Several years before Angela & I became involved with Ameraucanas, meets were set-up to encourage ABC members who showed Ameraucanas or fanciers who had an interest in them to come to the show which had the meet scheduled. The meets were scheduled in areas where several ABC members could attend. Meets were only set at the request of an ABC member, who was expected to show some Ameraucanas so the meet report would not come back-NONE SHOWN.
Each state was allowed one state meet and as many special meets as ABC members requested. Each district was allowed one district meet per year. A national meet was held every couple years at first, then soon became an annual event before we became involved.
The ABC would provide special rosettes to the champion & res. Champion Ameraucana provided the meet qualified by having the required number of 3 ABC members (later changed to Ameraucana exhibitors) to show. The rosettes were only awarded to ABC members. I remember Robbie Lindsay, former SC district director saying “we will never have a qualifying meet in our district.” Ameraucanas have grown from a few hid in the corner of a show room to the main center isles (yes plural) in some shows.
Since there was no difference between state and special meet, their names were changed to club meets. This eliminated the confusion and record keeping of which is it-State or Special? The first SE district’s national meet was held in Galax, VA. in 2001. Angela & I had the honors of winning the champion on a black pullet. The earlier nationals had been held in the northern states where the majority of the ABC members were located. The first SC district’s national meet was held in Sedalia, MO. in 2005. Jerry DeSmidt had the champion on a white hen. The national meet is expected to be the highlight of the year for not only Ameraucanas but also each breed club. The ABC national has lived up to its expectations in the past and will continue to, if each ABC member will support it. There has never been an ABC meet of any status (district, state, special, club) in the district that is holding the national meet at the same time as the national meet. The same applies to each of the district’s district meet. This was recently verified by Susan Mouw. The national and each of the district meets are suppose to be the top shows of the ABC for the entire year. They will only remain that way if we support them and maintain the importance that they are, and not just another meet. I’m all for ABC club meets. The more meets-the more Ameraucanas will be shown. The more they are shown-the more they will win-the more popular they will become! However it is not right to hold an ABC club meet the same weekend as the national or district meet, where the club meet will be in the same district. This hasn’t been done since the beginning of the ABC and never needs to start. The national and each of the 5 districts meets must have their own weekend to continue the importance that each desires.
Any ABC member desiring to request a meet in the SC district needs to contact me at psmith@ntin.net.
I have requested my local poultry show (Red River Bantam Club) in my hometown of Gainesville, TX. and the Southwestern Exposition Show at Ft. Worth, TX. to be ABC club meets. There are a lot of shows within the district. Need ABC members to get involved by requesting them as meets. The show must be an ABC meet before any ABC points are awarded.
Paul Smith