PRATT -- On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will culminate special events that have taken place throughout the year commemorating the agency's 100th anniversary with the KDWP Centennial Celebration. The event will take place at the Pratt Operations Office, two miles east and one mile south of Pratt, from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. The day will be filled with activities geared to every outdoor interest. Events, contests, exhibits, displays, and demonstrations will be held, and the Pratt Employees Group will sell buffalo burgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings.

Events and contests will include the following:

• team relay event -- the Pratt Recreation Department will organize a running, biking, and canoeing relay, which will begin in downtown Pratt and finish at the Pratt office by 9 a.m.;
• kids fishing pond -- the KDWP Fisheries and Wildlife Division will organize a kids fishing contest, for three age categories. Prizes for contest winners;
• general fishing -- Centennial Pond will be open for catch and release fishing by all ages; and
• canoeing.

Those looking for education or information will find KDWP staff at the various booths that will be set up, or conducting training seminars on outdoor skills. Among the displays and demonstrations currently scheduled are the following:

• hatchery tours;
• education center tours;
• Laser Shot system;
• K-9 Unit;
• Law Enforcement Division patrol boats;
• Fisheries and Wildlife Division shocker boat;
• flint napping;
• trophy scoring;
• tackle making;
• retriever demonstration;
• flyfishing; and
• archery.

The event will also be an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the state's conservation organizations. The following organizations will have exhibits on hand:

• Christian Food Bank;
• Ducks Unlimited;
• Kansas Farmer and Hunters Feeding the Hungry;
• Kansas Furharvesters Federation;
• Kansas Sport Hunting Association;
• Kansas Chapter, National Wild Turkey Federation;
• Pheasants Forever;
• Pratt Tribune;
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation;
• Kansas Wildlife Officers Association;
• Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education; and
• Kansas Wildscape.

The newly-developed Centennial Pond will be dedicated around lunch time with a number of state and local dignitaries on hand. This promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of outdoor Kansas, so everyone interested in hunting, fishing, boating, or nature in general is invited.
For more information, phone 620-672-5911.
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