1-on-1 with visitSI Executive Director Ashlee Spiller at Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show

MARION, Ill. (KBSI) – The Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show is underway at The Pavillion in Marion. We sat down with visitSI Executive Director Ashlee Spiller at the show Friday evening. Here is that conversation.

Shane Hulsey: “I am here with visitSI Executive Director Ashlee Spiller at the Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show. Ashlee, thank you so much for taking a few minutes to chat with us.” 

Ashlee Spiller: “Thank you for coming out.” 

Shane Hulsey: “Tell us what the Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show is all about.” 

Ashlee Spiller “This is the 15th Annual Boat and Fishing Show. This show is all about the charities. We pulled in two charities: the CASA of Southern Illinois and also Gum Drops not-for-profit, both of whom help with children in the area, so we’re thankful to give back to them, but also we are doing donations for local food pantries at the door, so if you bring in a canned good, you get entered into a raffle. Oasis Lawn and Garden was wonderful to us and provided us with 15 Weber Smoky Joe grills to give away throughout the weekend, so we’ll be doing that probably about one every hour.” 

Shane Hulsey: “How is this a community event more than anything?” 

Ashlee Spiller: “It just brings our businesses together. We love that we have local businesses as well as businesses outside of the area that are able to come in and showcase their wears and just give a little bit of that hope of Spring to those who are tired of staying in for the winter weather.” 

Shane Hulsey: “And as for here on the showroom floor, what can folks find out here?” 

Ashlee Spiller: “There’s a little bit of everything. We have pontoon boats, there are bass boats, we have John boats. There is fishing tackle, fishing rods, everything from crappie, bass, you name it, we’ve got it.” 

Shane Hulsey: “Very cool, how has it grown over the years into what we see today?” 

Ashlee Spiller: “It has been a labor of love, and we’ve seen growth in each of our businesses, from the boat dealers to the tackle dealers. We’ve also seen some young entrepreneurs even show up. This year, we have a couple of high school gentlemen who are showcasing in the expo hall room, so we’re very happy to have them and excited to see the youth get involved.” 

Shane Hulsey: “And what does that mean to you to have the youth be involved in something like this?” 

Ashlee Spiller: “It means everything. The youth are our future, and we have to get them involved now. The businesses in the area will continue to grow based on the youth that we continue to bring up in the area now.” 

Shane Hulsey: “And how does this show encapsulate what visitSI, what southern Illinois, what this community is all about?” 

Ashlee Spiller: “I think it’s just all about hospitality and celebrating the community that we share, and being able to tell people outside of this area what we have here is what we do best at visitSI, and for me, I think it’s one of those things that I just really like to tell people about the amazingness that is here in southern Illinois.” 

Shane Hulsey: “It truly is amazing, isn’t it?” 

Ashlee Spiller: “It truly is.” 

Shane Hulsey: “When can folks come out the next couple days?” 

Ashlee Spiller: “Saturday, it opens at 9 and runs until 6, and Sunday it’s open from 10 ’til 3.”