The organizers of the CACCIA VILLAGE 2015 sum up. Interview with Riccardo Ceccarelli, head of the communication of the Kermesse. The event had set important objectives in terms of services to visitors and the companies gave their important contribution to the spectacle. The result is extraordinary, Caccia Village, submerged by the passion of over 36.000 enthusiasts.
Riccardo Ceccarelli is probably among all the members of the organization staff of the Caccia Village, the most informed about the numbers and the appreciation of the visitors of the many events surrounding the fair, in his role as head of the communication of the event.
Riccardo, let's start with the numbers: how many presences were registered at the three Umbrian days that ended last May 17th?
We are undoubtedly more than satisfied. Andrea Castellani, President of the company that owns Caccia Village, had declared that the goal was to go beyond 35.000 admissions and was a good prophet, given that the almost definitive counts speak of a number just over 36.000.
Stratospheric number, also including the unparalleled volunteers without whom such events have difficulty in reaching the public, which, let's remember, is always very well prepared technically.
As for the companies present or rather the brands, you also had the most important importers at the fair.
It is difficult to say how many brands were present at the fair, simply because - for example - Bignami alone markets over 200 brands in the hunting, fishing and outdoor sectors. But I believe that we can speak with absolute serenity of over 500 brands present - given this, which is certainly underestimated - but which gives the idea of the importance of the exhibition, of the exhibition offer of the over 300 exhibitors present. I would also like to highlight the fact that the arms sector was present with exhibition stands of companies of global standing, which made the event spectacular with structures up to their blazon. In short, all organizational staff and companies have tried to operate at their best. 
Let's deepen a bit, to understand if Caccia Village is an event where new products arrive or the general public has already seen it in other shores, given that we are almost halfway through the year. The interesting thing about Caccia Village is actually this; soon fans will start thinking about purchases for next season and our event is considered very interesting in terms of business both by location and by period. I make a single reference because listing them would be somewhat tedious, but Caccia Village hosted the launch of an innovative product from Benelli of Urbino; the new 828U over / under, proposed on display in the pavilions and on trial in the skeet shooting ranges. It is a world leader company, which decides to launch its product on a specific national market at a specific time and occasion; it appears to me as a beautiful statement of esteem for our work.
Speaking of skeet shooting ranges naturally means speaking of another novelty.
Yes, I would say that we have created an important precedent. An indoor event of this level flanked by skeet lines had never been held in Italy because the combination of national laws was difficult to imagine. The effort - apart from the not insignificant economic one - was significant but the result obtained was remarkable. And in this regard, since I personally followed all the planning and analysis of the various problems, I want to thank all the bodies involved and in particular the officials of the State Police - Commissariat of Assisi, to whom we have posed considerable questions. account, for the obvious reasons of working in absolute safety with the public and firearms. From the point of view of public appreciation - just to use a thematic term - "we hit it right". And here the numbers can help; over 25.000 shots fired in days and just to understand how much it is appreciated then to try the news, of these about 38% fired with the Benelli 828U that I mentioned earlier. All the companies that own the shooting ranges - I have the audacity to say - have been very satisfied and we too, because we have won a challenge that in certain bureaucratic steps had seemed impracticable. And putting it into practice was the task, impeccably carried out, of the Piancardato TAV. The road is open, there is only to continue a path to perfect the details.
There is also great space for seminars and congresses, and here too there is significant praise.
Here we have begun to work since the end of the previous edition, knowing that we can count on the support of the Umbria Region which, like every year, provides us with a space for our focuses, a space however deliberately immersed in the public with a great appeal. We have continued on the path begun last year, namely that of integrating culture and science with technology. For this reason, the companies were willing to offer their products, and they did it with satisfaction. But Caccia Village is also characterized by science and in addition to an interesting focus on the current state of the hare, I would like to remember a very specific choice we made in relation to selection hunting. To this, certainly particularly technical and in strong growth, we have dedicated a whole day, that of Saturday, with focus and speakers at national level, who have followed one another on various topics. All under the irreplaceable organizational direction of the President of URCA Umbria, Giuliano Sorbaioli, grand master of ceremonies of the event. The smoothbore was also explored, of course, with a focus on the pointed-lock cartridge complete with practical demonstrations. Franchi with his Food Academy and the support of Michele Milani took us on the roads of good taste and genuine food, cooking game directly at his stand and managing a dedicated focus. Because then, an event like Caccia Village must also be this, not just a show and mere exposure.
Caccia Village as in its tradition, was also and strongly dog-loving.
