Approximately 40 youngsters gathered for the annual Stanley Sportsman’s Club Youth Expo held this past Saturday at the Stanley Community Center. Youngsters had the opportunity to visit various stations to learn about outdoor activities.
Chad Ducommun discussed fishing and offered participants to assemble their very own spinner baits.
Brandy Pecha, coach of the Stanley-Boyd archery team, discussed the archery in the school’s program and displayed team trophies recently won at the State tournament held in the Wisconsin Dells.
Travis Hakes, of the Chippewa Valley Pheasants Forever Chapter, discussed pheasant hunting and how their organization raises money to purchase and maintain public land for pheasant hunting. He also distributed a number of prizes and offered games for the youngster’s enjoyment.
John Smoczyk discussed hunter safety and demonstrated the important rules of tree stand safety.
Joe Kurth, of the Eau Claire Water Shed Improvement Association, discussed the importance of maintaining a clean environment for the Eau Claire River water system which the local Wolf and North Fork Rivers are a part of. The association offered a casting contest for participants to enjoy and donated rods and reels as prizes.
Mike Folczyk, from Folczyk’s Sugar Bush, discussed and displayed pictures and diagrams of how maple syrup is made from start to finish.
Al Brown discussed turkey evolution and ecology along with sharing expertise and techniques such as use of decoys and turkey calls.
All participants enjoyed a lunch which included ice cream and Folczyk’s maple syrup topping provided by the club followed by prizes to be awarded. Winners of the two bicycle drawings were Zane Ramsier and Lewis Lukes. Winners of the fishing rods and reels were Kesslyn Knox and Lane LaPalm.
Donating sponsors for this event were Chwala’s Construction, Stanley Tire, Rural Septic Service, and Folczyk Sugar Bush.