Ameraucana Forum

The Official Ameraucana Forum => Exhibiting, Promoting & Club Notes => Topic started by: Russ Blair on October 09, 2017, 10:14:39 AM

Title: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Russ Blair on October 09, 2017, 10:14:39 AM
Jensen Pierson won Ch Overall Ameraucana with an outstanding LF Black Cockerel and Kraig Shaffer took Res Ch Ameraucana with very nice LF White Cock. Both Birds went on to respectfully take Ch and Res Ch AOSB. Hopefully a full report will be coming soon, just thought I would relay the big winners.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 09, 2017, 11:02:01 AM
In junior competition Alex Berryer had Bantam BB on a wheaten cock and Colton Friedel had RB on a blue wheaten hen.  In large fowl David Erickson had BB & Reserve AOSB on a black pullet and RB on a black pullet.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 09, 2017, 11:28:13 AM
Jim Fegan was presented with this year's Ameraucana Lifetime Achievement Award during our annual club meeting, by President Beth Curran.  8)
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 09, 2017, 11:39:13 AM
Photo 1...John Blehm (MI), Neil Townsend (PA), Bob Rennolet (SD), Ru$$ Blair (MI) and Mike Gilbert (WI) at the Fowl Fest!  :o

Photo 2...Tim Bowles judging our Ameraucana National Meet.

Photos 3, 4, & 5...random shots of the Fowl Fest in the Birch Run Expo Center.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 09, 2017, 04:33:04 PM
1st photo is Jensen Pierson and her father, Doug, with some of her awards and prize winning Ameraucana.
2nd photo is Russ Blair modeling the beaded Ameraucana Alliance cap made and donated by Becky Howie, from FL.  She used the bantam blue wheaten portrait from our logo as the design.  Neil auctioned the cap, after our meeting and Russ had the winning $100 bid!   Thanks Becky and Russ.  ;)
3rd photo is Mike Gilbert accepting awards from Beth and the 4th is Neil Townsend accepting awards from her also.

The last photo is a group shot of the Alliance members, along with some of the spouses, that attended the meeting.   
Standing: Mike & Sue Paolini, Dante Pirouz, Neil & Donna Townsend, Russ Blair, Gary Burton, Jim Fegan, Bob Rennolet & John Blehm
Seated & kneeling: Adler Pirouz, Debbie Hogan, Jennifer Fegan, Jensen Pierson, Mike Gilbert & Beth Curran.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 09, 2017, 04:52:55 PM
Here is a pic of Russ Blair's beautiful Blue-wheaten cock bird that took Champion Ameraucana bantam and Reserve AOCCL in a class of 155 AOCCL entries.   ABA starred win!  Click on photo to enlarge it for a better view.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 09, 2017, 04:55:59 PM
And here is a shot of Russ's Black bantam hen that took Reserve Ameraucana bantam in a very large class.  She's a beauty!
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 09, 2017, 05:02:45 PM
Here are a couple of shots from the Alliance's Saturday night party at the Blehm's in their beautiful pavilion that was just built this summer.   In the bottom photo we have Jim Fegan and daughter Jennifer with Sandy Rennolet of SD in the right foreground.   Jim's Black Ameraucana trio took champion trio of the entire show!  That is Russ's good luck charm, his Uncle Dave, sitting behind them.

The top photo is Sue and Mike Paolini who drove out from Pennsylvania and took home a load of Ameraucana breeding stock.  That's Doug Pierson, Jensen's dad, on the far left.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 09, 2017, 07:43:13 PM
Here are the Junior Competition bantam winners by Alex Berryer and Colton Friedel, a wheaten cock bird and a blue wheaten female, respectively.   Congratulations young men!
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 09, 2017, 07:50:27 PM
The champion large fowl in the junior completion was this black pullet by David Erickson!   Congrats to David!
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Russ Blair on October 09, 2017, 09:25:25 PM
Thanks for posting the pictures, there were some really nice Ameraucana displayed, congratulations to Jensen and Kraig who brought some outstanding LF. I would just like to add that the Blue Wheaten Cock was bred by Neil and Donna Townsend and they graciously gave him to me last year after the National Meet in Lebanon as a cockerel. So the only credit I get is for conditioning him for the show. I would also like to add it was really great to meet Debbie and Sue not to mention many other members of our club I haven't been fortunate to meet before. To see the excitement of the youth exhibitors was truly priceless and was well worth the trip by itself. They are the future breeders of Ameraucana and I can't wait to see everyone again. The fellowship of Ameraucana Alliance is just amazing, I truly recommend all our members to try and experience it. Oh not to mention our Silent auction was also a huge success in my eyes. We had a pair of LF Blue Silvers donated by yours truly that Melody Teller won for $25.00. A LF Silver pair donated by yours truly that Sue Paolini won for $22.00. 2 pair of LF Brown Reds donated by Mike Gilbert that I won for $50.00. A pair of LF Black donated by Jensen Pierson that Carol Straight won for $50.00. A Bantam pair of Blacks donated by yours truly that was won by Tim Bowsher for $60.00. A Bantam Wheaten pair donated by Neil & Donna Townsend that Kate Sparks won for $40.00. And Finally a pair of Bantam Blues donated by yours truly that Jensen Pierson won for $60.00. After paying for the 1 year memberships from the proceeds to not only non members, but also our current members that prefer to pay yearly dues it generated $242.00 for our club. The real success is the three new members and Ameraucana enthusiasts it attracted. So be sure to welcome Melody Teller, Tim Bowsher and Carol Straight come January 1, 2018 when their memberships start. I would like to thank everyone that graciously donated, participated and helped out in order to make it a success.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 09, 2017, 09:53:03 PM
Here is another shot of Jim receiving the Ameraucana Alliance lifetime achievement award for 2017, presented by our President, Beth Curran.   Congratulations Jim!   Congrats also for winning the champion large fowl trio of the entire show on blacks!
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Rebecca G Howie on October 10, 2017, 12:33:29 PM
Gosh, looks like everyone had a wonderful time at the Nationals. Maybe next year I can make it. Would love to meet everyone!!

