2005 ATA Show

I just recently returned from the ATA Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. Some of you may not know what the ATA Show is. ATA stands for Archery Trade Association. This event is owned by the members of the ATA and it is run by the industry for the benefit of the archery industry and the sole purpose of the show is to conduct business.

Well some of you now may be saying well how does that help me? I am not in the archery industry! I am about to tell you!

The ATA is the watch dog for archery and bowhunting. Here are just a few of the things the ATA is involved in: The ATA attempts to grow the sport of recreational archery, retain and grow the number of participants in archery, increase public awareness about archery, unify archers and archery organization, lower barriers to enter into archery while increasing archery opportunities, retain and grow the number of bowhunters, grow bowhunting opportunities, increase public awareness about bowhunting, lower barriers to bowhunting opportunities, and to unite bowhunters and bowhunter organizations.

In August of 2004 the ATA made an announcement that it was providing at least $225,000 in matching grants for the 2004-2005 school year to launch archery curriculums for youths in at least 15 states. This will be done primarily through the National Archery in the Schools Program.

The ATA knows that the future of our sport lies in the next generation and I would say they are definitely doing their part to make sure our sport is passed on the the next generation.

The ATA is also working with many state and federal agencies to expand archery and bowhunting programs wherever and whenever possible by working with the archery and bowhunting industry.

The ATA is also doing its part to help expand the archery education programs so prospective archers can find quality instructors near home. To do this the ATA is working with National Alliance for the Development of Archery.

In January of this year, the ATA will launch an aggressive multimedia marketing campaign to show families how everyone can learn archery and make this sport part of their families life long recreation.

These are just a few of the ways that the ATA is preserving our sport of archery and bowhunting. If you are in the archery industry do your part and support the ATA by becoming a member of the archery and bowhunting watch dog of North America! Join the ATA. For more information on the activities of the ATA visit their web page.

Now that you know a little bit about the ATA I can tell you how our trip went. Our main goal of attending the ATA show was to visit with our sponsors face to face. Once we met with all of our sponsors and thanked them for all of the support they have given BHNA over the past few years, it was time to look at all of the new gear.

Just when you thought you had the best bow and fanciest gadgets on the market, something bigger and better comes along. Get ready to spend all that cash you got for Christmas because I know there will be something that you will need to add to your hunting line up.

We saw everything from new bows to new camo patterns to new gadgets to addictive electronic games and everything in between.

This was my first time to attend the ATA show and I will definitely be going back next year. The archery industry is made up of some of the finest people that God ever created. I am proud to be a part of such a fine group!

James Ferguson

President/CEO

Bowhunting North America, LLC