Valparaiso hosts Reptile & Animal Extravaganza

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Midwest Expos is billed as delivering excellence by means of immersive schooling and entertaining experiences. A technique the Wheatfield firm does that’s by means of reptile reveals.

The ultimate Valparaiso Reptile & Animal Extravaganza at U.S. Military Nationwide Guard Armory for 2022 takes place on Nov. 26 and 27, finishing a slate of eight reveals for the yr.

“We’ve been there 16 months,” mentioned Steve Garvin, who co-owns Midwest Expos with Cheryl Steele.

“It’s clear. It’s good. It’s easy-to-find. Twenty-five years in the past there was a reptile present that was held there that was really well-known. It went out of enterprise. There hasn’t been one there in 15 years or so.

“The positioning works. You possibly can draw from Chicago. You possibly can draw from numerous areas into Valpo. I just like the city. I used to vend on the different present years in the past.”

Garvin mentioned there can be roughly 15 distributors from states inside 50 miles of Valparaiso, together with Indiana and Michigan.

Northwest Indiana distributors at Valparaiso Reptile & Animal Extravaganza embrace Midwest Chook Toys; Rhyno’s Royals; and Spikes, Scales, & Tails.

“There can be snakes and spiders, lizards and frogs, turtles and tortoises, birds and also you identify it so far as exotics. There could also be hamsters and guinea pigs. A whole lot of it is dependent upon what distributors present up. There’s all types of various animals,” mentioned Garvin of Traverse Metropolis, Michigan.

“Our distributors are educated. We’re not simply there to promote animals. We’re there to teach individuals. There are additionally provides to go together with all of the animals.

“We’ve distributors that care. We’ve distributors that work together with youngsters. They will come and maintain the snake and find out about snakes. My enterprise companion runs a 155-acre animal sanctuary so we’re about much more issues.”

Catching a Dekay’s Brownsnake began Garvin’s fascination with reptiles.

“I began retaining reptiles once I was 6 with stuff I caught within the yard. After I was 10 I purchased my first pair of snakes,” he mentioned, noting that they have been red-tailed boas aka boa constrictors.

“It’s an habit, for lack of a greater phrase. When you’re actually thinking about them, they’re like M&M’s and you may’t have only one.”

Garvin at present has a number of pets.

“I hold a python. I’ve a 6½-foot alligator in my basement that I’ve had since he was 10 inches lengthy. His identify is Wally. I’ve a sulcata tortoise. They’re the most important tortoise on the planet,” he mentioned.

In response to Garvin, one of many causes that individuals have reptiles as pets is as a result of reptiles are sometimes hypoallergenic.

“There’s lots of people these days which have allergic reactions. They’re not normally allergic to something with scales and issues alongside these traces. We even have lots of people who find yourself with reptiles as a result of they will’t have a canine or a cat or a chook,” he mentioned.

“Get educated earlier than you buy an animal. Just remember to can care for it. A few of them are very easy. A few of them have very particular necessities. If individuals don’t know, come ask. That’s why we’re there.”

Midwest Expos helps the USA Affiliation of Reptile Keepers, which is best often called USARK and described as striving “to uphold the best moral requirements within the retaining, care, breeding and sale of reptiles and amphibians.”

“It’s an excellent group. We donate tables at each considered one of our expos to them. We donate time and cash to them. I can’t say sufficient good issues about them,” mentioned Garvin about USARK, which is led by president Phil Goss, who lives south of Indianapolis.

Garvin mentioned he’s wanting ahead to connecting with Valparaiso Reptile & Animal Extravaganza attendees.

“I need the general public to return out and have time. If they simply wish to come out and discuss reptiles, we’re good with that too,” he mentioned.

“We’ve tried to make this about schooling. It must be in regards to the subsequent technology. Half of these items could be extinct with out individuals working inside their homes. I can’t let you know what number of endangered species any person has helped save from elevating them of their basements.

“We’ve all the things from the child that desires to have a boa constrictor and thinks it’s cool to gents who’re professors at main universities and are well-educated and all the things in between.”

Valparaiso Reptile & Animal Extravaganza

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 26-27

The place: U.S. Military Nationwide Guard Armory, 1502 Linwood Ave., Valparaiso

Tickets: $5 adults; free ages youthful than 10

Info: 231-360-3236; midwestexpos.com/events-1

Jessi Virtusio is a contract reporter for the Put up-Tribune.



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