By Lori Brown
GRAHAMSVILLE — A total of 178 children up to age 15 came out to enjoy the beautiful day on Saturday at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds.
The children came to the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County’s 15th annual Youth Outdoor Expo, which was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the fairgrounds.
All of the children received a free T-shirt or a hat as well as hot dogs, potato chips, ice cream and soda. Everyone enjoyed maple flavored cotton candy, too.
After the event, the children received take home gifts as well.
The expo featured many informative demonstrations. Some of these events included New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ECO Scott Steingart with his K-9 “Buck” doing demonstrations, Grahamsville Ambulance Squad doing basic first aid, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office held a questions and answers session prior to showing the children their squad cars and a fishing seminar by Jack Danchak, who is a member of the Sullivan County Bass Association.
The children enjoyed many free activities. Those free activities included building a bluebird house, a wood duck house or a bat house.
Other free activities and demonstrations included a farm petting zoo, making pine cone bird feeders, fly casting, fly tying, trappers, taxidermy, archery, sock toss, frog shoot, horseback riding, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Child ID program, red dot lazer gun shoot, BB gun shoot, reptiles and amphibians, fishing the trout pool, tattoos, face painting, bracelet making, derby car painting and racing, turkey calling, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Beanie Baby fish pool, and playing Plinko. 
At the end of the day, there were several raffles and drawings that took place. The Federation members offered their congratulations to all of the winners of the nice prizes.
This event would not be possible without sponsors.  Some of the sponsors included The Federation of Sportsmen’s Club of Sullivan County, the Fish and Wildlife Coalition for Youth of the Hudson Valley-Catskills, First National Bank of Jeffersonville and the Sullivan County Democrat.
“There is a lot of work and preparation that goes into this event,” said Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County President Jack Danchak, who thanked his wife, Kay Danchak, for all of her work in organizing the Youth Outdoor Expo.
“Thanks to everyone for coming and have a safe trip home,” Kay Danchak said.