The Ameraucana Breeders Club held their annual national meet at the Minnesota State Poultry Association show in Hutchinson on Oct. 28 & 29, 2017. Eight exhibtiors whom 6 are ABC members showed a total of 65 Ameraucanas. Six members from 5 states showed 37 large fowl. Seven blue were shown with M & J Farms winning BV on a cock. Paul & Angela Smith won RV on a pullet. Katie Proffit won BV blue wheaten on a pullet purchased as a chick from Paul & Angela Smith who had the RV also on a pullet. Katie also won BV on a wheaten pullet and Paul & Angela had RV on a pullet. Only one buff, a cockerel was shown into BV by Paul & Angela Smith. Eight whites were shown. Jerry DeSmidt won BV and RB on a hen and RV on a cockerel. Three self blue were shown by Paul & Angela with their cockerel winning BV and a pullet RV. Blacks were the largest class with 13 head. M & J Farms won BV, BB, and Champion Ameraucana on a cockerel. Sunday morning judge Gary Rossman came to me asking if I was exhibitor # 103, who was Jan Geis of M & J Farms. Gary said to Jan and I, he missed the Ameraucanas when selecting the best AOSB. Both the Ameraucanas and Chanteclers were pulled out of the class line up to be in the prime location of the show room, due to them being national meets. Gary also said the black Ameraucana cockerel should have been best AOSB, that both he and his clerk missed the Ameraucanas, and the he didn’t think about Ameraucanas being in the AOSB until later Saturday evening. M & J Farms also had RB on a black pullet.
Twenty-five bantams were shown with Jerry DeSmidt showing 24 of them. Jerry won all the BV and RV. Four blacks were shown with Jerry’s hen winning BV and pullet RV. Three blues competed with Jerry’s pullet winning BV and RB and his cockerel RV. Jerry showed 1 buff a pullet into BV. Jerry’s two blue wheaten cockerels showed into BV and RV. He showed two wheatens with his pullet winning BV, BB, Res. AOCCL and Res. Ameraucana. His cockerel was RV. Eight whites were shown with Jerry’s cock winning BV and his pullet RV. Four self blues were shown with Jerry’s cockerel winning BV and his pullet RV. Jerry showed one splash cockerel into BV. A special thanks to Jerry for bringing an outstanding set of bantam Ameraucanas to our national meet. They also were awarded best trio, best display and won Jerry the national show’s high point traveling plaque and the best bantam hen and pullet eggs. Mike Geis, recent licensed judge, judged the eggs. Paul & Angela Smith were awarded best LF hen and pullet eggs. Special thanks to Jean Ribbeck for making the egg awards.
The Junior show had one exhibitor show two white bantams. Nathan Thompson showed his cockerel into BV and BB and his pullet into RV and RB. He also showed a large fowl white cock into BV and BB.
The unfavorable weather conditions have the birds confused about their molt time. The birds not being in condition and predator attacks on several ABC members flocks caused a large decrease in the numbers shown. This is our nineteenth year showing, I don’t remember having the birds molt as young as they are molting this year.
Gordon Gilliam and his daughter Amber did an excellent job of promoting the ABC with their work with the ABC table, egg contest, silent and on site auction, and awards presentation. Special thanks to Gordon for the donations to the ABC. Gordon donated the BV and RV egg basket awards, many raffle items including a tool box, wooden carriers for bantams, a wind chime and more. Special thanks to Susan Mouw for managing the offsite auction. Over $900 was raised for our 2018 national awards. Special thanks to everyone who donated hatching eggs, chicks and adults, and special thanks to everyone who made purchases, which made this a success! Gina Grapengeter won the new member drawing and will be receiving the Premier 1 Brooder Heater. Thanks to Gordon and Amber a great time was had by all who attended. We will be anxiously awaiting the 2018 ABC national meet hosted by Larry Clionsky and the NC District.
