2022 Ameraucana North Central National

[John W Blehm]

I am hosting our Ameraucana North Central National at my backyard chicken show on October 1st, 2022.  This is an Ameraucana only show, with entries by Alliance members only.  Alliance members are welcome, whether you exhibit or not, along with your families and invited guests.  Besides the national meet, by our Ameraucana Alliance, sanctioned meets have also been placed by the ABA & APA and their rules will govern the show.  ABA & APA licensed judge Phil Bartz will do the judging “lawn show” style, with entries housed, fed and watered in their transport coops and placed in show coops just for judging and champion row.  A tent will be setup at the entrance to the show barn/shed to house the entries in their transporting coops.  After a variety or sex class is setup and judged another will be judged and so on.  We’ll be able to place up to 48 bantams and 46 large fowl in show cooping at a time.  The judge will leave the area while birds are moved to and from show coops by their owners and helpers.  The judge will be encouraged to verbally critique birds as he judges…not necessarily comment on each bird, but offer both positive & negative comments here and there to benefit the exhibitors.  Exhibitors will remain a reasonable distance from the judge & clerk and be able to ask questions of the judge only after all judging is complete.  We’ll break for lunch in our pavilion and my guess is judging will be complete well before 5pm.  Coop-in all day Friday September 30th and coop-out all day Sunday October 2nd, so even though all the all the judging will take place on Saturday you can make this a two or three day event.  We offer a barrier-free restroom and heated pavilion with seating for 48 or more.  The entry fee will be $4/bird.  The entry fees, silent auction/raffle income, income above the cost of meals and any donations will be used to pay the judge and his lodging, a tent, wood shavings, ABA sanctioning and miscellaneous.  RVs, etc. are welcome and we offer electrical hookup with their extension cords.  We are just 7 miles from I-75 exit #136, in Birch Run, Michigan.  Birch Run and Frankenmuth are very popular tourist towns with many hotels & restaurants.       
                Russ Blair, Jeff Sonsalla, Michael Muenks and I are the meet committee for the Alliance,, with Jeff as chairman. 

[John W Blehm]

Lodging in Bridgeport, about 5.5 miles north of the show...
Baymont Inn - 6460 Dixie Highway, Bridgeport, MI 48722 (989)777-3000

Lodging in Birch Run, about 7 southeast of the show...
America's Best Value Inn - 9235 E. Birch Run Road, Birch Run, MI 48415 (989)624-4440 Special Chicken Show rates!

Best Western PLUS - 9087 Birch Run Road, Birch Run, MI 48415 (989)624-9395

Comfort Inn - 11911 Dixie Highway, Birch Run, MI 48415 (989)624-7777

Days Inn - 9035 Birch Run Rd, Birch Run, MI 48415-9747 (989)502-1098

Hampton Inn - 12130 Tiffany Boulevard, Birch Run, MI 48415 (989)624-2500

Holiday Inn Express - 12150 Dixie Highway, Birch Run, MI 48415 (989) 624-9300

Lodging in Frankenmuth, about 8 miles east of the show...
Frankenmuth Motel - 1218 Weiss Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-6171

Bavarian Inn Lodge - One Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-7200

Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark - 1365 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (844)207-7309

Drury Inn and Suites - 260 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-2800

Fairfield Inn & Suites - 430 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-5000

Holiday Inn Express & Suites - 926 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-8100

Marv Herzog Hotel - 501 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-4700

SpringHill Suites - 530 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-7500

Frankenmuth Country Bed and Breakfast - 2160 South Gera Road, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)574-7000

Tuscola Street Bed and Breakfast - 210 West Tuscola Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-6424

Frankenmuth Jellystone Park Camp/Resort - 1339 Weiss Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 (989)652-6668

[John W Blehm]

Our board of directors has approved the attached list of awards for our Ameraucana North Central National meet this fall.

[John W Blehm]

A show catalog with an entry form should be in the mail next week to 100+ members. I’m soliciting ads to help pay for the associated costs. A 2.375” by 3.75” ¼ page ad is $20, a 4.75” by 3.75” ½ page ad is $30 and a 4.75” by 7.5” full page ad is $50. Below is a full page sample ad. Please let me know if you’d like to place a full color ad by Friday, July 29th, so there is time to design and proof it before going to print.
 

[John W Blehm]

Show Catalogs, with Entry Forms, are in the mail to 100+ Alliance members.
Printable PDF files of both are available on my AmeraucanaChickens.org site.