Sure, without a shadow of a doubt. This year even more forcefully because the motivation to repeat last year's successes was strong. Ivo Angeli, who has always been the "dog lover at Caccia Village", passed away recently and everyone did their best to make an event that from now on can only be dedicated to his work. I do not hide that by conducting the award ceremony of the dog show, the voice became so serious, when looking up at the audience, I found countless tears on the faces of those present and family members. But the event is perfectly successful and the merit is due to the very close collaboration of the hunting associations led by Alessandro Barbino who has been a friend of the late Ivo since childhood. And out of any competition, seeing many dogs on a leash with their owners in a crowd is always pleasant and this is possible at Caccia Village.
You mentioned associations; it too had its spotlight at Caccia Village.
The hunter like the wolf, let's not forget, is a strongly social subject. Here at Caccia Village, the hunting associations wanted to confront each other on a path, that of unity, which has been activated for some time, but which needs appointments like this to say so, the point of the situation. I also remember that our event was accompanied by the Day of the Hunting Pride and a large number of enthusiasts came down from the north who carry out this important movement with sagacity. This is an event which by catchment area attracts the center-south and the presence of many Lombards from the Hunting Pride has truly united the passion of a nation.
As usual also Opera Venandi.
Of course, another prerogative of the Caccia Village Staff is to give recognition to those who work in favor of the dissemination of hunting culture. And this year people, considered by us to be worthy of this award, have obtained it. I remember them are Giovanni De Angelis oplologist, Vladimiro Palmieri and Diego Baccarelli journalists, Roberto Bianchi painter and Bruno Beccaria Director of the Franchi Division, the latter awarded, obviously not for commercial merits that do not compete with us, but for his ability to support the production of weapons ingenious communication ideas such as that of introducing resources into the dissemination of hunting cuisine.
A few words about the Club Caliber 16 which is exclusive to this show.
It is - exclusive - because Andrea Castellani has long understood that even small groups of enthusiasts are able to make the events spectacular and I believe they have not, as usual, disregarded expectations, especially with the Sunday appointment " aperitif with the press ”where they presented to journalists the brief history of the Club and the world premiere of the launch of a Trophy in 16 on the shooting ranges in collaboration with Rizzini and Danesi Sport. But Andrea's intuition went further because it gave space to many other subjects who identify themselves in facebook groups on specific passions. The Blaser Club comes to mind so quickly. We must publicly give them credit because the hunt is done by everyone.
A lot of public and a lot of women.
This is another pleasant observation. Hunting in central and southern Italy, I believe I can affirm, is a matter shared in the family and many wives and companions are an integral part of the hunting successes, realizing the final act of sampling, with an increasingly refined cuisine. And this is only part of the female universe. Another important share of visitors is also directly interested as the protagonist and Caccia Village also hosted a representation of the Wild Boar Hunters Group, duly dressed in pink for the occasion. I would also like to point out that I have received interesting data on the number of representatives of the fair sex who have tried their hand at skeet shooting at the temporary camps of Caccia Village.
Big in action to put on a show?
But, hunting, fishing, outdoor and skeet shooting are not football, they generate different sensations and alternative ways of expressing them. But the show did not miss, for example at the Browning Winchester shooting line their testimonial Raniero Testa showed off his ballistic skills.
A few words about the short weapon because Caccia Village aimed at us.
We definitely aimed at it because even the short weapon is a sporting weapon. Furthermore, there is a common feeling in our country in relation to the needs of personal defense and it is a matter that cannot be ignored. But it must be done in the right way and the collaboration with companies such as Beretta and Tanfoglio who exhibited their products was fundamental. The expansion of this sector is one of the points of future growth of the event and in my thinking, not only in the exhibition, but also in the organization of specific seminars in which to involve also officials of the Ministry of the Interior.
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A question comes to us, but how come unlike other demonstrations, there are no groups of protesters?
Obviously, they cannot be ruled out a priori, but I believe that the reason lies in the mentality of the populations residing in the regions which represent the bulk of the catchment area. We are far from the metropolis and sincerely even those who have different ideas, who do not share hunting, fishing or the use of weapons in general, externalize them in civil and sober ways, respecting passions even if we want with awareness, and I mean in particular to hunting, which, being notoriously particularly regulated in Italy, has found its place in the management of biological balances.
Future development ideas?
There are, there are. But telling them now is premature. Certainly, if possible, an expansion of the number of skeet lines, but this is evidently evident. Then other things, but we are studying them. Most people missed an experiment at the Club Calibro 16 stand - and this was the intention at the time - carried out in agreement with Andrea Castellani, and the positive feedback obtained can set the stage for a new important novelty for next year. Let us work calmly and you will see it realized. For now top secret.
Thanks?
Of course, at least thirty-six thousand and one impersonal…. to the weather !!!
22.05.2015
