Submitted Photo Henry Leworthy, left, provides a description of animal mounts to Zen Olow in the new Conservation Building at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds.

The Chautauqua County Fair will offer something very special this year, with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the brand-new Conservation Building at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Centrally located at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds, the new building will be renamed The Chautauqua County Conservation Education Center. This state-of-the-art facility will not only serve as a hub for conservation education but also as a community space for events and partnerships.

During an initial tour of the building two weeks ago with Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen President Zen Olow and his wife, Rosemary, Henry Leworthy said, “The primary goal of the new building initiative is to promote youth conservation education across the region. The facility will provide a centralized space to host interactive workshops, nature-based educational programming, hands-on environmental science demonstrations, and training opportunities for young people interested in conservation, ecology, and sustainable living practices.”

Anticipated programs include opportunities for local schools, 4-H groups, scouts, and families to engage with nature and science. The new structure is expected to provide a space for community events and partnerships with local, regional, and state conservation leaders.

In memory of his late father, Renny, Henry Leworthy donated funding to remove the existing conservation building and to construct the new, modern facility. The removal of the old building and construction of the new structure was a remarkable feat, completed in record time, starting in early June and finishing in the first week of July. Leworthy credits the John Miller Amish Construction Company with the exterior and interior construction, and the Schneider Services team with electrical installation for the new structure.

All the booths of the Chautauqua County Conservation Education Center are fully occupied. Leworthy invites the public to join with him in welcoming the diverse array of new and returning conservation groups that will reside in the building for the duration of the fair.

Attendees will include the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the National Turkey Federation, Bear Lake Rod and Gun Club, Westfield Fish and Game Club, and the Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen.

Other attendees will include: Kids-On-The-Fly, Shooters Committee on Political Education (SCOPE), New York State Forest Owners Association, Ripley Rod and Gun, Chautauqua Beekeepers Association, and several others.

The interior walls of the new facility will feature game animal mounts from around the world, including exotic species like kudu, springbok, and impala, as well as North American species such as deer, elk, and bear. This eye-catching display is not just for show, but also serves as an educational tool, accompanied by an explanation of why certain types of regulated hunting are fully supportive of wildlife conservation and anti-poaching efforts in North America and on every continent. Don’t miss it.

CALENDAR

July 15-20: Chautauqua County Fair – visit the new Conservation Building.

July 17-20: WALLEYE. Sunset Bay Walleye Shoot-Out 2025, $500 entry, $750K prizes; 6-fish bag/day – 1-day major contest; Don Ruppert; 716-435-4137, visit: www.walleyeshootout.com/.

July 20: BASS. Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters 2025 Summer Open, Bass for Cash, 6AM-2PM, Prendergast Boat Launch, $200 Entry includes Big Bass Payout. Info: 716-708-0330.

July 26-27: ARCHERY. NYS Archery Shooters Association (ASA) Federation Championship, Bear Lake Rod & Gun. Info: Rudy Abersold, 716-397-9717.