February 24, 2003

Expo Features Top Seminar Speakers
by James L. Cummins

The fourth annual Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Expo, which will be held on March 7-9 at the Washington County Convention Center in Greenville, Mississippi, will feature several top attractions and seminar speakers. According to Leila C. Wynn, President of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, "Everyone will enjoy the many seminars. We have scheduled some top seminar speakers and are very fortunate to be attracting such talent."

The Foundation is fortunate that the famed Preston Pittman will be at the Expo giving several seminars. Preston has won many contests. Some of his wins include: The World Turkey calling contest, The World Natural Voice Turkey calling contest, The World Gobbling Turkey calling contest and The World All Call turkey calling contest. This makes him the only person to hold five different World Titles. Some of his other wins in turkey calling are: seven National Championships, Grand National Gobbling and Grand National Champ of Champs. His latest wins are: the Grand National Champions of Champions, the Grand National Gobbling Championship, the World Gobbling Championship and the Mississippi State Championship.

Rick Dillard is a biologist for the U.S. Forest Service and currently serves as Fish and Wildlife Program Manager for the National Forests in Mississippi. He provides oversight and coordination for the management of 1.2 million acres of fish and wildlife habitat on 6 national forests in the state. Dillard is interested in the numerous trophy deer harvested across the state. This interest led to the creation of the Magnolia White-tailed Deer Records Program that serves to recognize trophy deer on a county-by-county basis. If you want to find out more about "BIG" deer and where they are coming from, check out Rick's seminar as he talks about the Magnolia Records Program. And don't forget to bring your deer and have it scored! All one has to do is bring his or her deer to the Expo between 3 and 9 p.m. on Friday, March 7 or from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.

Firearm owners attending the Expo will receive free gun locks as part of the nation's most comprehensive firearm safety education program, Project HomeSafe. Project HomeSafe is funded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and a $4.9 million federal grant administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. "Project HomeSafe has become the most comprehensive firearm safety education program in America," said Bill Brassard, NSSF's managing director of safety programs. "The combination of free gun locking devices, an in-depth safety education component and distribution efforts in states across the country will significantly enhance public awareness of the importance of safe gun storage in the home."

Wildlife Mississippi is very fortunate that Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels will be conducting demonstrations at the Expo. Stewart is the founder of Wildrose Kennels in England, Northern Ireland and South Africa. He has been training dogs for over 30 years. Stewart will be at the Expo doing demonstrations on obedience, fetching and control steadiness. He will be demonstrating commands necessary for a good hunting companion and handling skills.

Show Hours are: March 7, Friday, 3 pm - 9 pm; March 8, Saturday, 10 am - 8 pm; March 9, Sunday, 12 pm - 5 pm.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi