CHICKENSTOCK 2008

[eggcetra_farms]

HOLY CHICKEN FEATHERS!! You've been busy!

I was holding off on contacting anyone, simply because we didn't have a date and location in place yet.

I just emailed Mr. Anderson with the APA again and told him it seemed that Texas or Kansas were being favored the most. Because they vote at the semi-annual on where the annual will be held the next year, it is a possibility that they will hold it in the location that makes the most sense for our purposes. Is everyone pretty much ok with it being held in either Kansas or Texas?

I believe the national is held in October, so we'd have over a year to plan all of this. Sound good? I want as much time to plan as possible, that way nothing is half done.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Ok, I just got this email from Mr. Anderson (APA President):

***********
Jessica,

Our next semi-annual will be held next year (May I think) in Iowa . Will that work?

Dave Anderson
***************

What do you guys think? It may sound weird, but I've always wanted to go to Iowa. In fact, I've been trying to convince my husband that we should move there...... Anyway, I think Iowa is a pretty fair location. Would May give us enough time to plan?

 

[Buckguy20]

I am Ok with either. Its about the same distance for me since I live near Oklahoma City. I am in a lot of online chicken groups and to be honest I have heard very little response from chicken people in Kansas. I don't know how many chicken enthusiasts we have on here from Kansas.
Does Chickenstock need a strong local base? If so I am not sure Kansas is the place to go. Lets hear from the Kansans out there. Anyone interested in Chickenstock?
Monty

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

That's actually a good point that chickenstock maybe should have a solid base of users, or at least a few key members in the area of the chickenstock.

It sounds like we've got some great go-getters / planners already jumping on this, so it will probably be up to the "head organizers" whether or not it can / should be in a geo location with a good member base.

 

[allen wranch]

It would be good to get the EZ BYC group involved too, since we are both based off the BackyardChickens Website.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

I've got no idea how to go on that board, but whoever does....please invite everyone!

 

[2mnypets]

Well, this is the email that I sent out today. It's early enough that we can change from summer to October or to May. I've had quite a few responses already showing interest in this idea.

Hi, my name is Julie Bernhart and I live in Illinois. I am part of a forum called Back Yard Chickens. We are in the process of trying to put together a national "get together" where everything chicken related will be presented. I am trying to determine if any businesses or organizations are interested in something like this. We are hoping for a central location in the country. The states that have been looked at so far are Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. We have been in contact with the APA and they are very anxious to work with us to make Chickenstock 2008 happen. What are your company or organization’s feelings about presenting your business or organization at an event like this? We are hopefully looking towards the summer of 2008. Also hoping to have it coincide with a fair that is already scheduled to give the chickens safe housing, ventilation and comfort for all.
If your company or organization is interested, please email me and let me know. As the details become more defined and locked in, I will call or email you. In the meantime I want to thank you for allowing me to present this information to you. If you are interested in looking at our forum you can find us on the web at www.backyardchickens.com


Cordially Yours,
Julie Bernhart
[email protected]

Continue with any thoughts or ideas everyone. This is definitely not a one or two person deal here. Chickenstock 2008 will not happen without the great ideas and minds found in this forum. Just remember that this is everyones baby. Let's shoot for the moon!

 

[wren]

If chickenstock 08 is in Iowa, you better believe I'll be there!

 

[2mnypets]

Well tonight I received an email from Meyer Hatchery and this is what they had to say:

Hi Julie,

Great website! I did check it out. What ideas and things are you going to
have at the "Chickenstock 2008". What is the mission here? Are you trying to
draw the commercial growers, just the backyard growers, what is the mission
statement here!! Since we are a business and have been in busy for 22 years
and we sell to both commercial and back yard growers. And from the County
fairs, with the Grand and Reserve Champions I might add this year! I am
apart of the Health Care when people call in with problems and issues, so we
were wondering what your mission is, you know the statement you are trying
to present here!?!?!? We take pride in the health of all our birds and our
flocks.

Please get back to me and let me know.

Have a great day!

Thank you,

Charlotte
Customer Service
Meyer Hatchery


Anyone have any thoughts in regards to this email? What should our mission statement be? I'm assuming that both venues would be looked at and addressed in regards to the commercial as well as backyard flock owner.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Maybe say something like we are trying to increase awareness that chickens are quickly becoming one of the most popular backyard pets. This will be an event to showcase just how popular the chicken is, by showing that even in large cities they make the perfect pet. For those who care about the foods they consume, owning and caring for your own flock enables you to control what does or does not enter your body (such as harmful growth hormones, chemicals, etc.). That chickens are a beneficial part of one's garden, in providing organic bug control and providing fresh manure for compost.

I'm sure you could figure out a "mission statement" using some of that. I would also say that we are mainly targeting "backyard growers" since this is BACKYARD CHICKENS after all! The commercial industry already has plenty of their own events, and who wants to promote that anyway?

Great work by the way!