlife,” WSF Chairman, Dan F. Boone stated. “Members have told me that the 2010 event was the best “Sheep Show” to date and set the standard for all others to follow. The Board and staff are already working on the February, 2011 event to raise the bar even higher. If you are a hunter or wild sheep advocate you will want to be in Reno for our 2011 convention!” Boone added.
