I think this is a great idea! I know of 2 vendors that would probably be in.

Well I'm only 14 so I'm not to sure what I could do to help, but if there is anything that I could do, I will willingly do it!

Has there been any more take of a show???? I would help. I have sent e-mails to some of the groups that run them in other states to ask them to get one here with no luck... So if I need sign up with the minnesota herpetological society to help so be it.. I would just like to have a show here.. Man, if Iowa has one why the hell don't we!!!!!!!!

Yeah! If Iowa can have them we should be able too. We did talk it over with the MN herp soc. But it seems hard for them to get into for some reason. Who will sponcor it?... who will come?... what do we charge?... Where do we have it?... All of those question come up. I think that even if we started with a small one and see how that turns out that would at least be a start!

Well I just sent a e-mail to the people that run the grounds at the state fare. they rent out all the places there when the fair is not going on. I just asked for info about power, tables, chairs, Hours, size of the spaces, and the cost. With that info down that would be a start. An ad in Reptiles magazine is only $162.00 for 30 words ran for 3 months.

Tie in the minnesota herpetological society into it and have there speaker there and not have a meeting that month. Try to get a few extra speakers.

This really looks like something that could happen by june july of next year. And having it at the fair grounds it would be next to the minnesota herpetological society. Looking into fees for people going to it Well $5-7 and kids free look like the going fees for small shows.

Thats half of there probems anwered and I will post the info for the fair when I get it. I really want a expo here in Mn.

The next time I see Dave DeWitt(the vice pres. of the hepr soc) i ll talk to hime more about it. Thanks Charles!

Got info on the fair Chairs $0.75 each per day, tables $6.00 each per day, Grandstand: First floor–60,000 sq. ft. ............................... $2,700 per day
Merchandise Mart: 11,200 sq. ft. .......................... $750 per day
Home Improvement: 11,200 sq. ft. ....................... $550
Modern Living: 9,840 sq. ft. ................................ $550

Facility rates are based on a one day rental. All additional services provided to an event, and costs incurred by the fair as a result of an event, are charged to the event. Listed below are
the current rates for various expenses.
Setup & Tear down ........................... $19.50/labor hour

With doing the Merchandise Mart they told me with all the power and about 30 tables it would run around $3,500 toltal.. that would be for Saturday and Sunday.... The building is just inside the main enterance to the fair grounds on the left, of Snelling Ave.

Cool! i ll let him know that it is totally possible to do.
Thanks again

I think something around the 10,000 square foot mark for room size is more than enough. I know we could get enough vendors there to more than cover the cost of renting the space for a weekend. Its definitely do-able and if the town of des moines can have I think its 2(maybe more) a year, why can't we have at least one? Getting people to come would be the easiest part of it. I can email some breeders I know of here in MN to see if they would be interested in participating in a local show.

Yeah, I really do not think it is as hard as the herp soc. thinks it really is. Of course we will have to talk to the city and let them know what we are doing. Im sure there is some legal stuff we need to do only because it is dealing with selling animals, but still totally do-able.

LOoked into it some more, all out state venders need permit(looking into that) no city tax if on the fair grounds, need mn state tax and fed tax. who evers name it is in has to have insurance but the group may get that from the fair grounds as a add on. have calls into us fish and wild life about permits... A lot of this the MHS should know about cause they did hold the midwest herp show here in 2005. but iI will keep looking.

Anything knew on this?

Minnesota is hosting the 2011 midwest symposium and sale. But that is not till oct-nov of 2011.

Yay! Its a long way off though...oh well, better than nothing.