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ESCANABA -- Scott Welch of Ohio will be presenting at the 59th Annual NTA Convention/Outdoor Expo being held at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba July 26-28.
Those attending will have a chance to meet Marty Meierotto of the History Channels' "Mountain Men" and his family. A special dinner is being held on Tuesday evening in the Miracle of Life Building with Meierotto and his family. There is a fee to attend. Call Roy Dahlgren at (906) 399-1960 for tickets. Only 150 tickets will be sold. This banquet and fundraiser features a top-notch local caterer. Guns, knives, fur ear muffs, Alaskan native crafts, along with many other "goodies" will be offered up as door prizes or special raffles. The banquet is two days before the convention opens.
Scott Welch's topic is raccoon trapping at 11 a.m. on July 26. He owns and operates Welch's High Production Lures and Baits -- and his passion for trapping as a youngster led to a deep friendship with the late Carroll Black founder of the famous line of trapping lures known as Blackie's Blend Lures. Their friendship continued until Black passed in 2015 and Welch is now marketing "Blackie's" famous recipes as well. Black was an expert trapper and woodsman, trapping in New York, Indiana, Wyoming, and California. He gave trapping lessons and attended countless conventions to give demos and promote and sell his line of lures.
Welch prides himself on being an "old school" type of trapper. "Scott is a kind of down to earth guy. I'd say that he is in the top 1 percent of all trappers who truly understand predators and what it takes to catch them" said Kyle Kaatz, owner of Kaatz Brothers Lures. Along with running his long lines, Welch has written over 50 trapping articles, a book, and has produced 3 trapping DVDs. He is continually researching and studying how to make his lures even more effective. Welch has been praised for how he connects with his audience at his demonstrations.
136 inside vendors and countless outside 'tailgaters' will be displaying their goods. Food vendors on the grounds will include: Big Lemon, Brisket Barn, Debakker Dairy, Chuckwagon Pulled Pork, Mickey's Pasties, Red Barn, Schaffer Services, Little Red Caboose, U.P. North Yooper Nuts, Wells Lions, and Rolling Smoke BBQ.
Kid's games, prizes, a youth trap setting contest, along with a free fishing pond will keep the youngsters entertained.
"Plan on coming to the convention a couple days early, check out the sights around Escanaba and the whole Upper Peninsula and seize the opportunity to spend time with Marty Meierotto at the special dinner. You and your family will be glad you did. Enjoy the convention and big thanks to all the volunteers who are making this thing happen" said Roy Dahlgren president of U.P. Trappers, District 3 and local NTA convention coordinator.