Remember Barbara Mandrell’s big 1981 hit, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool?” Well, we all know that these days “country” is not only cool, but it’s hot and, along with it, the epicenter of this uniquely American music, Nashville, Tennessee. The Music City is a fast-growing and lively metropolis that attracts huge numbers of visitors to hallmark venues such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium along with its live music along “honky-tonk row” on Broadway.
It was also an opportunity for SCI to “get into the act” and they did so in a big way with a great concert featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd and Big & Rich to name a few. We loved it!
All in all, a great place for this year’s Safari Club International’s 51st Convention celebrating the Club’s long history of protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.
First off, I thought the exhibit hall, The Music City Center, was top-notch. Modern with many upscale touches, the venue featured an expansive open-floor exhibit area. Great for exhibitors and attendees alike. It was great to see many of our past and present customers at our booth, a reminder, in a way, that Julian & Sons has been exhibiting at the SCI Show for almost 40 years.
We also enjoyed getting “off the floor” in the evening, notably attending the SCIF Beretta Gallery event, The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation cocktail reception and a great dinner hosted by our friends John and Drew Burrell and Sean Finley at the High Adventure Company at a great barbeque spot named Peg Leg Porker.
The attendance was record-breaking, and I noted a good number of younger faces, folks who were especially energetic and enthusiastic. Noted conservationists and founder of Bass Pro Shops, Johnny Morris, perhaps summed it up best when he noted, “Nashville is a vibrant community, a perfect place to bring together sportsmen and women of all ages and celebrate our shared passions. We look forward to a bright future together.” My Dad, Tom Julian, would have been right in his element.
Another way we are able to show our support of SCI is through our sponsorship of the SCI Patron’s Lounge. It’s a great place to grab a bite and enjoy a drink while catching up with old friends and greeting newcomers.
We had a great show – THE OVERLAND CHEST continues to draw a lot of attention – and enjoyed some great food and live entertainment. For us, this SCI Convention hit all the right notes! Plus, we have a greater demand for our custom guns rooms, now more than ever.
If you couldn’t make it this year, the SCI Convention will be back in Nashville for the next two years, with the 2024 show scheduled for January 31 thru February 3.