The Great Bear Show to Perform at Nevada State Fair

Aug. 4, 2009 - PRLog -- Contact:   John Owens, CFE, General Manager           
Phone:     775-688-5767
Cell Phone:    775-636-2265
E-mail:      jowens@nvstatefair.com

Nevada Virtual Academy
&
The Nevada State Fair
Proudly Presents
The Great Bear Show

He stand’s eight feet tall and weighs nearly 700 pounds, and at age 28 has earned the title of “Sir”. How else to address the largest North American Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) on record. Although now retired and living a life of luxury at home.His kindred can be seen at The Nevada State Fair August 26-30th.
The Bear Troupe performs throughout the U.S. and Canada from March to October under the direction of owner/trainer Bob Steele. Fall, Winter, and Early Spring is spent wandering their 200 acre ranch in Texas. The fourth generation animal trainer works with his furry companions to educate and entertain spectators who otherwise do not know about Bears, their nature and intelligence, both in captivity and in the wild.
A typical performance starts with the Bears sitting in chairs as Steele introduces the audience to each Bear’s personal history and unique personality.      
Jacki, a male, is extremely intelligent, and a perfectionist at what he has learned.
“When learning his skills, he is either going to do it right or not do it at all”,          according to Steele. The other male, Andy, named after Andy Busch of the            Anheiser Busch Corporation, is not quite a versatile as Jacki, but his size and    qualities are quite impressive. Last but not least is Baby Cindi. Still learning and very inquisitive, really puts on her own show for the audience.
The Bears are on display all day when not doing a show, in their large portable    enclosure with a swimming pool and shade screen. The show consists of education and their various skills. These performances function as needed exercise for the Bears, roughly equivalent to a human’s mild workout. It is also compatible with the Bears anatomy and is not strenuous activity for them. They wear leashes when     performing. During the performance, they work free. By them working in this free environment, as noted by Steele, “They enjoy it, or they would leave, and there’s nothing you can do to hold a 400 pound Bear or larger from leaving, if it wants to”.
Steele, starting out as an infant around exotic animals of all kinds, learned from his father and grandfather. Many years of experience with Elephants, taught to him by his father, one of the top 5 authorities of Elephants, and his own personal                experience of over 28 years with Bears has made him one of the top authorities on these Bruins. Training of Bears usually begins between the ages of six months to one and a half years old. Most of these cubs are rescued by officials as orphans   because of hunters. Working with Bears requires a special relationship between the animals and the trainer. Bears are one of the hardest animals to understand, since they show no signs or emotions. Once this relationship is established, it is difficult, and usually impossible to switch trainers of Bears.
Established in 1977, The Great Bear Show is the oldest and longest running         educational show with wild animals. With his love and care for his animals 365 days a year, these Bears will one day too, retire to home for the remainder of their lives which is about 30 to 35 years, over 10 years longer than they would in the wild.

The Nevada State Fair continues its 135th year as an affordable, family-friendly event August 26-30 at the Reno Livestock Events Center.  

““IT’S YOUR STATE FAIR...THE TRADITION CONTINUES.”
Celebrating the Gold & Silver of Nevada Mining

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The Nevada State Fair "It's Your State Fair" Celebrating the Silver and Gold of Nevada Mining August 26-30, 2009.
Featuring the Paul Maurer Shows Carnival and Midway, Livestock shows contests, competitions, Demo Derby and Truck Pull and loads of family entertainment and Food.