Since 1991, the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department has been holding the Sportsman Show as one of its biggest fundraisers.
Twice a year, the department holds the event and showcases some of the latest firearms, hunting and fishing equipment as well as some antiques.
Eighteen years ago, Jim Miller suggested the idea to the department as way to fundraise. The show started out with just 13 vendors and 23 tables on display, but now the show has grown to 45 vendors with 155 tables.
Miller, the chairman for the past 18 years, has been in the department for 25 years and believes that this show will be just as good as the others.
“It’s another good show like the rest of them,” Miller said. “I mean, all the shows have been good and this one is turning out to be the same with the vendors that I have. (People will) be seeing the same high quality that I’ve had at the other shows.”
The first year, the show only had a turn out of about 400 to 500 people, but now the show is averaging between 1,500 and 2,000.
To put the whole show together, it takes about 15 to 20 people to get the show planned and ready. The local auxiliary helps out by getting the food for the event as well as having a table at the show and a raffle. The Little Valley Memorial Library does the parking at the event for free. The department then makes a donation to the library after the show.
The Sportsman show will be displaying many different items for people to both look at and/ or purchase.
“Mostly there will be new and used firearms, fishing tackle, knives, anything associated with hunting fishing and trapping might be available depending on what the vendor has at that time,” Miller said.
The show will have fishermen, a fishing rod display, a taxidermist and a man from Syracuse demonstrating goose and deer calls, just to name a few.
The Sportsman show is not only just a fundraiser, but also a community event.
“It educates the people that don’t know much about the sportsman show,” Miller said. “People can come and see the latest and (most) modern firearms, archery and fishing equipment. It’s something that people can bring their whole family to and enjoy it … I’ve had charter captains take people out on the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario salmon fishing. There’s many things that people can see and do at the sportsman shows.”
Miller says that in the future the show cannot grow in size because the buildings will not be able to hold anymore vendors or table – but, the show can grow in the amount of attendance; however, that is determined by how the economy is doing and how many people can afford to come.
The show is perfect for those who still need to prepare for big game season or are ready to get more materials for those seasons already underway.
“(The show is for those) interested in the outdoors or interested in the hunting or shooting aspect of sports,” Miller said. “It’s a great opportunity to compare prices rather than just going to one gun shop … so if your interested in getting started in this it will be a good time to just come and look and see what’s available in prices and be able to compare prices from one vendor to another.”
The show is held twice a year on the first weekend in April and the first weekend in November. The dates this year are November 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the two main buildings at the Cattaraugus County Fair Grounds. Admission is $5 per person.
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