The first event of its kind in the region, Fall Field Days brought together eighteen different outdoor, conservation and education organizations, which gave demonstrations of their activities and allowed participants to learn about a variety of different outdoor pursuits.  Participating organizations included canine clubs like the Buckeye Retrievers Club and Great Lakes Search and Rescue of Ohio that  provided retrieving and search and rescue demonstrations and other groups demonstrated pointing and training techniques.  Members of the Falconers community in Ohio presented demonstrations with their hawks and falcons.  The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division exhibited hunting and fishing activities and provided opportunities to try skeet shooting.   The Ohio Sporting Clays Association also held demonstrations.  The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club, the North Coast Fly Fishers and the Emerald Necklace Trout Unlimited Chapter provided fly tying and fly casting demonstrations. The Goodyear Wingfoot Archers gave archery demonstrations.  The Medina Soil and Water Conservation District displayed a working stream habitat model.  Ducks Unlimited, Ruffed Grouse Society, Pheasants Forever, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Woods and Waters Club, Sierra Club and the OSU Extension Service showed displays highlighting their conservation efforts. 

The exhibition was the brainchild of George Klein, owner of the Hill'n Dale and Club, and Chris Bunch, Executive Director of the Conservancy.  "We thought this was an excellent way to give people a taste of all of the wonders and opportunities of the natural world," said Klein, "And a great way to introduce them to the Conservancy, which works with private landowners to protect land from development so that we can all continue to enjoy healthy and vibrant surroundings and an abundance of outdoor opportunities." 

The Hill'n Dale Club is a 300-acre private sportsman's club that provides clay target shooting, hunting, fishing and other outdoor opportunities for its members.  "We want to help make sure the Conservancy continues to do an outstanding job protecting land in the area," Klein said.  "All of our members and all of the groups participating in this event understand the need to sustain a strong and healthy natural heritage.  As more and more people come to our area to enjoy its beauty and opportunity, the price we often pay is losing the open space and opportunity that brought them here.  By giving them a taste of these activities and showing them some of the ways they can help preserve the qualities that are so important to them, we can help the Conservancy do its job."

"We are grateful for all the groups that came to participate in this event," said Bunch.  "It is truly a wonderful indication of their commitment to our natural heritage and their understanding of the interrelations between a healthy environment with lots of open space and the pursuit of their favorite activities."

The Fall Field Days Exhibition was held in conjunction with the Fall Foliage Tour, an annual self guided tour of agricultural and conservation sights throughout Medina County that has been organized by the Medina OSU Extension office and Soil and Water Conservation District for the last 30 years.  "The Fall Foliage Tour gave us a ready made audience of several thousand people who come out to enjoy the fall colors and experience some of the rural lifestyle.  It's a great chance to show people how important our natural resources are, how others enjoy them and how the Conservancy helps to protect our natural heritage," said Bunch.