The 2011 Ameraucana national was a huge success! As for as I know it was the largest one that has ever been held with a total of 258 head of Ameraucanas.
The open large fowl show had 13 exhibitors from 10 states and Canada that exhibited 123 head! There were 24 blues shown by 5 exhibitors with Jensen Pierson showing the BV (best variety) on a cockerel in the trio class which was also selected as RB (reserve breed) second best large fowl. Jensen also had the RV (reserve variety) on the first place cockerel.
Paul & Angela Smith had the BV on a blue wheaten pullet. Tom Kernan had RV on a blue wheaten cock. There were 3 blue wheatens shown by 2 exhibitors.
There were also 3 brown reds shown by 2 exhibitors. The BV was a cock shown by James Fegan. This brown red cock was selected to be third best Ameraucana LF-the highest that a brown red has ever won! Before the show I asked Jim if he brought the champion large fowl again this year. He replied we will have to wait and see after the judging. He only missed it by two places! The RV brown red was a pullet shown by Mike Gilbert.
There were 11 buffs shown by 5 exhibitors with Jerry DeSmidt’s and Jean Ribbeck’s pullets winning BV and RV respectfully.
There were 3 silvers shown by 2 exhibitors. John Blehm had BV and Jean Ribbeck had RV both on pullets.
There were 10 wheatens shown by 6 exhibitors, with Paul & Angela Smith having BV on a pullet and RV on a cockerel.
Ten whites were exhibited by 4 exhibitors. John and Ann Foley had the BV on a pullet which also won fifth best large fowl Ameraucana. Baker and Goodfellow from Ontario, Canada had the RV also on a pullet.
The AOV (any other variety) class had 7 lavenders by four exhibitors-several short of the required five exhibitors and 50 head (10 C, 10 H, 10 K, 10 P and 10 more of any sex). I’m hoping the ABC can get the lavender and splash recognized in the future! The BV lavender was a pullet by John Blehm and Paul & Angela Smith had RV also on a pullet.
The splash class had 7 head by three exhibitors. There was some confusion as ours were entered as blue splash-so the show management wouldn’t get them confused with splash wheatens. Oops-what a mess! Jensen Pierson had BV on a pullet and Jerry DeSmidt had RV also on a pullet. The two splash pullets were chosen to be the BV and RV of the AOV class.
Now for the blacks! Forty-five were shown by 9 exhibitors. Jerry DeSmidt had the RV on a cock which was also the fourth best large fowl Ameraucana. Jensen Pierson had the BV on a pullet out of her first place trio. Jensen’s black pullet also won BB (best of breed). Jensen’s black trio was the best large fowl trio. Jerry DeSmidt had the highest scoring display with 198 points on his blacks. Jensen scored 108 on her blacks and 106 on her blues. These were only three displays in the Ameraucanas as no bantam trios were shown.
There were 87 head of bantams shown by 15 exhibitors from seven states which added nine more exhibitors to the total, as 6 showed both bantams and large fowl. There were 7 blues shown by four exhibitors. Jerry DeSmidt had BV on a cockerel and Robert Rennolet had RV on a pullet.
There were 4 blue wheatens shown by 3 exhibitors-all pullets. Jerry DeSmidt had BV which also was selected the third best bantam Ameraucana. Jerry DeSmidt also had the RV.
There were 5 brown reds shown by 2 exhibitors. Robert Walchak’s cockerel was BV and Mike Gilbert’s cockerel was RV.
Eleven buff were shown by 4 exhibitors. The BV was a cock shown by John Blehm. John’s buff cock was selected to be fourth best bantam Ameraucana. Jensen Pierson had the RV buff on a pullet.
There were 7 lavenders shown by 3 exhibitors. The BV was a pullet shown by Heavenly Springs Farm and the RV was also a pullet, shown by John Blehm. Lavenders were the only unrecognized variety shown in the bantam class, so they also were the BV and RV respectfully in the AOV class.
There were 5 silvers shown by two exhibitors. John Blehm had BV on a pullet. Curtis Beck had RV on a hen.
Nine wheatens were shown by 4 exhibitors. Jerry DeSmidt had BV on a cock which also won RB. Robert Walchak had RV on a pullet.
