“Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person.” -Fred Bear
CRAWFORD COUNTY- Far beyond northern Michigan, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, and hunters share a common appreciation for Bow Hunting pioneer Fred Bear.
Bear Archery, the company Fred founded 90 years ago, is a name synonymous with quality and performance and is also famously appreciated across the country.
Bear and his wife moved to Graying in 1947, living in a tent beside the AuSable river as they set to establish Bear Archery. For 31 years, Bear Archery would be the primary employer for the area, and Fred became locally known as a kind outdoorsman who loved people and the land.
It is fitting then, that many years later a group of appreciative locals whose lives had been touched by Fred in one way or another, would gather at Bear’s Den Pizza and set out to remember, honor, and promote Fred Bear and work to “keep the spirit alive” as Bear had often said.
2024 marks the 7th Annual Fred Bear Day- and things have grown from a one-day event to a three-day schedule packed full of family friendly fun, learning and community that brings enthusiasts from all directions.
Fred Bear Day Inc Secretary Becky Shires-Cwiek met Fred Bear when she was eight years old, shot a bow as a child and got involved with Fred Bear Day herself as an adult when she answered a call for a photographer needed for the organization.
Bringing extensive non-profit experience, Shires-Cwiek stepped into the open secretary role and has worked diligently beside the four-person board to promote and grow the event to what it is today.
“We want to bring awareness to archery; archery brings the kids outside away from devices; and the weekend format of events allows us to reach youth and adults alike. Archery can be accessible to all, a person in a wheelchair or with a disability can still enjoy the sport, and we want to promote that.” Becky shares.
First declared Fred Bear Day on March 5th, 1999, by Mayor Ralph Stevens; 2024’s Fred Bear day events start on Friday March 1st with a meet and greet with Bear Archery Executives that travel from six states including Florida, where the company is now located.
Saturday offers a bustling trade show at Kirkland Community College as well as social activities around town with music and entertainment.
Sunday starts with a 21-whistling arrow salute to Fred Bear at the old Bear Archery Grounds and follows with speakers, a raffle and auction.
For businesses and individuals who want to contribute to sponsorship of the project, engraved bricks and plaques can be purchased through March 31st on the fredbearday.org website.
Shires-Cwiek reflects on what Fred Bear Day has become and the growth she has witnessed, “this brings people here from so many areas, it gives our town another reason to be a destination that is sought out.
Bear Archery has been important to a lot of people over the years and has contributed to the area and still supports projects here, that’s great.
There will be some incredible moments this year. We will have the Color Guard, a marching band, the whistling arrow salute is incredible, people sign up in a lottery to be able to shoot. We are excited about the community experiencing this.”
If Mr. Fred Bear were here himself to witness all of this, we might guess that he would say this, is indeed “keeping the spirit alive”.
“I feel like one of God’s chosen people, having had the opportunity to share, with many fine companions, these varied and lovely realms of our natural world.” -Fred Bear
A life well lived, lives on.
