It is not by chance that the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival is being held in Wisconsin on its first venture outside of Memphis, Tenn., home of Ducks Unlimited. The festival is patterned after the game fairs in England and offers many opportunities to the visitors who would like to try out a shotgun, an ATV or new truck. There also will be experts discussing hunting and fishing and camping and everything remotely connected with the outdoors. Certainly the expansive Experimental Aircraft Association grounds in Oshkosh are an attractive site for an event of such magnitude.
Location is another plus.
Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa are great areas for outdoor activity and being located at the heart of those Great Lakes and Midwest states did not hurt. Having Wisconsinites Gene Henry, former president and current board chairman, and Jack Nugent of Waupun in leadership roles for DU did not hurt either. It is this state's record as a supporter of Ducks Unlimited and as an outdoor-oriented area that convinced promoters this would be the most viable place to hold the Great Outdoors Festival that has been held for five years in Memphis. Wisconsin has the largest percentage per capita of DU members and grassroots income compared to other states. Recently, Wisconsin was honored at the DU national convention in San Francisco for its efforts.