Becca Schimmel
Contributing writer
The West Kentucky Boat and Outdoor Show brings people from all over Kentucky to the CFSB Center each year. It is a free event with options for the whole family to enjoy.
During the boat show, there is a shopping center geared toward women as well as a kids center where children can play. Door prizes are offered and seminars are given on key elements of fishing and outdoors. Most all of the seminars featured in this year’s show are about fishing whereas previous years included hunting.
The kids area features a pond that children can fish in for 15 minutes. Any fish that are caught are released back into the pond.
“The decision was based on several factors including survey results that showed that exhibitors wanted more people coming into the show; people coming into the show wanted to see more exhibitors and everyone wanted the show to be more family-friendly,” Nancy Mieure, event director, said. “Donations, however, are accepted at the door. Various nonprofit organizations have been the benefactors.”
This year donations will benefit the Calloway County High School and Murray High School Band Boosters. This gets kids involved in the sport of fishing while harming less fish in the process. Parents or guardians donate $2 for their children to be able to use the pond. The event is made possible by a variety of sponsors including the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
More than 5,000 booths are expected to be included this year. There will be plenty of different booths to look at with 55 different vendors. Some of the vendors featured will be: Pampered Chef, Tupperware and FLW Outdoors.
Growing from 3,200 people to being stable at approximately 5,000 for the past few years, the popularity of this event has grown tremendously as it became a free admission and family-friendly event. This year is expected to live up to last year’s success with the addition of a couple new seminars including Mr. Croppie from Texas and Pro Bow fisher.
The West Kentucky Boat and Outdoor Show is in its 28th year and will be held today through Sunday.
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