The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic is a premiere regional outdoor event hosted by the Harry R. E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. It is an annual three-day event usually held that last weekend in March and centrally located in Columbia, South Carolina at the State Fairgrounds. The 2005 Classic is expected to draw over 40,000 participants.
The Classic attracts people of all ages, emphasizing the appreciation, wise use and stewardship of South Carolina’s diverse natural resources. The Classic seeks to increase public awareness of natural resources through interactive educational activities, seminar and exhibits as well as provide a forum for vendors to offer for sale the latest in hunting, fishing and a myriad of other outdoor-related products. A variety of activities and attractions encourages interaction, builds skills and generates enthusiasm for outdoor-related recreation and conservation.
While the Classic is the Department of Natural Resources’ principal public outreach program and provides staffing to run the show, other state agencies plus public and private organizations are encouraged to exhibit and get involved in helping ensure the viability of this unique outdoor event. The Harry R. E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, Inc. is the principal funding mechanism for the show, and all Classic proceeds are utilized by this organization for the enhancement and promotion of wildlife and marine resources conservation and education in South Carolina. Thus, the partnership of the Hampton Fund with the SCDNR helps make the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic a quality experience for the entire family while educating them about natural resource issues and opportunities.
The event began in 1985 at the State Fairgrounds as a 2-day show. The initial 1985 PSC only included about forty exhibitors in the Ellison Building at the S.C. State Fairgrounds, but surprisingly drew more than 10,000 people. With tremendous public interest in the outdoors and natural resources in South Carolina obvious, the show was modified in 1986 to become a 3-day event and attendance has grown each year. This unique family-oriented outdoor event as become second only to the State Fair itself as the largest annual event at the State Fairgrounds.
The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic has always emphasized education coupled with family values in promoting public awareness and goodwill in helping conserve the Palmetto State’s natural resources and quality of life. Notable focus areas of interest to the public at the Classic are the annual South Carolina Outdoor Writers Competition and Outdoor Photography Contest jointly sponsored by the Hampton Fund and the South Carolina Wildlife magazine, exhibits of live animals by the Carolina Raptor Center, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and related organizations, turkey and duck calling contests, and deer rack scoring, seminars on hiking, backpacking, hunting and fishing, retriever demonstrations, hunter and boater safety demonstrations, air gun target shooting and other outdoor-related activities.
Established in 1991, in Charleston, SC, this banquet will be held in conjunction with the SCDNR Marine Center Open House in 2008. This year’s banquet will be held Friday, May 2, from 6 - 10 p.m. at the Marine Resources Center, 217 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston SC. and the Open House will be the following day, Saturday May 3rd, 2008.
Doors open at 6 p.m. when the silent auction begins. Heavy hors d'oeuvres are served soon thereafter with the live auction beginning around 9:30 p.m. Sponsorships and individual tickets are available in advance or at the door for $25 per person or $40 per couple. Gold ($1000), Silver ($500) and Bronze ($250) sponsor packages are also available. Ticket reservations and information may be obtained by calling 843-953-9103.
From 1991 through 2007, almost $450,000 has been raised at this banquet to support wildlife and marine resources education and conservation in South Carolina.
The Harry Hampton Hunting & Fishing Expo is an ALL NEW hunting, fishing outdoors show sponsored by the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund Inc.
The show is directed by Mary Pugh, Dave Bruner and Jim Goller, who together combine over 50 years of successful show management experience! Mary, Dave & Jim are all retired S.C. Department of Natural Resources employees and currently contract with the Hampton Fund on all its activities. They have been an integral part of one of the Southeast's premier outdoor events, the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic, since it began 24 years ago. The Classic is co-sponsored by the Hampton Fund and SCDNR and is the primary annual outreach event of the SCDNR and a model for other similar events in the U.S.
Mary, Dave & Jim bring the Expo a proven track record of show success...for exhibitors and attendees alike.
Established in 1986, this Association of dedicated sportsmen and conservationists has developed the largest wildlife banquet held in the State of South Carolina. In May of each year, approximately 800 sportsmen assemble in Spartanburg for a meal, silent auction, raffles, door prizes, and a live auction in one evening. From 1986 to 2005 over $700,000 has been raised at this banquet to support wildlife education and conservation
in South Carolina.
This year's banquet will be held Friday, May 9, from 6-11 p.m. at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg.
Spartanburg Association Wildlife Banquet - Friday, May 9, 2008
