Pine Technical College Hosts 23rd Annual Gun Show

You might have attended to find an antique shotgun.   You might have attended to find a one hundred dollar .22.   You may have been looking for that one special piece to fill that hole in your firearms collection.   Regardless of the reason, Pine Technical College 's Gun Show was the place to find what you were looking for on February 25 th and 26 th .   Hosted for the 23rd year by the PTC Gunsmithing Department, it is an annual soiree.   If you missed it, do not fret.   They'll be back again next year.  

The annual Gun Show is organized by the student Shooter's Association.   The association is made up of Gunsmithing students and was established to promote competitive and social shooting sports .   Over the years they have helped to support the college by paying for the Trap and Skeet team to attend the American Collegiate International Union National Clay Target Championship; by hosting the all school spring shooting sports event; by purchasing and donating tools for the Gunsmithing Department and donating books and videos for the Learning Resource Center; and by administering and operating the Gun Show.  

The students manage all of the logistics of the event, including contacting the vendors, setting up, tearing down and working the show.   The students also volunteer to build parts of a custom rifle each year to be raffled at the show.   This year's, a .270 deer rifle, went to Loni Brouwer , the daughter of one of the students in the Gunsmithing program.   Any funds gained from the event, such as that earned from the raffle, are in turn used to support the Gunsmithing program.   

Matt Bolf , a PTC Gunsmithing instructor who has over 25 years of industry experience and is the Shooter's Association Advisor, said, “Each year the students work hard to make this event a success.   This year was no exception.   Over 2600 people attended the 2006 show to see the goods on display by over 200 vendors.”  

Vendors lined rooms of the college with tables full of guns, ammunition, and supplies.   The vendors present were numerous and included Laib's Gun Shop from Spicer, Wolf's Den from Hugo, S&K Guns and past graduates now working in the profession.  

The Gunsmithing program has been at Pine Technical College since 1980 where it began with few students in a 30x30 room.   Today, the program enrolls over 60 students and has a full manual and CNC machine shop, bluing and heat treating facilities and a stocked vault with attached tool crib.  

Dave Defenbaugh , an instructor in the program since its inception and the originator of the Gun Show, said, “This show is a great way to bring our students together with people that work in their field, a face to face opportunity.   The show has occurred for 23 years and is a part of Pine Technical College 's history.   This event is an opportunity for students to become a part of that history and for community members to visit the college and remain informed of the progress we make.”

President Robert Musgrove stated, “There is no other annual event the College hosts that brings as many people into our facility.   We appreciate the support of the vendors and the members of the community that attend.”

He added, “ Gunsmithing programs are rare in the United States .   At Pine Technical College we are dedicated to our technical programs and the opportunities they create.   The Gun Show is the perfect venue to bring these together- learning and industry.   We are proud to have Gunsmithing as a program of distinction, and we support the annual Gun Show.   We appreciate how well it presents and represents the college.”