Sarah Pruys
If the number of pickup trucks in the parking lot of the Fort Frances Curling Club on Saturday was any indication, the sixth-annual Gun and Hobby Show was quite the success.
The show, which has been held here for the past three years after being moved from Barwick, continued its record-breaking attendance trend, with a total of 760 people going through the doors from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Organizer Scott Stafford noted the dreary weather helped draw people out to the show.
“It’s someplace warm and dry,” he reasoned.
“There were 60 tables, and we were heavy to hobby exhibits this year,” Stafford added.
“A lot of people that came in commented on how much they enjoyed that part of it.”
Booths selling candles, baking, spices, collectibles, and plants were surrounded by ones displaying guns, which people dressed in camo and Carhartt milled around viewing and discussing.
“A lot of our vendors this year have said they’ve sold more than ever, and they’re already booking for next year,” noted Stafford.
“I think this is the best show ever.
“I thoroughly enjoy hosting,” he added. “You can really feel the momentum building, which is really encouraging.
“I’m just really happy with the way the population has supported our show.”
Stafford said he also noticed lots of families attending the event.
“I think the word is getting out about what a fun event it is,” he explained.
“I think that kids have a part in the gun show, too, because we have a kids’ table,” said Stafford’s 10-year-old daughter, Kylie.
“They can colour, they can shoot a [foam dart] arrow and win a prize, and they can get their face painted,” she enthused.
As fun as the kids’ table was, which the youngster helped run, she also enjoyed stamping people on the hand as they paid their $5 admission.
The vendors, meanwhile, all had different things to say about the turnout.
“More people are spending money. I have what they want,” said Spencer King of Dryden, who had ammo, books, and “a nice big pair of ice tongs” for sale Saturday as he was cleaning out his collection.
“Excellent, real good turnout,” echoed Ron Pettigrew of Kenora, a hobbyist who specializes in historical firearms.
“It’s a good meeting place and you get to see lots of friends,” he added.
Joanna Loewen of Stratton, representing Loewen’s Greenhouses, noted the weather
negatively affected business for her.
She conceded business was “kind of so-so,” but that she fully expected things to pick up in a few weeks once the weather gets warmer and people head out to their gardens.
First-time exhibitor Jessica Ogden said she was very busy.
“I’ve never been to [the Gun and Hobby Show] before and I’m quite impressed,” remarked Ogden, who was selling Epicure as an independent consultant, as well as holding a fundraiser for CIBC’s “Run for the Cure.”
“It’s been good but not busy,” noted Stan Barta, a collector of “fine antique firearms” from Hadashville, Man.
But with attendance up by more than 150 people from last year, and vendors already booking for next year, this year’s show was quite successful.
It will be held once again at the curling club on the first Saturday in May in 2014, and anyone interested in booking a table can call Stafford.
Door prizes were won by Chris Bodnar (Winchester jackknife), Ashton Cousineau (Gun Show embroidered cap), Jim Schultz (Colt tin sign), and Rob LeBlanc (Gun Show T-shirt donated by Diana’s Needle Art Embroidery).