Nine whites were shown by two exhibitors. Robert Walchak had BV on a pullet. Donna Townsend had RV also on a pullet.
There were 30 blacks shown by 10 exhibitors. St. Nazianz Poultry Company had the BV on a pullet which also won BB. The RV was a cockerel shown by Jensen Pierson. Jensen’s black cockerel was selected as the 5th best bantam Ameraucana.
Both the open bantam and large fowl were judged by Conor Keegan from California. Most everyone felt Conor did a very good job! This show has once again proven that there is still room at the top in the Ameraucana breed!
There were several egg entries. Larry Clionsky had the best large fowl hen eggs. Jerry DeSmidt had the best large fowl pullet eggs and both best hen and best pullet eggs in the bantams egg classes.
There were 29 Ameraucanas and 3 Easter Egg Layers (EEL) shown by 10 juniors from 5 states in the Jr. large fowl class. There were 11 blacks shown by 6 exhibitors. Camille Lewandowski had the BV, BB, RV and RB on two very nice black hens. Two exhibitors showed 1 blue and 2 EEL in the blue class. BV was Camille Lewandowski on a blue cock. One blue wheaten pullet shown by Benjamin Hilderbrandt into BV. One brown red cock was shown by Jamie Seale into BV. Nine buff were shown by 2 exhibitors. Jensen Pierson had BV on a pullet and RV on a cockerel. Five silvers were shown by Morgan Vogel. Morgan’s cockerel won BV and pullet won RV. One EEL was shown in the wheaten class. One white hen was shown by Aylissa Latham into BV. Unfortunately I don’t know who judged the Jr. large fowl-oops #2.
Pat Malone from Texas judged the Jr. bantams. There were 19 head shown by 7 Jrs. from 4 states. One white hen was shown by Megan Mayall into BV. Six wheatens were shown by 3 exhibitors. Caleb Pickard had BV and RB on a pullet. Julia Cotter had RV on her cockerel. Jensen Pierson showed 8 lavenders. Her pullet won BV and her hen won RV. Nicole Pickard showed her buff cock into BV. Three blacks were shown by 3 exhibitors. The BV was won by Gabby Dingman on a cock which also won BB. Nicole Pickard had the RV on a pullet.
Awards were presented during the ABC meeting. The 2012 national meet was disclosed to be in Sedalia, Missouri on October 27. Printing of an updated version of the ABC Handbook was discussed. The lavender and splash recognition of variety was discussed. An exhibitor point system was discussed as a draw to get more ABC members showing. The lifetime achievement award was presented to Secretary Michael Muenks. The meeting was adjourned and photos of members present were made.
Another great national meet came to an end. Please make plans to help make 2012 a great meet in Sedalia, Missouri on Oct. 27 by showing!
Photos of all the BV, RV and many photos of the exhibitors will be posted ASAP.
Ameraucanas were in high demand. Many breeders sold all they brought to sell! Jerry sold almost 100. Jensen also sold a lot. We sold all we brought to sell.
It was great to meet many new fanciers involved in the Ameraucana breed! Looking forward to October 27, 2012 in Sedalia, Missouri to do it again!
Oops#3-Sure glad it\'s not a strike-I\'d hate to be out!-as I\'m looking forward to next year at Sedalia, Missouri! I forgot to tell about the ABC dinner \"get to gether\" at Ryan\'s on Friday night. It was the largest group that we have had since I\'ve been part of it (2000).
A great meal and time was had by everyone! Thank God for GPS or we wouldn\'t have been able to find it! A few more took the scenic route-so we ate together in the second shift! Sure enjoyed meeting, dining and visiting with Will and Christin Kitsch from Pennsylvania.
Oops #4 I also forgot to tell about the huge sale area! Patty Pickard did a great job of acquiring a sale space, and marketing birds for ABC members. The sales area was well filled with almost every kind of fowl on Friday morning. It was well depleted by Saturday evening. Thanks, Patty!
Oops #5 I also left out the ABC club table. Michael Muenks did a great job promoting Ameraucanas. I \"figured out\" several years ago-that it is the ABC members who make the Ameraucanas great! Thanks Michael and everyone who helped make this another very successful ABC national meet.
Paul Smith