[Mike Gilbert]

Just so everyone knows, Bob and Sandy Rennolet are both dealing with some serious health issues, plus dealing with the death and estate settlement issues of Sandy's brother.   They have a lot on their plates right now, and I'm not sure if they will be able to attend or not.  When I know more I'll share that info here.   In other news, director Jeff Sonsalla is in the process of moving to a new location and getting his farmette ready to put on the market.  It's a major job, and he does not plan to attend this year.    With that news in mind, it is doubtful that Mary and I would make the trip on our own either.   

[John W Blehm]

Just so everyone knows, Bob and Sandy Rennolet are both dealing with some serious health issues, plus dealing with the death and estate settlement issues of Sandy's brother.   They have a lot on their plates right now, and I'm not sure if they will be able to attend or not.  When I know more I'll share that info here.   In other news, director Jeff Sonsalla is in the process of moving to a new location and getting his farmette ready to put on the market.  It's a major job, and he does not plan to attend this year.    With that news in mind, it is doubtful that Mary and I would make the trip on our own either.

Jeff is in limbo about coming this year, but there is plenty of time between now and sending in an entry form. Rennolets plan to be here and even show at their SD State Fair on Labor Day weekend.

[John W Blehm]

In an Ameraucana Marketplace thread there is information about the Ameraucana portraits, by Rusty Hart, that will be in the silent auction at the show. Between the silent auction and raffle there will be a lot of great items to bid on and win.
Victor Hakes, of Twin City Poultry Supplies has donated a $25 gift certificate.
Jeff Smith, of Cackle Hatchery, has donated three $25 gift certificates.
(update 9/20/22) Tom Watkins, of Murray McMurray Hatchery, has donated four 25watt K&H Thermo-Poultry Brooders.

[Michael Muenks]

Nice job on the meet booklet. Well done!

[John W Blehm]

The average normal high temperature for October 1st here is 57°F. I'll post the forecast for that weekend when we are close enough to have one and this is a link to the National Weather Service forecast for this area.
(updated 9/30/22)
Show foreast:
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Light northeast wind.
Saturday
ostly sunny, with a high near 67. Light north northeast wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 61. Northeast wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

[Russ Blair]

I will be attending hopefully so will uncle Dave. Not sure how many birds I will be bringing yet, I may just bring a small selection? As soon as I know if uncle Dave’s health will allow him to travel I will let you know John how many for the dinners.

[John W Blehm]

Ask for the special “Chicken Show” hotel rates at Americas Best Value Inn, in Birch Run, 989-624-4440.
They are: 1 Queen - $100.00 + tax & 2 Queens - $105.00 + tax.

I've shopped around and these are very good rates that the manager at Americas Best Value Inn & Suites is offering us. Please promote this special offer on other sites our members may visit.

[John W Blehm]

I've already received a few entry forms in the mail. As you send in your entry form and check consider including reservations and payment for any of the meals we'll offer during the show.

Food
Three meals* will be available at the show, in our enclosed pavilion, for $10/person per meal and reservations should be made with John in advance or the show.  These meals include bottled water, pop, coffee, vegetable salads and dessert.  Payment may be made at the show. 
*Friday at 7pm - pulled pork buffet, with buns, coleslaw and loaded baked potatoes.
*Saturday afternoon - Fried chicken luncheon, with mac & cheese and biscuits.     
*Saturday at 6pm - Pizza & subs banquet.
Please feel free to bring any of your own meals to the show for special dietary reasons or whatever.  A microwave is available, in the pavilion. 
Also, there are many restaurants nearby, in Bridgeport, Birch Run and Frankenmuth. 

[John W Blehm]

Lisa Helms is coming, but without birds to show, so she has agreed to clerk for our judge.

A tent will be setup and exhibitors may house their birds, in their own transport coops, in the tent during the show. Some may prefer to house their birds in their own trailer or vehicle during the show and that will work out too. Exhibitors will move their own birds to and from the show coops, in the show barn, as each class is judged. BV and RV birds will remain in the show barn and cooped in a champion row. Birds that don't place BV or RV will be returned to their transport coops where owners will feed and water them. Feed and water will be available at the show.

[John W Blehm]

Two weeks from today exhibitors will be arriving at our Ameraucana North Central National meet. 
Please get your entry forms in the mail by this Monday, September 19th.
It's not too early to collect eggs and bring them for our Ameraucana egg contest!