Outdoor enthusiasts might have a good reason to stay indoors this weekend: the Warren County Wildlife & Outdoor Expo.

The Warren County Baptist Association’s fourth annual expo will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Event chairman Lee Robinson said they put the event on for one primary purpose.

“We all love the outdoors, but primarily the reason we do this is because we have a love for the Lord,” he said. “We’re just trying to show people we love the Lord who created the outdoors.”

More than 25 vendors will be on site with an array of hunting, fishing and outdoor clothing and equipment.

Robinson said there will be three outdoor seminars including a falconry demo by David Hall at 11 a.m., a presentation of Trophies of Grace (a trophy deer collection) at 12 p.m. and a talk about snakes and other reptiles by Percy King at 1 p.m.

“This is the first year we’ve had the falconry group come, and they’ll bring their animals,” she said. “They’ll talk about their rehabilitated animals, and there will also be Percy King, who the kids really like because he lets the kids put their hands on the animals.”

Robinson said Trophies of Grace is a group of guys from south Florida who will be bringing around 60 deer heads that score more than 200 points on the Boone and Crockett scoring sheet.
“They’ll talk about how they put this collection together and why they did it,” he said.

Robinson said one of the biggest things going is the art contest, which students from the local schools competed in.

“We’ll award a top three for the different age ranges, and all those will be displayed on the walls,” he said.

The expo will host its inaugural outdoor cooking competition this year. The open competition will include food from all categories from “chicken to chitlins.”

Those interested in participating can pick up an entry form at the event.

The cook-off winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m., and winners will be awarded cash prizes: $250 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place.

The winner of the outdoor photo contest will also be announced Saturday.

Robinson said there are a lot of kids activities, which is the primary focus.

For children there will be face painting, arts and crafts, a BB gun shoot and a bowfishing exhibit.

“It’s always good just to get together with other businesses and folks just to relate to the other people in the community with shared interests,” he said. “It’s a great family activity and of course it’s free.”

Vendors currently signed up for the expo include Brown’s Gunsmith, Chester Martin, Cook Tractor, Dave’s Custom Meats, SMR, Blackburn Motors, Ledger Purvis Real Estate, Bath Fitters, Mississippi, College of Art Students, Delta Outfitters, Vicksburg Woodworks, Mr. Robert Kober (local artist), George Carr, Great Day, Winshape Camps, Delta Fowl, Mid South Power Sports, National Wild Turkey Federation, Summit Consulting, Byron Bible Camp, Lynn Custom Boats, Southern AgCredit, Automotive Paint Center, Cannon Motors, Warrior Bonfire Project, Wide Open Motor Sports, River Region Hospital and Outlets At Vicksburg.

For more information visit warrencountywildlifeexpo.com.