CHICKENSTOCK 2008

[Nifty-Chicken]

Great work everyone! A few quick comments:

1) Maybe I'm just overly careful, but maybe get permission before posting people's emails in a generally open to the public forum.

2) As you get closer to nailing down the details and sponsors / guests, make sure there aren't any problems with a few different companies / competitors possibly both showing up.

 

[2mnypets]

That's good advice Nifty. Yes I had thought about competitors at this event, but I was having a hard time finding a happy medium of trying to get companies and organizations to come as in numbers vs. whether they are going to get along. I haven't figured out how to make those two worlds meet yet. Do you have some ideas on that?

 

[eggcetra_farms]

I doubt very much that these competitors are going to go over and physically attack each other. Aside from that, I don't think there are going to be very many problems.

I believe it is better to have competitors at the same venue. That way, we don't look as though we're brand-loyal and telling people that something is the best, simply because it's the only thing there. It will also make whatever company have to step up their game and be their best that day.

Just my opinion.

Also, maybe it would work out better for sponorship as well. If a company knows their competitor is participating, they may want to do more to let you know just how much they are "the best."

 

[2mnypets]

There are so many things to think about. I didn't think there would be a bar room brawl or anything like that. Honestly I hadn't even given it any consideration at all until Nifty brought that up as well as the email thing. My hubby and I go to the Deer and Turkey Classic held in Bloomington and there are a ton of different distributors and vendors all trying to get you to come try their products. They have drawings, give aways and go ahead and try it....hook line and sinker. I'm going to assume this is how it would be at Chickenstock as well. I will continue on my venture of emails. I think the biggest concern at this point is the location and date. Once that is buttoned down, we can really start working on who is going to be there etc. If anyone has some ideas on what they would like to see at an event like this....please share. We want this to be mulit-faceted and unless you guys speak up, no one will know what you like or want. I do know we should have some things geared toward the little kids. Something that completely involves not only their minds but bodies as well. Let them run off some of that wasted energy that somehow only lasts during childhood. Still trying to figure out how to bottle it up to sell.

 

[Buckguy20]

I have been to many state and national trade shows involving all kinds of products from toys to enrgy drinks. I have manned booths set up right next to our biggest competitors. While I am sure there is back stabbing going on I never saw one fight.
I think you have to open it up to all that want to come. We can try to keep the Ideals and McMurrays at separate ends of the building but I think they would be able to coexist even right beside each other.
One thing I haven't read on here is about any funding. I for one cannot help much financially but I will do what I can.
We should also look at placing an ad in the USA Today and maybe some farm related publications. A comp ad in McMurray's spring catalog would be nice.
We could get places like Ideal, McMurrays, Privett, and others to put something on their websites.
I for one don't see this as a time and place for the BYC people to load up their flocks and take them across the country.
I see this more as an opportunity for us all to get together and meet each other and to try and see and learn more about "Everything Chicken" with presentaions from genetics to disease control to productivity. Or whatever topics may be decided on.
The only chickens there, should probably be the ones there for the fair or show or whatever. I doubt the people that have brought their show birds would want them exposed to lets say a bird just grabbed up from the pen by some guy like me in Oklahoma.
2mnypets is right. The location and date are the two most important things right now. We can decide everything else after that.
Remember while we are shooting for a big bang event, it usually takes a few years for these things to grow. It can be a big thing but it has to be managable or there might not be a Chickenstock 2009-10-11- etc.
One other thing, are their other events like this but maybe on a smaller scale? Do different states have their own version of this. If so. maybe some of those that help organize that event could be brought on board for ideas. Seems like I saw a post on BYC about some sort of chicken thang in Louisiana.
Ok I have rattled on enough.
Monty
I appreciate the lead that you others have taken to jump start this event.

 

[birdlover]

Hi Julie!

Bless you, BLESS you for taking on this responsibility! It sounds sooo awesome and I offer any support (other than financially) you might need to pull this off. You can email me if you want. Here are two organizations you might want to send the letter to:

www.vpba.net and www.thechickenstore.com

Vpba is the Virginia Poultry Breeders Association and the chicken store is a website owned by a woman who rescues the Key West chickens and also helps raise people's awareness of how wonderful chickens are. I've met her; she is awesome.

Well, that's it for now!

Ellen

 

[2mnypets]

Thanks all. Yes Buckguy, funding is heavy on my mind. I am starting to become slammed with responses from my over zealous energy yesterday. The emails I've received have asked that very question. Anyone have any thoughts on some more ways to raise some money for this adventure we've set out to do? We really need to finalize a date at least. That will give us all a destination as far as funding goes. Let me know....you can email me directly at [email protected] Thanks in advance!

 

[BeckyLa]

Wow! This sure is building into something I wish I could go to.

But there is one issue that noone has mentioned, $. It will cost waaaaay more to rent facilities in someplace like Dallas. I understand that, God willing, sponsors will be paying the bills but the more expensive the venue the more sponsors there would need to be. Maybe where to have this should be considered in the light of how many sponsors and how many $ there will be to spend. Jes sayin.....

 

[Buckguy20]

Becky, Were you the one that had mentioned some kinda chicken festival in Louisiana?

 

[allen wranch]

Meyer Hatchery wrote:
Are you trying to draw the commercial growers, just the backyard growers, what is the mission
statement here!!

This is a backyard chicken site. We don't need to encourage participation by commercial growers. Yes, individuals have chickens for meat, but they are not chicken farm factories who raise birds for Tyson or Colonel Sanders. Advertisements/sponsorship by them is not what we are about !​