Each year Convention exhibitors help fund many of SCI’s conservation, education and humanitarian programs. Through their participation as exhibitors and the donation of an incredible array of outstanding auction items, SCI has become the leader in worldwide conservation. In recognition of their contributions, SCI honored an elite group of the top ten exhibitors during the annual Exhibitor Appreciation Party Tuesday evening.
President Elect Kevin Anderson expressed SCI’s gratitude to all the exhibitors for their support, particularly in light of the challenging economy, but individually praised the ten exhibitors who have contributed greatly to SCI’s success over the years through their participation in the show and generous donations of product and services.
The top ten were determined using a combination of tenure, booth size and past donations and they included:
#1 – John Rigby & Co.
SCI’s perennially top-ranked exhibitor is the oldest gun maker in the English-speaking world. Though Rigby now operates in Paso Robles, California, they are the modern incarnation of one of Britain’s most storied gun makers. Rigby has exhibited with SCI since 1988, and SCI has profited more than $300,000 from the sale of their donations. In addition, Rigby has donated top-quality firearms to SCI to honor important guests at the SCI Convention.
#2 – Rann Safaris
Jeff Rann, the driving force behind Rann Safaris, has been hunting professionally since 1977. Jeff has conducted safaris in South Africa, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. In 1998, SCI named him its International Professional Hunter of the Year. His many contributions to the club have made him SCI’s Number 2 ranked exhibitor and our evening auctions have featured Jeff’s Okavango Delta hunts for years.
#3 – Beretta USA
One of the world’s oldest corporations, Beretta has been owned by the same family since its inception in 1526. Under the leadership of current owner Ugo Beretta, they have been unflagging supporters of SCI. Since 1992, Beretta has donated at least 34 firearms to SCI that have a combined retail value of nearly $500,000.
#4 – Swanepoel and Scandrol
A reliable donor of Zambian safaris, Swanepoel and Scandrol’s hunt donations bring some of the best values at SCI’s auctions. Doug Scandrol and Peter Swanepoel established their company together in Zambia in 1984. Swanepol and Scandrol’s professionals have guided SCI members to more than 2300 record book animals. More than 100 of these are currently in the top ten of their species.
#5 – Holland & Holland
H&H is as well-known for their classic cartridges as for the quality of their guns. Their quality has made them favorites of such hunting luminaries as Samuel Baker and J.A. Hunter. H&H has been a consistent donor to SCI’s auction program since 1983, but their crowning achievement in that department is a grand Millennium Special Royal grade double rifle in .600 Nitro Express that sold for $270,000 in 2000, netting $189,000 for SCI.
#6 – Call of Africa
When Ross Parker and his wife, Kristen, opened their gallery in 1987, they were fortunate enough to represent some of Africa’s most talented artists. They now feature African and environmentally themed art by artists from around the world. Call of Africa has exhibited at SCI’s Annual Hunters’ Convention since 1987, and SCI has been able to further mission programs with the $250,000 raised from their donations.
#7 – John Banovich
The work of internationally acclaimed wildlife artist John Banovich can be described as flawless, inimitable, and transcendent and auction sales reflect these sentiments. An exhibitor since the early 1990’s, over the years his donations have netted proceeds nudging the $400,000 mark. John’s talent fittingly earned him the nod as the first featured artist for SCIF’s Conservation Artist of the Year program.
#8 – Mayo Oldiri Camp
Although Mayo Oldiri is the only top-ten exhibitor who has not regularly exhibited with SCI since the last century, their Cameroon safaris for bongo and Lord Derby eland have graced SCI’s evening auctions since 2001. The family-run operation is owned by Antonio Reguerra and offers first-class savannah and forest safaris. The superb quality of their donations surely accounts for their rapid ascent through the ranks of exhibitors.
#9 – Kobus Moller Studios
Kobus Moller has always been a staunch supporter of Safari Club International. Year after year he has made the long trek from halfway around the globe to exhibit at SCI and donate his original art for our auctions. His paintings have been shown around the world with great success and acceptance in South Africa, Sweden, and the United States. Kobus is also SCI Foundation’s 2010 Conservation Artist of the Year.
#10 – Tanzania Game Tracker Safaris
An exhibitor with SCI since 1983, Tanzania occupies one of the bigger displays on the show floor. For several years, they have taken SCI auction buyers to some of Tanzania’s premier safari destinations. Their hunters have entered almost 600 entries in SCI’s Record Book of Trophy Animals.
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One of my Coues deer from a more successful hunt
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