The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Exhibiting & Promoting

Project Colors and the APA

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Lee G:
Good food for thought here.

I’m not a member of the APA (yet), although I do own an SOP and reference it a lot. But I do see the importance of supporting an organization that is almost 150 years old and full of dedicated folks committed to maintaining a written Standard for the breeds within. While I do not agree with everything they are doing, (John makes good points) without the SOP and the governing body of the APA, the genetic diversity we enjoy today may have been lost years ago. As it stands, they help to keep the collective gene pool broad and deep across North America, which only benefits us all. Plus, the SOP keeps everyone on the right track in their breeding programs. Without such guidance, breeds that took 50 years or more to develop could be gone in the blink of an eye. And what a true shame that would be... I’m also fairly new to poultry (since 2009) and to breeding poultry (my real obsession began in earnest in 2010) and have much to learn. And I do want to learn… :)




--- Quote from: Mike Gilbert on August 27, 2014, 03:51:17 PM ---Cliff, it was actually the ABA who recognized Ameraucanas first.   ABA recognition came in 1980, the APA not until 1984.   The large fowl Ameraucanas came in on the coat tails of the bantams, the LF without even a qualifying meet.   We in the Ameraucana Bantam Club at the time were surprised to say the least.   After the announcement was made, I worked with John Skinner of the University of  Wisconsin, then chairman of the APA Standards Committee, to re-word the bantam Standard for the APA.   John did the primary work, but submitted it to us for comments and revisions.   He got a bad rap from Don and a few others, but he was as impartial as anyone could be.  Prior to the APA qualifying meet for bantams (Ohio National, 1983) John had encouraged us to work with Tom Lippincott's group based in Ohio to form a unified Ameraucana Standard, but we had already been approved by the ABA, and Tom would not cooperate with us.  His birds had mostly yellow and willow shanks, so I suppose that was the main reason.

--- End quote ---

Fascinating how it all worked out…

John:
The concept of the APA is a good one and similar to the AKC for dog fanciers.  As with any organization they have had ups and downs.  A century ago the ABA was formed and as I recall history tells us it from discontent with the APA.  Even though the two groups now work together they have not merged and some have more allegiance to one than the other.  I believe competition is good and the two should either not be in cahoots or join together.  The ABA only deals with bantams, so that limits them when it comes to being a true alternative.
The APA created a problem by changing/suspending rules in the middle of a game.  If you are a member or join, please work from within to get them straightened out.  It is obvious they need leadership with officers on the same page.

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