Thank you, Russ, for your generous bid on the cap to benefit the AA. Enjoy and wear it in good health.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 10, 2017, 12:53:57 PM
Gosh, looks like everyone had a wonderful time at the Nationals. Maybe next year I can make it. Would love to meet everyone!!

Thank you, Russ, for your generous bid on the cap to benefit the AA. Enjoy and wear it in good health.

Rebecca, thank you so much for all your hard work and trouble to make that cap and send it to the show.   It was quite appropriate that Russ should end up with it.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Suki on October 10, 2017, 01:34:39 PM
We need a picture of that cap.  I never did see it.  And the one to thank is Neil Townsend == he was the auctioneer that got Russ to bid against himself.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Rebecca G Howie on October 10, 2017, 04:48:59 PM
Quote
Rebecca, thank you so much for all your hard work and trouble to make that cap and send it to the show.   It was quite appropriate that Russ should end up with it.

 :)    I really enjoyed making the hat!!  Great hobby to relax with when it is too HOT to be outside in the afternoon here.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Tailfeathers on October 10, 2017, 05:13:44 PM
Congratulations to all the winners with the birds.  From what I can see everyone that made it to the event was a winner!
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 10, 2017, 05:29:31 PM
Congratulations to all the winners with the birds.  From what I can see everyone that made it to the event was a winner!

You've got that right.  There were several Alliance members from in and out-of-state that didn't exhibit, but from what I saw and heard they all had a good time.
Alliance member, Kate Sparks, lives close to Birch Run and is also a member of our Michigan Poultry Fanciers that puts on the Fowl Fest.  She didn't show any Ameraucanas, but she entered some eggs (black LF) in our egg judging competition and won $50.
Below is a photo of our club table with our silent auction birds.  Beth and Kate are behind the table with Alliance member Tina Berryer and her son, Alex, visiting them.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mehmet Ozgen on October 10, 2017, 08:35:05 PM
Congratulations to all the winners with the birds.  From what I can see everyone that made it to the event was a winner!

hopefully we will see such events and races in our country ... (Turkey)
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Russ Blair on October 11, 2017, 06:00:36 PM
Thank you Rebbeca the hat is gorgeous, i saw it fitting that the winning Blue Wheaten cash award be donated back to the club for it. It must of took quite some time to get all those beads sewn on  :o. Not to mention to arrange them in a way to make an outstanding picture of an Ameraucana. I will get some close up pictures of it so everyone can see the detail and talent it took to make it.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Max Strawn on October 12, 2017, 08:24:49 AM
Congratulations everyone! Wish I could have been there.  :( I'm looking forward to next year. My birds are all in their breeding pens with 16 hours of light. Gonna start hatching in about three weeks.  :)
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 12, 2017, 08:53:21 AM

Max, were you able to save some of all your varieties?   The Andalusian blue project, the BLR Wyandottes, the Brown Red bantams?
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Max Strawn on October 12, 2017, 09:26:11 AM
I saved everything but the LF Wheaten/Blue Wheaten. I have two trios of the laced blue project birds. Those are the only blues I am working with now. I have a beautiful quad of bantam Brown Reds. Two trios of bantam Wheaten/Blue Wheaten, and a trio of bantam Blacks. I've got some of the best LF Blacks I have ever raised. It's gonna break my heart to see them go... Hopefully i'll get some nice offspring.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 12, 2017, 11:11:15 AM
Here are more photos from our Saturday evening meal and meeting.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 12, 2017, 11:32:20 AM
I saved everything but the LF Wheaten/Blue Wheaten. I have two trios of the laced blue project birds. Those are the only blues I am working with now. I have a beautiful quad of bantam Brown Reds. Two trios of bantam Wheaten/Blue Wheaten, and a trio of bantam Blacks. I've got some of the best LF Blacks I have ever raised. It's gonna break my heart to see them go... Hopefully i'll get some nice offspring.

