Scott Hogsed Memorial Youth Conservation & Education day

August 25, 2007 is planned as a day of free fun, demonstrations, and education for 500 or more youth ages 7 through 17 and is open to youth from all regions and states. During the day each participant will see demonstrations and educational programs by the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, Mountain Coon Hunter's Association, North Carolina Cooperative Extension and 4-H, National Rifle Association, United States Forest Service, the Smoky Mountain Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Trout Unlimited, and many other outdoor sporting organizations. They will receive fishing instructions from the Hiawassee River Bass Club and have an opportunity to fish in a stocked pond. Fun, safety, shooting instruction, and archery and bow safety will be presented by Harmony Grove Baptist Church Sportsmen Ministry.

Each year we honor a youth that loved the outdoors but has past away. This years honoree is Dustin Roberson. This young man was from the Murphy area and we will be honoring his memory this year and his love of the outdoors. We would like to thank his family for letting us honor him through this great event for youth.

This day is to help youth to learn why it is so important to conserve our natural resources through educating youth about outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.

This year we will have a separate event for youth ages 13-17. They will be divided and taken to another sight close by to participate in 3 longer more intense stations. This change is due to the great response and is our answer to making sure we have enough space at the stations for everyone to participate. Pre-registration for the older youth is REQUIRED. We will only be able to accommodate 100 youth from ages 13-17. We will also be pre-registering youth ages 7- 12. To pre-register please call the North Carolina Cooperative Extension 828-837-2210. Pre-registering helps the sponsors to get an accurate count for the wild game lunch and door prizes.

The program concludes with a Wild Game meal, cooked by the Smoky Mountain Sportsman Association for all participants, instructors, workers, and parents. It is anticipated that we will need enough wild meat to feed 1,000 to 1,500 people. So Sportsman if you have any kind of wild game including fowl or fish that you would like to donate for the wild game meal, we would greatly appreciate it. To donate wild game you can call Freddie Cook at Cook's Carpet in Murphy(828-837-5717), Hogsed's Sportswear in Warne(828-389-3088), North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Murphy(828-837-2210), Sam Hogsed in Andrews (828-361-2117), or call Richard Conley in Andrews (828-321-5397).

Along with the great education and the tasty meal, the youth will also receive lots of goodies. Registered youth receive a hat and t-shirt plus great door prizes and other goodies are given away at the conclusion of the event.

If individuals or business would like to make a financial donation to help buy door prizes for this great day contact, Sam Hogsed

8 2 8 - 3 6 1 - 2117) or Shannon Coleman (828-837-2210). One fundraiser that is being held right now to help buy door prizes is the chance for donors to win a great prize with a ten-dollar donation. If your name is drawn you could win a Rossi 410/22 Combo, a Mossberg 500 12 Gauge Pump, a Stevens 200 270 Cal., or a Bow Tech Guardian.

The event is held in Brasstown at Freddy Cooks farm off Penland Road. For directions to the event contact the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Murphy, at 828-837-2210. All youth are welcome and must be accompanied by an adult to attend.

Gates open and registration begins for youth that do not pre-register at 7:00AM, on August 25. Youth break into teaching stations at 8:30AM.