Great news, we had 10 APA members (needed 5) to show 6 cocks, 10 hens, 10 cockerels and 16 pullets for a total of 42 head. We needed at least 5 in each class and an additional 5 for a minimum of 25 head.
The judge Tom Carey, Bart Pals, standard committee chairman and John Monaco, APA president, all commented how good the type was on all the self blue Ameraucanas and how much they have improved. Color still off on the males and a few of the females. However, the consensus was that they will be approved at the semi annual meeting the last weekend in January at the Pearl River show in Mississippi. The APA board will be voting on both the self blue Ameraucana and black Maran. There was a glitch in both clubs paper work to have the vote take place at Columbus, so we wait in suspense until the final say so!
It has been a fun but trying experience the past five years in getting the self blue recognized. I was presented a commemorative award by Lindsay Helton for all the effort of getting the self blue Ameraucana recognized. It is much appreciated! Having been through the recognition process makes one appreciate the recognized varieties within the breed even more!
The ten (in exhibitor order) who made the self blue recognition possible are Patricia Dukes, Barbara Dodington, Susan Mouw, Lindsay Helton, Jean Ribbeck, Paul & Angela Smith, Eric Waterman, Shannon Rowe, Chris Cross, and Dakota's Chickens. A special thanks to Lindsay Helton who kept count of each class and promoted the show, getting commitments to make sure we could and would meet the numbers required for the meet. Also a special thanks to Shannon Rowe who took on the responsibility of bringing and showing birds for three other exhibitors from Texas. We would not have met the minimum required numbers without this special help from both Shannon and Lindsay!
Also a special thanks to Barbara Dodington who came from Canada, bearing all the extra expenses of crossing country borders! Thanks to all 10 exhibitors! This is a group effort that the whole Ameraucana breed will benefit from. I'm eager to see a Self Blue Ameraucana on Champion Row!
Now for the 5 placings in each class!
Cocks 1 Patricia Dukes, 2 Dakota's Chickens, 3 Paul & Angela Smith, 4 Chris Cross, 5 Paul & Angela Smith
Hens 1 Jean Ribbeck, 2 Lindsay Helton, 3 Lindsay Helton, 4 Paul & Angela Smith, 5 Paul & Angela Smith
Cockerels 1 Paul & Angela Smith, 2 Lindsay Helton, 3 Shannon Rowe, 4 Lindsay Helton, 5 Lindsay Helton
Pullets 1 Eric Waterman, 2 Lindsay Helton, 3 Lindsay Helton, 4 Lindsay Helton, 5 Patricia Dukes
The best variety was the pullet shown by Eric Waterman, and the Reserve Variety went to a hen shown by Jean Ribbeck.
Sorry, I was so busy that I didn't manage to make any photos of the winning birds. All my records were given to Jean Ribbeck who is doing a meet report. Memory says Jerry DeSmidt had BB on a black pullet and Jan Geis M & J Farm had RB on a black cockerel. There were 101 head of Ameraucana large fowl in the open class.
Paul Smith