Max, keep me in mind for some bantam brown reds when you have them available.  Eggs or chicks would work too.   I am down to just two males, and will be forced to outcross on the LF Brown Reds next season.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 12, 2017, 11:38:48 AM
Here is another photo at our Saturday evening meal and meeting.

For those who were not there, Kathy Blehm put on a huge spread of Mexican food along with all kinds of beverages and desserts.   Thanks Kathy!  It was terrific!  After the meal we had our club meeting, awards ceremony, Neil auctioned off the cap, and then we visited around a campfire outside.   A very memorable evening for sure. 
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 12, 2017, 08:05:07 PM
Here are a few more photos of awards being handed out by Beth and one of Mike taking a photo in our garage.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Max Strawn on October 13, 2017, 08:03:36 AM
I saved everything but the LF Wheaten/Blue Wheaten. I have two trios of the laced blue project birds. Those are the only blues I am working with now. I have a beautiful quad of bantam Brown Reds. Two trios of bantam Wheaten/Blue Wheaten, and a trio of bantam Blacks. I've got some of the best LF Blacks I have ever raised. It's gonna break my heart to see them go... Hopefully i'll get some nice offspring.

Max, keep me in mind for some bantam brown reds when you have them available.  Eggs or chicks would work too.   I am down to just two males, and will be forced to outcross on the LF Brown Reds next season.

You got it Mike. It'll have to be started birds. We'll see how the hatching goes over the next few months. Hopefully they are as productive as they were in the spring...

Love seeing all the pics. Thanks everyone for posting. I was there in spirit anyway.  :)
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: John W Blehm on October 15, 2017, 04:31:40 PM
Thank you Rebbeca the hat is gorgeous, i saw it fitting that the winning Blue Wheaten cash award be donated back to the club for it. It must of took quite some time to get all those beads sewn on  :o. Not to mention to arrange them in a way to make an outstanding picture of an Ameraucana. I will get some close up pictures of it so everyone can see the detail and talent it took to make it.

And here it is...
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Suki on October 16, 2017, 01:40:30 PM
thanks for the hat shot.  Lovely work Rebecca.


Sue
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Rebecca G Howie on October 18, 2017, 09:13:27 PM
Thank you.  It was fun to make.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 19, 2017, 08:47:17 AM
Only one thing puzzles me.   How did you know he was going to win BB on a Blue wheaten male?  I mean, what are the chances of that?  Do I smell collusion?!!   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 20, 2017, 08:14:05 AM
Only one thing puzzles me.   How did you know he was going to win BB on a Blue wheaten male?  I mean, what are the chances of that?  Do I smell collusion?!!   ;D ;D ;D

Can't believe there was no reaction to that.   It's a joke folks!!!
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Suki on October 20, 2017, 09:28:35 AM
You didn't wait long enough Mike...not everyone wakes up and joking at the crack of morn....
As for Brown Red bantams, I bought a pair from the Townsends.  They are 4 months old and
so still growing.
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Mike Gilbert on October 20, 2017, 12:48:19 PM
You didn't wait long enough Mike...not everyone wakes up and joking at the crack of morn....
As for Brown Red bantams, I bought a pair from the Townsends.  They are 4 months old and
so still growing.

Neil and Donna?   I wonder where they got them, as they have never shown them at the national?  You sure it was not wheatens? 
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Rebecca G Howie on October 20, 2017, 09:04:27 PM
Only one thing puzzles me.   How did you know he was going to win BB on a Blue wheaten male?  I mean, what are the chances of that?  Do I smell collusion?!!   ;D ;D ;D

Can't believe there was no reaction to that.   It's a joke folks!!!


  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Russ Blair on October 21, 2017, 09:28:20 PM
She has super powers Mike lol
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Beth Curran on October 23, 2017, 11:13:12 AM
 ;D  ;D ;D

Beckie you did an amazing job on the hat!
Title: Re: 2017 National Meet wrap up
Post by: Rebecca G Howie on October 24, 2017, 07:15:44 PM
Thanks Beth, Russ, John and Sue.

Now that I have completed the BW cock I will be starting on his mate soon for the next event.

Get those BW ladies ready and bring your wallets!