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Mid-Ohio Valley Sportsman Expo set for March 30

Brandon Baker, an expert bow hunter, will be the keynote speaker at the 2019 Mid-Ohio Valley Sportsman Expo scheduled for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 30 at the Elite Sports Center in Parkersburg. He will speak at 4 p.m. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

PARKERSBURG – The Mid-Ohio Valley Sportsman Expo will be held March 30 at the E.L.I.T.E. Sports Center in Parkersburg where vendors and exhibitors will display the latest outdoors products and the first qualifier in the Mid-Ohio Valley for the grand national turkey calling contest will be held.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Turkey Calling Contest is sanctioned by the National Wild Turkey Federation and will be held with the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the federation.

“It’s never been done here before,” said expo organizer and president Troy Derenberger.

The Sportman Expo is sponsored by Grace Gospel Church, Tri-City Baptist Church and Bethel Church. It has grown so much that organizers have had to find more spacious accommodations at the E.L.I.T.E. Center, Derenberger said.

Rules for the turkey calling contest are on the Sportsman Expo website, movsportsmanexpo.com. Planned are competition classes for children’s, amateurs, open and friction classes, Derenberger said.

At least 25 contestants from several states have already expressed an interest to compete, he said.

All callers must be members of the Wild Turkey Federation and memberships may be purchased or renewed at the registration table. First-place open and friction winners who will be 21 by Feb. 12, 2020, will be eligible to compete for the 2020 national tourney.

Keynote speaker at the expo will be Brandon Baker, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in military intelligence and a tour in Iraq with the 21st Cavalry Brigade. He received a medal for the 2008 capture of a most-wanted terrorist.

Baker will speak from 4-5 p.m.

Born in South Central Pennsylvania, Baker became an expert bowman and has won numerous awards. He also will preach as Baker is the discipleship pastor at the Praise Point Church in Ohio.

Nearly 50 vendors and organizations are scheduled to exhibit at the expo. They are the Mid-Ohio Valley Branch of Quality Deer Management Association, the General Store, River City Jewelry and Pawn, Mid-Ohio Valley National Wild Turkey Federation, Mid-Ohio Valley Racing Pigeon Association, Extractor Tool, Safari Meats, 7 River Marine, VFW Post 1212, West Virginia Army National Guard Family Assistance Center, VET Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Carl’s Pawn Shop, Mountwood Park, Decision Outdoors TV, Blennerhassett Friends of National Rifle Association, Heritage Cooperative, Seeking Streams Moving Mountains, Fat Belly Baits, Hendershot Performance/HP Archery, Sliders Processing and Smoked Meats, Trout Unlimited, Bethel Baptist Church, McClinton Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Clarks Smokehouse Taxidermy, Lemon and Barrett’s Powersports Parkersburg, Lemon and Barrett’s Mineral Wells, HP Archery, T3 Targets, Prevent Suicide WV West Brook Health Services, Marietta FFA Alumni, Leonard Building and Trucks, Parkersburg RV Co., Wolfe Campers, DCK Gunsmithing, Matheny Motors, LuLaroe Brenda Lewis Greenup Kentucky, Authentic African Adventure, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Conservation Office, Project Healing Waters, Magnum Get Your Shot On, Jeff Ritchie Taxidermy, All Seasons Powersport, WV Gun Company, Grace Gospel Church, Tri-City Baptist Church, Napolis Pizza Food Truck and the BarBue Q Food Truck.

Seminars also will be offered, said Jay Parsons of Decision Outdoors TV, an organizer of the classes. Topics will be trapping, kayak fishing, lure tying and coyote hunting, he said.

Admission to the expo is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under with a paid adult admission.

More than $1,000 in door prizes will be awarded throughout the expo, Derenberger said. The grand prize will be a hunting safari in South Africa worth $14,000, he said.

Winners must be present to win, he said.

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