Snow Goose Festival Funded by Lodging Tax Panel

The request for $10,370 in marketing funds and contract fees for the 16^th Annual High Plains Snow Goose and Heritage History Festival was approved Tuesday, September 19^th by the Prowers County Lodging Tax Panel.  Organizer, Vincent Gearhart, made the presentation for funding to help produce the annual event which brings numerous bird watchers to southeast Colorado each February for the three-day event.

“We’re headquartered at Lamar Community College for many of the exhibitions,” Gearhart said, adding that the banquet will be held at the Lamar Eagles Lodge and the craft fair and additional exhibits will be centered at the Parks & Wildlife offices on Highway 287, across from LCC. He said, “The number of visitors does fluctuate.  We’re expecting around 100-120 visitors, plus we’re attracting local residents to view some of the exhibits and craft shows.”  The three day event features tours of bird-watching areas in southeast Colorado, as well as lectures from nationally recognized speakers and birding enthusiasts.  This year’s event will run from February 8^th-11^th.  Gearhart told the Panel that although this is an annual winter event, many birders will return to the area at other times of the year for viewing different bird species in their native habitats.

A request to fund activities for the Zonta International District 12 Governor’s Seminar in Lamar was also approved by the Panel. Presenter Liz Whitham requested $1,420 for the seminar which will be presented at Lamar Community College in October, 2018.  Whitham explained this event occurs every other year and Lamar has been selected for the 2018 convention which will bring an estimated 100 people for the two day event.  “We’re expecting Zonta representatives from northern Colorado, as well as Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming,” she stated to the Panel.

The 2018 budget at $98,154 was approved for submission to the Prowers County Commissioners, essentially the same amount as the current year. President Pat Palmer proposed seeking funds to purchase a sign to be used to signify the location of the Transportation Museum, directly adjacent to the Big Timbers Museum at the KLMR curve on Highway 287.  He estimated the cost at about $1,000, adding that the use of funds falls ‘slightly’ outside the scope of the Panel’s marketing and advertising by-laws and the group will seek the advice of the county commissioners and CPA.

By Russ Baldwin