Cheboygan, Mich. —
The county gave approval Tuesday for an outdoor sports expo to take place at the Cheboygan County Fairgrounds in May of 2013.
The action came during the regular finance/business meeting of the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners.
The Kiwanis Club submitted the fairground event request and has appointed a Northern Michigan Outdoor Sports Exposition Committee to organize the event, which is set for May 17-20. A variety of outdoor sport vendors are planned, including but not limited to hunting and fishing supply outfitters, boat retailers and ORV and camping/RV outfitters. Also slated is a shotgun shooting exhibition by Patrick Flanigan, who is a star on the new NBC sports show called “Hot Shots,” speaker Mike Avery of Outdoor Sports Magazine radio and TV show, retriever training demonstrations by Tera Lanczak of Bay Blue Kennels, and a possible archery competition.
County Administrator Jeff Lawson said the city has approved the shotgun shooting exhibition pursuant to the city ordinance, and the sheriff has reviewed the shooting demonstration area for range setback criteria. Lawson noted that Flanigan, as well as the Kiwanis Club, has the necessary liability insurance for the demonstration.
Because the Kiwanis Club is a non-profit organization, it is not subject to a fee for fairground use according to the fairground use policy, Lawson added.
Fabian Lavigne of the Kiwanis Club said the archery competition is still tentative and won’t be pursued if safety standards cannot be met.
“Our Committee is committed to making this work,” Lavigne said. “Approval today will allow us to advertise this and ask the public for input.”
Lavigne noted that this event has the potential to grow, possibly someday drawing crowds like the Woods N’ Water Outdoor Weekend in Imlay City, Mich.
The Board of Commissioners ultimately voted 7-0 to approve the fairground event agreement for the Northern Michigan Outdoor Sports Exposition, contingent upon final insurance approval by the administrator, range review by the sheriff and final legal review by civil counsel for the possible archery competition.
A Web site for the Expo has already been created and the public can visit it for updates atwww.michiganoutdoorsexpo.com. According to the Web site, the venue for the Expo will allow for a unique event.
“Imagine shooting exhibitions, fishing for steelhead in the Cheboygan River that runs right past the Fairgrounds when you take a break from the show, and your whole family enjoying the excitement of great events from seats in the fair’s grandstand,” the Web site says of the Expo. “You’ll learn about all the new gear for the outdoors enthusiast from countless fishing, hunting, boating, ATV, and other great vendors along with hunting dog exhibitions, fishing demonstrations, interactive new gadgets, and high tech gear every man and woman who loves the outdoors will appreciate.”