Wildlife Festival Celebrates the 35th. National Hunting and Fishing Day 
September  20-21  2008

By Bill Hilts, Jr.

    SEPTEMBER  20-21. Sportsmen around the country will be celebrating the
36th Annual National Hunting and Fishing Day. Niagara County's version of
this celebration is the 22nd.. Annual New York Power Authority's "Wildlife
Festival," which is also co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs. Both have become quite a big deal.
    
       NHF Day started back in 1970 when gun shop owner Ira Joffe of Upper
Darby, Pennsylvania had the idea to have a day to thank sportsmen for all their
conservation efforts over the year. The idea was adopted by Governor Raymond
Shaffer who proclaimed "Outdoor Sportsmen Day" throughout the Keystone State. The
following year, bills were introduced on a Federal level to create a NHF Day
across the land. They finally passed in the spring of 1972. The group that
stepped up to the plate to coordinate NHF Day activities was the National Shooting
Sports Foundation.
    
    NYPA's Wildlife Festival had its humble beginnings, too. Two decades ago,
the power people worked with the Federation to make a go of a neat concept.
It wasn't until they placed a huge focus on kids that the local event exploded.
It blossomed from a one day event to a full weekend a few years ago. And when
the weather cooperates, they've had some outstanding attendance. According to
NYPA's Lori Presti, who's now the maestro coordinating the effort, there were
more than 20,000 people in attendance last year. Look for this 20th Annual
event to be something special.
    All the old standbys will be back: Carmen Presti and The Primate
Sanctuary; Paul Schnell and his bald eagle, Liberty; the Buffalo Zoomobile; live music
by Glenn Colton; the contingent of Niagara County Federation booths and
displays - including a new shooting exhibit - and much, much more. Don't forget the
Niagara River Anglers fishing pond, either. For more information, you can
give Presti a call at 286-6661 or visit their website at www.nypa.gov to see
what's going on.