by Sven K. Lindquist, SCI President
It’s official! The 2022 SCI 50th Celebration and Ultimate Sportsmen’s Market was a tremendous success. I wish to offer an additional THANK YOU to all of you who braved these trying times and joined us in Las Vegas. From my arrival in Las Vegas, things appeared to be promising. I trust no one left disappointed. The beginning of the festivities on Tuesday evening with the SCIF Beretta Conservation Leadership Gala to the Convention floor opening with the official ribbon-cutting event Wednesday morning, featuring MLB pitching stars David Wells and Brad Penny, we were off and running. Attendance Wednesday was robust and Larry the Cable Guy did not disappoint Wednesday evening with his wit and wisdom. I would offer congratulations to Steven H. Perrins who was awarded SCI’s North American Professional Hunter of the Year, along with the presentation of the International Professional Hunter of the Year Award to Adam Clements. Well done, gentlemen.
Many thanks to J. Alain Smith and his supporting cast for a wonderful program Thursday evening. The Night of the Hunter was enjoyed by all who attended, congratulations to all who excelled in the SCI Hunting Awards programs.
Convention floor attendance remained strong both Thursday and Friday. Ed Byers and Don Trump Jr. provided an extremely memorable evening Friday culminating with an exciting, record-setting auction. I would like to congratulate Eduardo F. de Araroz for receiving the prestigious C.J. McElroy Award.
Saturday continued with robust Convention floor attendance. The evening dinner and auctions are going to be remembered and talked about for years to come. SCI concluded the 50th Celebration week in grand fashion as two wonderful Bass Pro Shop/Cabelas’s Young Hunter Award recipients were honored. Congratulations Hannah Finley and Shae Greidanus. SCI presented a well-deserved recognition to Brittany Longoria as the newest SCI Diana Award winner. Congratulations to International Hunting Award recipients Brad Black and Tom Hammond — well done. The SCI Hall of Fame was expanded with the well-deserved induction of Scott A. Chapman as the 2022 inductee. SCI will long remember the presence of Tucker Carlson on the Convention floor. His evening presentation of wisdom and humor made for a memorable night. The Saturday night auction was one for the record book, followed by a great finale concert by country music recording star Craig Morgan who launched SCI off to Nashville.
Additional congratulations to Con-gressman Bruce Westerman for receiving the SCI Federal Legislator of the Year Award and to Bendt Bendtsen who was presented the International Legislator of the Year. Many thanks to the four governors, several Cabinet secretaries, additional members of the Congress and U.S. senators who joined us to Celebrate SCI at 50. Your friendship and attendance are greatly appreciated.
My final THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS would be to the supporters of SCI. Hats off to the hundreds of guides, outfitters, exhibitors and thousands of Convention attendees that make the SCI Ultimate Sportsmen’s Market happen. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you for your trust in SCI to put on a world-class event. If you enjoyed it, or missed it, stay tuned for Nashville 2023 — you ain’t seen nothing yet.
As you all know by now, the 2023 SCI Convention and Ultimate Sportsman’s Market will be in Nashville February 22-25, 2023. Personally, I have only heard only great comments about this shift east to the Central Time Zone. Nashville is an exciting city. The 51st edition of SCI promises to be spectacular. We will utilize the downtown Music City Center as the Convention show floor with the Omni Nashville serving as the SCI headquarter hotel, just across the street from the Convention floor. I would encourage all to save the dates, look for registration information and hotel booking opportunities soon. In addition to the Omni, there are many world-class hotels within a short walk of the Music City Center.
Please know that every day SCI is actively engaged to aggressively pursue our organizational mission — “To protect the freedom to hunt and pro-mote wildlife conservation worldwide.” Having the knowledge that SCI is always working to protect, promote and preserve the ability to hunt should make you proud to be a member of this fine organization.
