Big Time Fun and Big Time Winners at the 2008 Deerassic Classic
08/08/2008 9:17 pm

By: Chad McDonald, SNA Operations Mgr/Field Producer

Well folks, the Sportsmen of North America team wrapped up our last trade show for the off season this past weekend, as we joined in to rally around a great cause along with tens of thousands of outdoors men and women at the 6th Annual Deerassic Classic held at the Deerassic Park and Educational Center in Cambridge Ohio.

The Deerassic Park and Education Center and the National Whitetail Deer Education Foundation was founded in 1996 by nationally recognized whitetail expert and life long outdoorsman Dean Ziegler. Dean has had a passion for whitetail deer since childhood and began collecting trophy class whitetail racks back in the mid 1970’s. It wasn’t long before he had amassed what is considered to be one of, if not, THE largest collection of trophy whitetail antlers in the world. This collection aptly named the “Ohio Whitetail Spectacular” has traveled the country with Dean on display at trade shows and events as he promoted the Ohio state animal. Dean also being a leading breeder of whitetail deer began growing some spectacular bucks of his own, including the parks current pride and joy, a 400 class whitetail buck aptly named “Dropzilla” so named for his racks INCREDIBLE size, mass and numerous drop tines. It wasn’t long before he became inspired to provide a place where people could come and not only see deer doing what they do in their natural habitat but also to provide a place where people could learn about the physiology and history of this animal. Along with the whitetail’s incredible and sometimes baffling sensory system, this animal has been a cornerstone in American culture, from the early Native Americans and settlers all the way to today’s outdoorsmen. The whitetail deer has been an animal that not only has provided a means of survival, but has also played a major role in economies since the days of the early settlers. I mean…ever wonder where the dollar gets the nickname “a buck”? The park hosts field trips and organizes classroom visits on request and will soon be the home of the Ohio Whitetail Hall of Fame. Many outdoor related activities take place throughout the year with the crown jewel being “The Deerassic Classic”.

For three days outdoors men and women gather with friends and family at the 117 acre park to celebrate their outdoor heritage. On site camping is available for folks attending the show and during the day they can see some of the latest outdoor products to hit the market, enjoy great food and participate in contests such as the “Redneck Olympics” and Texas Hold Em’ tournament. Folks also get to meet some of the biggest names in outdoor celebrities and oh yeah…WIN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in cash and prizes. Fully loaded trucks, boats, ATV’s, cold hard cash, hunts, bows, rifles and shotguns, the list goes on and on are given away all day every day. There are also a number of side raffles in the form of loot and shoot bonuses and of course the 50/50 raffles each day where one lucky winner walks away with HALF of all the money raised for that raffle in COLD, HARD, CASH!!!

But that’s not all! There is plenty of music entertainment as well. Southpaw rocked the crowds on night one and the hilarious, Kevin Blake Weldon performed his hilarious comedic “Bad Bob and Jimmy”. hunting tunes to keep crowds entertained throughout the day. As the sun went down, big name music performers took the main stage and kept the good times rolling into the night. This years line up of headliners included performances by Ruff Creek, Cowboy Crush and the coups d’gras, a performance by country music sensation Tracy Lawrence, who performed almost all of his 15 “top 10” Billboard country hits for a crowd that danced the night away. Outdoor television personality Michael Waddell even joined Lawrence on stage for an impromptu duet as they and the crowd sang the lyrics to the Jimmy Buffet hit “Margaritaville” to close out the show and leave the crowd begging for more before they headed back to camp sites for campfire gatherings or after hour parties of their own.

We here at Sportsmen of North America would like to thank Dean Ziegler and right hand man Jerry Snapp for being such gracious hosts for our first “Classic” and big hats off to the entire events staff for running such a smooth show loaded with good, clean genuine fun in support of a great cause. We would also like to thank everyone who stopped by and said “hello” at the booth and we hope to see you as members soon! If you would like more information on Deerassic Park and Educational Center or the Classic, please click on the "More Information" link below to be taken to their web site.

We’ll see you all next in Cambridge next year for an even bigger “Deerassic Classic” and until then stay safe and best of luck in the field!