The International Franchise Association's membership has been steadily increasing for years and recently, with the addition of a somewhat unique concept, the number of franchise systems to join the organization topped the 1,000 mark for the first time in IFA's 45-year history. And recognition goes to� Outdoor Connection, based in Burlington, Kan., has more than 70 units and provides its customers, who have a love of the outdoors, with adventures in hunting and fishing. The hunting excursions include big game, upland bird and waterfowl hunting. If fishing is a client's passion, there is a choice of freshwater, saltwater and fly fishing. The company has been arranging hunting trips since 1988 and franchising since 1989. Global Adventures Clients can select a country or a hunting challenge that Outdoor Connection then can custom design to meet their requirements. The list of excursions is extensive for those that consider outdoor adventures a necessity. The hunts range from alligator in Florida; brown bear in Alaska; deer, elk, bear, caribou and other big game in North America to cape buffalo and plains game in Africa, to just about anything that can be imagined in between. If the thought of tracking a grizzly bear in British Columbia, searching for red stag in New Zealand, catching lake trout in Labrador or hunting buffalo in Mozambique is a customer's route to excitement, this franchise is ready to create that memorable journey. But wait, there's more� Achieving the 1,000th franchise system milestone was cause for celebration during IFA's annual convention, but the excitement continued as the numbers kept rising. As of this issue of Franchising World, IFA's membership rolls include 1,030 franchise systems, more than 8,000 franchisees and 428 suppliers. n Get the details on Outdoor Connection and more than 1,000 other exciting franchise concepts at Franchise.org. IFA Bags 1,000th Member Hunting, fishing excursion franchise Outdoor Connection sets the mark, but they just keep on coming. I F A : C E L E B R A T I N G T H E G R O W I N G F A M I Y O F F R A N C H I S I N G Outdoor Connection president Marc Glades