2027 Convention
Nebraska's Premier Hunting & Conservation Event
The Platte River SCI Chapter brings together hunters, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, industry leaders and families from across the state, nation and world for an unforgettable weekend dedicated to celebrating our shared passion and outdoor traditions we cherish.
Platte River SCI Convention
Two days. One shared passion.
January 15-16, 2027
Join the Platte River Chapter of SCI for two days celebrating hunting, wildlife conservation, outdoor adventure and the next generation of hunters.
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From family-friendly activities and exciting auctions to educational sessions, exhibitors and inspiring stories from the field, our annual convention brings together people who share a passion for preserving our hunting heritage.
Friday Family Night
Inspiring the Next Generation
Kick off convention weekend with an evening dedicated to families, young outdoor enghusiasts and the traditions that bring us together. Enjoy hands-on activities for youth, a wild game feed, exciting auctions, raffles and opportunities to connect with fellow hunters and conservation supporters.
Friday Night Featured Guest || Nick Hoffman
Back by popular demand, Nick Hoffman with Nick's Wild Ride, returns to the stage for another unforgettable evening.
Nick Hoffman is a fiddle player, country music artist, songwriter, outdoorsman, radio host, entrepreneur, writer, television host, pilot, and history enthusiast whose diverse passions fuel his love of travel and culture. A native of tiny Nowthen, Minnesota, Hoffman left home at 16 to chase his dream of being a fiddle-playing country star, leading to performances with Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, and more before signing with Warner Music Nashville and scoring two Top 40 hits with his band The Farm, Inc. A CMA Award–winning musician, Hoffman also hosts the acclaimed TV series Nick’s Wild Ride on OutdoorChannel, now in its 11th season, which explores the intersection of hunting, music, food, and culture around the globe. The show has earned over 20 Telly Awards and the “Golden Moose” Award for Best Conservation, and also airs on Bally Sports, Amazon Prime, and MyOutdoorTV. He lives outside Nashville with his wife, daughter, horses, and dogs.
Youth Interactive Zone
Visit the Youth Interactive Zone designed for kids of all ages.
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scavenger hunts
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same show trivia
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nerf gun "Big Five" expedition
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fishing pond
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hunting simulator
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photo booth
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education stations
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prizes!!
Friday Program
We have designed everything around families for our Friday night program.
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freewill donation wild game feed
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Youth Hunter Award ceremony
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online silent auction
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raffle items for everyone
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evening facilitator, Nick Hoffman
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in-person only live auction
Exhibitor Floor
Your next adventure begins on our exhibitor floor. Connect with industry professionals and find inspiration for your next hunt of a lifetime.
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national outfitters
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international outfitters
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firearms dealers
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taxidermists
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and more!
Saturday Convention & Banquet
Celebrating our Hunting Heritage
Saturday brings together the hunting and conservation community for a full day of education, connection and celebration, ending in an unforgettable evening program.
Saturday Night Headliner || J. Alain Smith
Joining Nick Hoffman on centerstage is J. Alain Smith of Rugged Expeditions.
J. Alain Smith is host of the hit show Rugged Expeditions and the author of five hunting books consisting of short stories and photos of his hunts and humorous adventures around the world. His latest action-packed hunting book, “Chasing the Adventure”, was published in November 2020. He has also written three very
successful adventure novels, with a fourth currently in the works.
In 2013 he was the winner of Safari Cub International’s highest hunting award, the International Hunter of the Year. In 2014 he was the recipient of the “Oscar of Hunting”, the Weatherby Award, after collecting 344 different species of game during his lifetime, and most recently the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Mountain Hunter Hall of Fame Award in 2020, and the SCI Hall of Fame Award in 2022.
Alain has achieved every SCI record book Grand Slam award for animals at the diamond level, including the Big 5 of Africa (twice), the Grand Slam of North American Sheep 3 times, the World Slam of Sheep (37) and Goats (37), GSCO Triple Slam of Mountain animals and the North American 28. He has taken over 140 Cape Buffalo.
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Alain continues to hunt full time in the most distant and dangerous locales, seeking new species as well as hunting old favorites like Cape Buffalo, whitetail and wild sheep. He brought his humorous perspective on life through his hit show, Rugged Expeditions, to the television screen for 5 successful seasons on the Sportsman Channel, and now to viewers all over the world through a variety of digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Amazon Video Prime. With the convenience of streaming, the worldwide fan base has viewed the Rugged
Expeditions YouTube Channel over 7 million times. It’s not only about watching a great hunting show, but also the laughs and entertainment that only J. Alain Smith can provide!
Member Luncheon
Our annual member luncheon will start us off Saturday. Join us as we celebrate our successes in 2026, look towards 2027 and honor our outgoing board members.
Breakout Sessions
Our board is currently locking in speakers for our Saturday breakout sessions. If you know anyone, or would like to throw your hat in the ring, let us know!
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Big Game Research in Nebraska with Kent Fricke
Youth Interactive Zone
Visit the Youth Interactive Zone designed for kids of all ages: scavenger hunts, same show trivia, nerf gun "Big Five" expedition, fishing pond, hunting simulator, photo booth, education stations
and prizes!!
Exhibitor Floor
Your next adventure begins on our exhibitor floor. Connect with national outfitters, international outfitters, firearms dealers, taxidermists and more!
Saturday Program
Join us for an evening of comaraderie, conservation and captivating sories from around the world, featuring Nick Hoffman as encee and J. Alain Smith as our keynote headliner.
Raffles and Auctions
Join us for an evening of comaraderie, conservation and captivating sories from around the world, featuring Nick Hoffman as encee and J. Alain Smith as our keynote headliner.