[Reprinted from original]

EVART – The Michigan Trappers and Predator Association Annual Convention and Sports Shows are set for Friday and Saturday at the Osceola County Fairgrounds in Evart.

Event coordinator Joe Velchansky said admission for both days is $10 and it’s free for youngsters under 16 years old.

“It’s our annual summer convention,” he said. “We were shut down in 2020 because of COVID but had it last year.”

The paid attendance, not including youngsters, is usually around 1,100.

The Friday trapping demo list has Sarah Gomez with beavers at 9 a.m.; Ed Schneider with predators at 10 a.m., Micheal White with beavers at 11 a.m.; fox trapping at noon and canine trapping at 1 p.m.

The Saturday trapping demo features Ernest Winters with coyotes at 9 a.m., Mark June with predators at 10 a,m. Jeff Haggerty with muskrats and water trapping at 11 a.m., and Jeff Dunlap with coyotes. Jackie Miskovich will talk about trapping and the law at 2 p.m. and Jim Tate will talk on land trapping techniques at 3 p.m.

“The demos are usually very popular,” Velchansky said. “People come from all around asking who will be on the demo list. These are top trappers from around the country.

“Everybody on that list is a professional trapper. They know what they’re doing.”
Bleachers are set up around the demonstration area.

“We rent the whole fairgrounds and all the buildings are filled with vendors selling traps and trapping equipment,” Velchansky said, adding used trapping equipment will also be available.

The general membership meeting is at 1 p.m.

Kids trap raffle drawing will be 4 p.m. and kids games are on Saturday.

A trap setting contest will be at noon on Saturday and the possum toss is 11 a.m. on Saturday. The Friday night pig roast donation meal is Friday at 6 p.m.

All donations go to the kids trap raffle program. The adult hay scramble is noon on Saturday with live auction on Friday evening immediately following the donation dinner.