Pigeons in Lakeland for weekend Grand National Show has positive economic impact
Pigeons fly into Lakeland and bring the dollars.
Photographer: WFTS
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 01/12/2012
LAKELAND - Celestino Concepcion met his first pigeon when he was just five years old.
"I like to see them fly. They go really high in the sky." said Celestino
He has his own pigeon coop in Brooklyn with over 400 pigeons.
Celestino is just one of over 400 people with thousands of pigeons that have converged in Lakeland for the National Pigeon Association's Grand National Show. Its like the Westminster Dog Show...with feathers.
The show has been held every year, except during WWII, since 1920.
Joel Kinkade is one of the show organizers and he estimates the economic impact to Lakeland at just under $2 million. The number of birds entered in the show translates into dollars spent in the city.
"This show we're over the 3200 mark, which for the Southeast is extremely good. We've got a good entry here." said Joel.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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