2020 Ameraucana Northern National wrap-up

[John W Blehm]

It was a great weekend in mid-Michigan!
We'll post many photos and results.

[Rebecca G Howie]

It is wonderful to see these Youths working with their birds and doing so well. 

[Janie Vila]

Congratulations to both young men. Thank you Russell Blair for the white pair. My son is so excited and you sold me a pair of nice birds!!
Thank you John and Cathy for your hospitality and the wonderful weekend.

[John W Blehm]

Ameraucana Northern National
Blehm farm - Birch Run, MI 10/10/2020[/color]

84 bantams by 8 exhibitors, judge Lewis Cunningham & clerk Dustin Bonner
BV black H by Russell Blair out of 22 by 4 exhibitors
RV black P by Russell Blair
BV blue K by Russell Blair out of 10 by 2 exhibitors
RV blue P by Russell Blair
BV blue wheaten C by Russell Blair out of 10 by 4 exhibitors
RV blue wheaten P (YT) by Jeffrey Sonsalla
BV, RB & Res Champion Overall brown red C by David Blair out of 8 by 2 exhibitors
RV brown red C by Russell Blair
BV buff H by Jeffrey Sonsalla out of 5 by 2 exhibitors
RV buff C by John W Blehm
BV silver H by John W Blehm out of 1 by 1 exhibitors
BV, BB & Champion Overall wheaten K by Michael Gilbert out of 11 by 3 exhibitors
RV wheaten P by John W Blehm
BV, white H by William Vila out of 7 by 2 exhibitors
RV white C by Russell Blair
BV & Best AOV lavender H by Robert Rennolet out of 11 by 2 exhibitors
RV & Res AOV lavender P by John W Blehm
BV red shouldered K by Robert Rennolet out of 1 by 1
Champion Trio black YT by John W Blehm out of 4 by 3 exhibitors
Reserve CH Trio blue wheaten YT by Jeffrey Sonsalla

59 large fowl by 6 exhibitors, judge Lewis Cunningham
BV, & BB, black K by Daniel Cook out of 24 by 4 exhibitors
RV & RB, black P by John W Blehm
BV blue C by Robert Rennolet out of 9 by 1 exhibitors
RV blue K (YT) by Robert Rennolet
BV blue wheaten K by Michael Gilbert out of 4 by 2 exhibitors
RV blue wheaten P (YT) by Jeffrey Sonsalla
BV brown red K by Stacy Melton out of 4 by 1 exhibitors
RV brown red K by Stacy Melton
BV buff H by Jeffrey Sonsalla out of 3 by 1 exhibitor
RV buff H by Jeffrey Sonsalla
BV silver C by Jeffrey Sonsalla out of 2 by 1 exhibitor
RV silver C by Jeffrey Sonsalla
BV wheaten P by Jeffrey Sonsalla out of 3 by 1 exhibitors
RV wheaten K by Jeffrey Sonsalla
BV barred K by Robert Rennolet out of 1 by 1 exhibitors
BV & Best AOV lavender K (YT) by John W Blehm out of 9 by 2 exhibitors
RV & Res AOV lavender P (YT) by John W Blehm
Champion Trio lavender YT by John W Blehm out of 6 by 4 exhibitors
Reserve CH Trio black YT by Daniel Cook

Champion Display Overall bantam black by John W Blehm out of 3 by 2 exhibitors
Reserve Champion Display Overall large fowl blue by Robert Rennolet

Ameraucana Egg Contest: judge Russell Blair & clerk Stacy Melton
Best Bantam Eggs Amy Jensen out of 9 by 4 exhibitors
Reserve Bantam Eggs Amy Jensen
Best Large Fowl Eggs Robert Rennolet out of 10 by 4 exhibitors
Reserve Large Fowl Eggs Robert Rennolet

Junior Competition, judge Lewis Cunningham & clerk Dustin Bonner
2 bantams by 1 exhibitor:
BV & BB white H by William Vila
RV & RB white C by William Villa

4 large fowl by 1 exhibitor:
BV & BB black K by Daniel Cook
RV & RB black P (YT) by Daniel Cook

[John W Blehm]

It was more than just a chicken show...

[Russ Blair]

Here’s a few pictures I grabbed. John is totally correct, it was definitely more than a chicken show. I am excited for the fellowship in MO in 2 weeks. If anyone has not experienced one of our National meets you really need to come enjoy it in person. John and Kathy went above and beyond to make this a memorable event. I actually prefer this intimate setting instead of the big venue hustle. Thanks again John and Kathy for your hospitality.

[Mike Gilbert]

Alliance member Dustin Bonner with his daughter Gracie of Saginaw, Michigan.   Dustin and Gracie did not show, but Dustin volunteered to clerk for judge Lewis Cunningham.  We thank him for his service!   

[John W Blehm]

I'll get to posting some photos of birds eventually...here are photos of our Alliance members that were present, along with some of their family members.

[John W Blehm]

And the others...

[John W Blehm]

And of course..."Love that Bob" 

[Suki]

Wow!  You nabbed a lot of shots.  How was the weather?  Looks warm.  And that pavilion is holding up like a trooper.
Thanks.

Sue

[John W Blehm]

Wow!  You nabbed a lot of shots.  How was the weather?  Looks warm.  And that pavilion is holding up like a trooper.
Thanks.

Sue

The weather couldn't have been better with sunshine and highs in the lower to mid 70s.  My wife and son, Kathy and David, contributed to the photos along with over 300 I downloaded from Janie's camera/phone, so I have many to choose from.  I had to double stack some cooping, since my shed wasn't built to be a chicken show venue, but there were no complaints about anything.  In a post above Russ said "I actually prefer this intimate setting instead of the big venue hustle." and similar words were echoed by many.  In an email today Mike told me that Bob told him "...it was the most fun he's ever had at a poultry show, and he's been to a lot of them from coast to coast."
This backyard show was something I'd thought about several years ago and due to COVID I was able to propose the idea to our board of directors and it became a reality.  Then Becky pitched the same idea for our Ameraucana Southern National and several of us from up this way plan to show there also on the 31st.   

[Mike Gilbert]

A huge thanks goes to John and Kathy for all the work of preparing, setting up,  and hosting the show, as well as getting the "pleasure" of taking down and cleaning up.   Hopefully some of their kids and grandkids will pitch in on the clean up end.  The grounds were superb for a venue of this sort, all the food Kathy planned and prepared was just terrific,  and the weather could not have been any better.   The only thing I can think of to improve the meet would have been more members participating.   Those who did will remember this one a long, long time.   Hope to see many of you in Missouri for the Southern National.

[Rebecca G Howie]

Everyone looks like they had a wonderful time on a very beautiful Michigan day. I hear rave reviews about Kathy's cooking and your place is beautiful! Your farm and the setup looked terrific. Thank you and Janie so much for the pictures.  I wish I could have been there, but at least I can enjoy it vicariously 

[John W Blehm]

Mike has started separate topics covering photos of many of the winning birds, so I'll just add more of the show in general.  Here are some from our Ameraucana Egg Judging Contest that Russ Blair and Stacy Melton oversaw.