Highlights is a 30 minute weekly TV show featuring organizations, events, grass-roots efforts and people who move our state and community forward in a positive way.
The show is a collaboration with HD Media, The Media Center, Jim Strawn & Company.
Special thanks to our latest sponsor, Bankers Life WV. There’s No Life Like the Bankers Life.
The show taped and premiering at 8:30 p.m. on January 16, 2023, features the WV Trophy Hunters Association and their upcoming 35th West Virginia Hunting & Fishing Show.
We interviewed Sam Kindrick, President of the WV Trophy Hunters Association and Glen Jarrell, member of the WVTHA.
ABOUT
Sam discussed the organization.
Each year in January we present the West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in Charleston, West Virginia. All proceeds except for costs to run the show and club operating expenses, are donated to programs that promote or protect hunting, fishing, wildlife, conservation, and related educational activities. From 1995 through 2021 our donations to these causes exceeded $960,000. In addition, we also make many “in kind” donations to various organizations. Another program that we sponsor is our nearly 600-acre Wildlife Study Project in Wirt County. We have raised over $750,000 for that project. While raising funds is important, the primary reason for hosting this show is to bring hunters and fishermen into contact with organizations that can provide them with goods and services related to these activities. We only solicit vendors of high-quality products and services related to the sport of hunting and fishing. We are all 100% volunteers.
This will be the 35th year we have held this show for the benefit of our exhibitors, the hunters and fishermen in our area and the hunting, fishing, wildlife, and conservation organizations who benefit from our charitable donation program. Our past exhibitors tell us the West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show is one of the best operated and more productive shows in the United States. The show has featured exhibitors from as far away as Alaska, New Zealand, Spain, and Africa, plus the United States and Canada.
In conjunction with the show, we run the West Virginia Whitetail Hall of Fame. The West Virginia Whitetail Hall of Fame provides an opportunity for individuals to bring their West Virginia deer trophies in for official scoring and to display the largest racks harvested. You may bring as many mounts in to be scored as you wish. Bring your tags for the deer for official WV DNR scoring.
Glen talked about the new look and feel to the show. He showcased the new ‘Cabela’s Stage’ and all the wonderful seminars, activities, videos, etc happening on the stage in the Grand Hall of the Convention Center.
He added, “Change can be good and we figured the time had come to give the show a fresh look after many years. Bringing Cabela’s on board as our top sponsor is a great way to showcase their brand and will be a big boost to our annual show.”
Cabela’s Stage Activities
Glen featured some of the activities:
- Randy Kelly with the WV DNR – Elk Status in WV
- Rob Ciarapica, Professional Fisherman – The Ethics of the Fishing Tournament
- Chelsi Rose, who was crowned Miss for America Strong – an avid outdoors advocate, she is provided a discussion on ‘Women in the Outdoors’
- Kenny Davis, Steve Florence, Brittian Bradley – A Whitetail Frenzy panel discussion lead by David Miller
- Josh & Rachel Hedrick – Bear Hunting in the Great Outdoors
- Shannon Sizemore – Coyote Calling & Hunting
- David Miller – Tracking the Big Appalachian Buck
- Lawson Blake with the Marshall Fishing Team
- A Cabela’s Fashion Show to feature apparel for men, women, boys and girls.
- And More!
Charity Auction
Sam expressed his excitement for the Wildlife Charity Auction scheduled for 5:00 on Saturday, January 21st.
Many vendors donate items and trips for the auction.
We also interviewed Neil Depugh, General Manager of Cabela’s and David Miller with Appalachian Range.
Cabela’s Sponsorship
Neil talked about their natural partnership with the WV Hunting & Fishing. It dovetails nicely with Cabela’s mission.
According to Cabela’s, community isn’t a place, it’s a practice. They view every day as an opportunity to support causes in our backyard, lend a hand when disaster strikes and honor the brave men and women in our armed forces. They are making a difference by supporting over 2,000 local grassroots nonprofits in their communities, and the WV Trophy Hunters Association is one of them.
David talked about the seminars and how important they are to our future generations.
Youth Activities
He is also excited about the Youth Outdoors Challenge for youth 13 and under. This challenge is brought to you by Beyond the Backyard.
And he reminded us of the Coloring Booth, this year the kids will be coloring otters.
The show is set for January January 20-22, 2023. Show hours are:
Times and Admission
Friday Noon – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Admission is $9 for adults, $1 for 6-12 and kids under 6 get in for FREE.
If you would like to learn more about the Highlights TV Show, contact Host and Executive Producer Jim Strawn at 304-541-4756.
