The Foundation partnered with Friends of Goose Pond to host a Tourism Training for local business related to the upcoming Marsh Madness Festival, scheduled for March 4-6 in Linton. The second annual festival celebrates the visit of thousands of the 4ft SandHill Crane that are in the area this time of year. The festival brings hundreds of vistors to Greene County and is expected to grow to become one of the premier birding events in the Midwest. The training, underwritten by the Smithville Charitiable Foundation, gave local business a “birds-eye” view of the Outdoor Recreation Industry whose participants generate BIllIONS of sales in the industry. Participants in the training learned of potential marketing ideas, sales tips, and suggested inventories to help capture the dollars potentially being lost to the surrounding areas. Twenty area businesses, artists, and budding entrepreneurs attended the training. The training will be offered again in late March, contact the Foundation if interested.