Randolph Co. HOFNOD

BELOW IS A SLIDESHOW OF THE 2010 RANDOLPH COUNTY "HOOKED ON FISHING NOT ON DRUGS" EXPO HELD AT THE ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL GYM MARCH 27TH & 28TH. THIS YEAR THE EXPO HAD 2000 REGISTERED KIDS MOST OF WHICH WERE ACCOMPANIED BY PARENTS OR AN ADULT FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 3500 PEOPLE.

THE HOFNOD COMMITTEE HELD FREE DRAWINGS FOR 1000 ZEBCO READY TACKLE FISHING COMBOS AND A LIFETIME FISHING LICENSE. A RAFFLE WAS HELD FOR A 10 FT. PELICAN PONTOON BOAT COMPLETE WITH A MINN KOTA 30 LB THRUST ELECTRIC MOTOR, 2 LIFE VESTS, 2 FISHING POLES, AND A PADDLE. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 70 EXHIBITORS, EACH HOLDING DRAWINGS OR HAVING AN ACTIVITY INVOLVING KID PARTICIPATION.

AGAIN THIS YEAR THE EXPO WAS A HUGE SUCCESS THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP WITH THIS EVENT. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO LIST ALL THE SPONSORS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE MOUNTAINEER CHAPTER MEMBERS WHO HELPED WITH THIS EVENT. I KNOW WE HAD PEOPLE WORKING THE REGISTRATION TABLE, ELECTRONIC HUNTING SIMULATOR, CONCESSION STAND, BOAT RAFFLE ,IWLA INFORMATION BOOTH, VIRTUAL FISHING SIMULATOR AND THE FISHING POLE DRAWINGS. I MAY HAVE MISSED SOME EVENT WHERE MEMBERS HELPED, IF SO I APOLOGIZE. ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

PICTURES BY DON & TRISH THOMASON

R.C. HOFNOD

The Randolph County Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs Expo has been held every spring in Elkins since 1994. Many have forgotten that it began as a youth involvement project of the Mountaineer Chapter of the Izaak Walton League. The first year it was held at the Chapter's home on Files Creek and was well received. More community supporters wanted to become involved so, the next year it was held at the National Guard Armory. Eventually, even this venue was not large enough and it was moved to Elkins High School in 2002. Last year it was estimated that nearly 5,000 community members, children and their families attended this two-day event. Recently the goal has been to give away a thousand fishing poles to those kids who attend this event each year. The Mountaineer Chapter continues to play a significant part in planning, fund raising, and providing volunteers for this worthwhile endeavor.