Dear Outdoors Friends and Sponsors:
As president of the South Dakota Sport Hunting Association, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our organization with some background information about our industry, our membership, and our positive outlook about agri-tourism and shooting sports in the great state of South Dakota. I also ask that you take advantage of the opportunity to network and promote your business to our members, thus the reason for this letter and information packet. I personally invite you to become a sponsor and/or an exhibitor at our first annual association/industry conference and to use our association as a very diverse resource.
The South Dakota Sport Hunting Association, founded on April 2, 1986, has a great history of supporting the shooting sports in South Dakota. We rejoice in the progress we have made over the years regarding legislation, industry awareness, and in giving the industry a voice.
Our mission is to actively support the future of hunting and conservation. We strive to promote safe and quality hunting, provide an outdoor recreational experience, and preserve our way of life. The South Dakota Sport Hunting Association shall inform, educate, promote, and protect the interests of its membership.
“Hunting and fishing are big business in South Dakota. Sportsmen and women provide an economic boost to South Dakota communities year round, spending almost $500 million. Nationwide nearly 40 million Americans participate in outdoor sports on a regular basis. Continuing to promote outdoor opportunities in our state is important and will play a major role in attaining the goals of the 2010 initiative,” according to the governor’s conference on tourism.
Our membership is growing rapidly, with members from every corner of the state. They represent very diverse backgrounds: small family hunting operations and guides to full-time lodges and preserve operators and their many employees, from main street businesses in several small towns to Sioux Falls and Rapid City, from local farmers who raise a few pheasants to large full-time game bird producers. Our industry certainly has a positive economical impact on nearly every community in South Dakota.
The South Dakota Sport Hunting Association looks forward to working together to promote shooting sports, game bird production, and the State of South Dakota as the premier wing-shooting destination. We believe in our shooting sport’s rich past and educating and promoting the present so that we will all have a bright future.
Sincerely,
Rick Lutt
President, South Dakota Sport Hunting Association