2010 South Dakota Rooster Rush

Pheasant hunting is one of South Dakota's major draws each fall. It has become a tradition for many families and friends in communities across the state and across the country. In 2009, the South Dakota Office of Tourism celebrated this tradition with a marketing campaign called Rooster Rush. To continue the tradition, we're celebrating Rooster Rush again in 2010 with another great giveaway, an integrated marketing campaign, and promotional opportunities for the visitor industry.

This is a great opportunity to bring more hunters, conservationists, families and friends into your communities this fall. Don't miss your chance to get on board!

Marketing

The Office of Tourism will be placing advertising in target markets such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, asking hunters to take part in this annual tradition. We'll also be promoting the Rooster Rush via online marketing, social media efforts and a special giveaway.

A special logo has been developed for use on all promotional materials and for special events. In addition, the logo is available for all businesses, chambers and CVBs in the state to use when developing unique events, and for marketing materials and promotions of their own.

The Office of Tourism is providing ad templates to be used to promote your hunting season celebrations and events. There are templates for newspaper ads, direct mail postcards and a radio ad. They may be downloaded and then customized with information regarding your event.

We are also offering a limited number of pre-designed and produced promotional items that can be ordered through the Office of Tourism. These items can be used to decorate your community, as giveaways, or prizes.

We will be marketing Rooster Rush to sportsmen and women across the Midwest to enhance the image of your businesses while promoting pheasant hunting in South Dakota. In addition to print and broadcast marketing, we will be developing a section of www.TravelSD.com dedicated to promoting Rooster Rush.

Toolkit

We have put together a Rooster Rush Toolkit that will help you develop your own Rooster Rush promotion. The kit includes ideas for events and promotions in your community, a sample news release, economic impact information, media relations strategies and social media outlets.

Partnership opportunities

The Office of Tourism is taking this promotion statewide and wants to get as many communities involved as possible. Therefore, we're prepared to help communities across South Dakota get started with their own Rooster Rush promotion.

We are offering funding assistance. There is limited availability and applications will be reviewed and approved by the Office of Tourism.

There will be industry recognition. The Office of Tourism will present the Rooster Rush "Cacklin` Community" Award during the 2011 Governor's Conference on Tourism.

Benefits:

• As a partner in this effort, you will be showing hunters that South Dakota has the best pheasant hunting in the world and works collaboratively to welcome hunters from every corner of the country and the world.
• As an official partner you may receive recognition on the Rooster Rush micro-site on www.HuntinSD.com. This is tentative and will depend on the number of partners.
• You`ll be part of a coordinated Office of Tourism effort that includes thousands of dollars in marketing to drive hunting traffic to Rooster Rush communities.
• Promoting Rooster Rush in your community and hosting special Rooster Rush events will make out-of-state hunters feel welcome, and will keep them coming back year after year.

Promotional overview

This is still in development so check back for further details. Current plans include:

• The promotion will kick off mid-August and run through October/November.
  
  

FOR INFORMATION

For more information, contact Nicole Soukup, Visitor & Industry Relations Manager, at 605-773-3301 or nicole.soukup@state.sd.us.