F&G Not At Its Usual Spot at the Eastern Idaho State Fair

State fairs are steeped in tradition, whether it is the livestock judging, carnival rides or the food booths. One of the enduring traditions of the Eastern Idaho State Fair is to stop by the Idaho Fish and Game booth to check out the stuffed heads and the fish tanks. This year the Fish and Game will be at the fair, but the traditional booth will be shut down so that staff can operate the Citizens Against Poaching trailer. The CAP Trailer is a traveling hall of shame, showing wildlife that was illegally taken from the citizens of Idaho. The trailer this year will have a prime position located on the midway near the main entrance. Two years ago the CAP trailer made its initial appearance at the fair, but the location was rather remote and relatively few fair goers discovered the trailer. Those who did find it, really were fascinated by what they saw. Because the old real estate adage "Location, Location, Location" really has validity, Fish and Game decided it would be worth spending the extra time and money to locate a spot at the fair that would allow for more exposure. "Our traditional booth has always been a popular destination at the fair, but this year's CAP trailer location will put us smack dab in the main traffic flow of the fair," said Regional Conservation Educator Gregg Losinski, one of the individuals responsible for getting things together at the fair for Fish and Game. The goal of the CAP Trailer is to help create a public awareness of what wildlife is being stolen from Idaho residents by those who choose to poach. "We want the public to know that we really depend on their help so that we can protect the natural resources that belong to us all," Losinski said. The animals on display in the trailer are from poaching cases that took place on the eastern side of the state. Two similar trailers have been created for the Western and Northern portions of the state. Fair goers who love the old Fish and Game booth need not worry about seeing it again. "We'll be back in our old spot next year, " Losinski said. "We just wanted to take advantage of this educational resource this year and put it somewhere where a lot of people would be able to enjoy it." The traditional booth also has huge permanent fish tanks, complete with a filter and chiller system to allow display of fish. "People love to see the fish, so we'll be back in the booth with all our fish next year," he said. The Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot starts Saturday, August 30, and runs through Saturday, September 6.