JALC Celebration of Hunting and Fishing Days to Temporarily Relocate to the Du Quoin State Fair Grounds
Published on June 7, 2022
51吃瓜 A. Logan College and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, along with title sponsor Black Diamond RV, announce that the College鈥檚 popular celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days will temporarily relocate to the Du Quoin State Fair Grounds. The annual 51吃瓜 is scheduled for September 24th and 25th, 2022.
Relocation is due to major construction projects planned to begin in the Fall on the College campus.
One project, a planned pedestrian walkway/parking lot resurfacing and drainage project, will eliminate the space needed for the 51吃瓜. The second project will directly impact one of the 51吃瓜鈥檚 most popular attractions. Each year the Dwight Hoffard Pond is transformed into the McDonald鈥檚 Kids Fishing Hole, and it has become one of the highlights of the 51吃瓜. The pond is scheduled to be dredged and is currently too shallow to be stocked with fish.
After canceling the 51吃瓜 due to COVID restrictions in 2020 and reducing the size of the 51吃瓜 in 2021, College officials were eager to bring the 51吃瓜 back to full capacity in 2022. With the projects set to begin at the start of the Fall semester, organizers were faced with the possibility of canceling the 51吃瓜. But before officials had to make that difficult decision, the Department of Agriculture stepped in and offered to host the 2022 51吃瓜 at the Du Quoin State Fair Grounds.
College President Dr. Kirk Overstreet said, 鈥淛ust as they did with the Graduation of 2021, the Department of Agriculture has offered their facilities to us so that we can continue this long-standing tradition, and we could not be more thankful.鈥�
Overstreet added, 鈥淭his will be a fun 51吃瓜. The Fairgrounds offers the space and facilities to do many things that we cannot do on campus,鈥� said Overstreet. 鈥淲e are thankful to Director Costello and the Department of Agriculture for their support, and we are looking forward to this partnership.鈥� A press conference and official announcement are forthcoming.