Pheasant Fest in Sioux Falls, SD

Dakotazeb

Dakotazeb

Well-known member
I sent a message to the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitor's Bureau about the possibility of them hosting the Pheasant Fest once the new event center is completed in 2014. The following is the response I received:

Thank you for your online submission form regarding Pheasant Fest.

We are currently pursuing the event, and will be attending again in Milwaukee, WI this coming February! We hope the completion of the new Denny Sanford Premier Center will assist in providing the required meeting space the organization requests for Pheasant Fest.

Thank you again for your online submission. We will continue to work diligently toward the opportunity to host this national event in the Pheasant state.
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I received an additional email from Mattie Burnham, the Director of Sales, at the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau. They too would very much like to see the National Pheasant Fest come to Sioux Falls. Mattie asked me for any suggestions on how we could encourage Pheasants Forever to bring the event to Sioux Falls. I have already sent a message to PF via their web site and I would encourage anyone else on this site to do the same if you would like to see Pheasant Fest in Sioux Falls.

If you have any other suggestions that would be helpful in bring this event to Sioux Falls please let me know. Or if you have contact with any PF officials please let them know your thoughts. Let's help bring Pheasant Fest to the premier pheasant hunting state for the first time.
 
I would rather see that then other sites. But doubt they will. I think it is about the dollar as everything. And keeping it in venues that have a large population seems the way it will roll. All those venders need clients. And SD? not sure the customer base they look for is there.:(
 
FCSpringer said:
I would rather see that then other sites. But doubt they will. I think it is about the dollar as everything. And keeping it in venues that have a large population seems the way it will roll. All those venders need clients. And SD? not sure the customer base they look for is there.:(
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They had it in Des Moines in 2007 and 2010. The population of Des Moines is around 200,000. Sioux Falls is 150,000+ so not a big difference. Plus Sioux Falls is more strategically located being close to 4 states (SD, MN, IA & NE) and at the intersection of to major interstate (I90 & I29). 2009 it was in Madison, WI with a pop. of 240,000.

Attendance in 2009 at Madison, WI was 20,255, 2010 in Des Moines was 20,230, 2011 in Omaha was 21,743 and 2012 in Kansas City was 22,136. I can't find what it drew this year in Minneapolis but when it was there before it drew around 29,000. So I don't see that having it in larger population centers really draws that many more attendees. Don't you think Sioux Falls could draw better than 20,000?
 
I would too. Maybe Zeb, ya never know. I think also the other thing is the other spots have big towns and or city's near by too. With Souix Fls that's about it I think isn't it? That would be the only issue I could think of.
 
Zeb, I can't get my landowners to go to Fest out of state. If it were in state they would come. They need to attend the habitat seminars which would be a huge benefit and good idea coming out of the habitat summit.

Think I will send an email as such to some of the higher ups at PF, game and fish and tourism. Let's keep pushing it.

The event would be a great boost for birds and habitat.
 
You would think that SD being the Pheasant capital of the world would pretty much make it a given. This would only be a few hours from me, hell yes I'd go. I went to it twice when it was in Des Moines. It's a great time !
 
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