Staff
A spring workshop and activity day, hosted by the Rainy River District Trapper Council on Saturday at Crossroads School in Devlin, was a success according to organizers.
“It was a great workshop,” enthused Brian Love, the group’s district president. “We’re very, very happy. We had a great turnout. We had lots of support, lots of young people.”
“There were lots of kids there in the morning,” echoed Tanya Johnson, secretary/treasurer. “They are the future of trapping.”
Love indicated one of the organization’s objectives is to promote trapping to youth, with workshops such as these and visits to schools.
“We’re really trying to engage youth, getting them outside and interested in outdoor activities,” he voiced, citing they plan to focus on the youth more.
The event feature skinning demonstrations, such as wolf, otter, bobcat or lynx, fisher, and beaver, as well as a silent auction and lunch.
And they had plenty of youth competitions, including nail driving, log sawing, fry pan toss, and a bean bag toss.
Reports were also offered up by the Fur Harvesters, North American Fur Auctions, and the Ontario Fur Managers Federation.
“We’re seeing the best prices [for fur] we’ve ever seen,” Love enthused, citing there’s an increased interest in natural furs.
There was also a fur grader on hand from Winnipeg who judged some of the pelts.
The winners were:
•Marten—Brian Love (1st), Patrick Mills (2nd), and Matt Gurski (3rd).
•Fisher—Dale Ossachuk (1st), Brian Love (2nd), and Ralph Hill (3rd).
•Beaver—Peter Marteniuk (1st), and Patrick Mills (2nd).
In the “young trapper” competition, the winners were:
•Bean Bag Toss (8 years and under)—Michaela Faragher (1st), Caleb Harrison (2nd), and Anna Johnson (3rd).
•Bean Bag Toss (14 years and under)—Rebecca Brown (1st), Stephan Brown (2nd), and Jake Barker (3rd).
•Fry Pan Toss (8 years and under)—Anna Johnson (1st) and Caitlin Johnson (2nd).
•Fry Pan Toss (14 years and under)—Stephan Brown (1st) and Rebecca Brown (2nd).
•Nail Pound (8 years and under)—TJ Barker (1st) and a tie between Caleb Harrison and Anna Johnson (2nd).
•Log Sawing (8 years and under)—Anna Johnson (1st) and Caitlin Johnson (2nd).
•Log Sawing (14 years and under)—Stephan Brown (1st) and Rebecca Brown (2nd).
