ATA 2012  Columbus, Ohio
What can I say about the ATA show? This show is the most difficult show to describe as it is the only one of its kind. Take the biggest outdoor show you have ever attended and double it in size. Or maybe even triple or quadruple it! This show is huge! And while most shows limit their vendors to one or two 10’ X 10’ booths, most of the vendors at ATA have gigantic booths! Many as big as 50’ X 50’ or larger! 300,000 square feet of floor space and over 500 vendors make this the show of all shows.

What’s the difference between ATA and other outdoor shows? At a regular outdoor show, the major vendors and manufacturers are manned by hired help or people that work for that company. At ATA, the booths are staffed by their executives. Presidents, vice presidents and CEOs are all in attendance at their booths and they are there to talk with you about their products.

Hunting celebrities? Most outdoor shows have a few celebs setup to make an appearance or sign autographs. At the ATA show, they are all there and I do mean all! If they are on TV, they are at ATA. You see them walking around, signing autographs, getting their picture taken and just mingling with the people attending the show.

The ATA is also the place to get a sneak peak before products hit the shelves. Outdoor companies wait until ATA to unveil their newest and greatest products. You will, find the latest gear and equipment and let their experts answer your questions. Because product sales are not a primary function at ATA, the vendors have all the time in the world to talk to you about their products.

Walking around this show is exhilarating and exhausting. It literally takes 2 days just to take a peek at every booth and as a hunter, it is impossible to get to talk with everyone I would like to talk with. When you walk in, it takes your breath away.

Now, have I made you think you would like to attend this show? Well, don’t get your hopes up. This show is not open to the general public. This show is for vendors to display their products, buyers to make deals for the upcoming year and for press (that’s us) to cover the event. It is “By invitation only” and not easy to get invited. This is also one of the things that makes this show so fun to attend. No big crowds! You don’t have to fight your way from booth to booth and the staff at the booths have time to talk with you.

I attend a lot of outdoors shows but there is nothing like the ATA. I look forward to attending each and every year and am already counting down the days to next years show in Kentucky.

By the way... Did I mention we get to shoot all of the bows? Well, that was just icing on the cake...

By Robert Householder

Robert was introduced to hunting by his uncle, Jeff Hendricks, at a very young age. He grew up in the outdoors, hunting and fishing at every opportunity. He started, as most boys do, with hunting squirrels and rabbits but was soon deer hunting with his uncle and thus started a true love for deer hunting. Jeff and Robert were two of a kind and stayed in the woods or on the water as much as possible until his uncles death in 2007.

Robert was introduced to turkey hunting by a close friend, Jerry Golden, and soon developed a passion for hunting this elusive bird. It remains one of his favorite game to hunt.

Robert has branched out of just hunting in Alabama to include states like Iowa, Mississippi and Georgia. He hopes to continue to hunt game in other states in the future. Robert is a veteran of the first Gulf war and served in the USAF for a total of 7 years, including assignments in Germany, Nebraska, Texas and Illinois.

Robert is the owner of an IT Managed Services company (www.gtinow.com) in Greenville, Alabama and is the founder of TalkHunting. He has been married to his wonderful wife, Annette, since 1985 and has 3 grown children, 2 sons and a daughter. He also has one grand daughter, (Katie) and one Grandson (Jake). Robert is also a hobbyist beekeeper.

God, Family and the outdoors are his life.....

Comments(1):

1. attending

   I will never miss another ATA...my feet were sore for three days when I got home and I am still not sure I saw everything there!

   Monday, February 06, 2012 Luanne