Peggy Revell
Plans already are underway for the second-annual Barwick Gun & Hobby Show, which is slated for May 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Barwick community centre.
While the show is mainly about firearms, event organizer Scott Stafford stressed it’s also a family event with hobby tables featuring such things as woodworking and crafts, a kids’ corner with things like face-painting and archery, and “just a lot of other things that appeal to a whole lot of people.”
Given it’s just the second year for the show, Stafford noted many of the basics from last year haven’t changed while they also work to bring in a few newer things.
One new part they hope to have is an expansion of the type of firearms that will be at the show. Stafford said for the first year, only non-restricted guns (i.e., long guns, rifles, and shotguns) were allowed.
“This year we’re going to have all three classes at our show,” he said, referring to the three classes of firearms people can own legally if they have the proper licence (non-restricted, restricted, and prohibited).
“Last year that was one of the main requests we had from people who came to the show. They wanted to see more of that—the restricted and the prohibited,” Stafford noted. “Just because there’s more interest now in the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club.
“They have the shooting range and what-not, and there’s a lot of shooters that would like to just try the handgun part of it, like the target shooting part of it.
“So we’re going to try and have that at the show.”
Stafford added one of the big draws last year was the white tail antler-measuring contest.
“We’re going to be trying to do that year again,” he remarked. “The contest is basically people bringing their racks and having them measured.”
But there are a few changes when it comes to this year’s contest.
“One of the problems we had with that last year was that there was such a demand for that part of the show that measurers were sort of overwhelmed,” Stafford explained. “So this year, people can drop off the racks at my house or at the measurer’s house prior to the show and get pre-measured, and that will just take a lot of the pressure off them.
“There’s not going to be any competition based on score this year. The prizes are going to be awarded by people’s choice, by a ballot system,” he added, noting both racks and sheds will be eligible for the contest.
“So, basically, the public will just fill out their ballot with which ones they like best,” he said. “We just want to try and kind of keep it a little bit smaller, and just kind of keep it more friendly.”
Organizers hope the day remains accessible to everyone cost-wise, too, Stafford said.
“Last year our admission was $3 per person, and children were free as long as they were with an adult, and we’re just going to keep that at $3 again,” he noted. “It’s kind of the recession-sensitive price of $3.
“It’s not a big outlay for a family to come and have an enjoyable afternoon.”
Free coffee also will be offered for everyone again.
“It was [popular] last year and we hope we can match it again,” Stafford enthused.
For more information about the show, contact Stafford 487-1421.
