So ....How was the AGM?

[lonecowhand]

Well folks, how was the AGM? Did you meet the folks you hoped? Did you find any animals? Was it all you hoped? did the ADCA make any overtures regarding Horned Traditional Dexters? Etc. etc. etc.

[genebo]

I met a lot of folks I wanted to meet, and some new folks, besides.

I most enjoyed seeing some of my former Dexters and their owners, plus a few descendants and their owners. That was a hoot.

I got to watch Adam One win a blue ribbon.

Dara inion was the only Dexter there with horns. That was a disappointment, that there weren't more.

The Friday night banquet featured Dexter burgers. They were such big patties, it must have taken two little dexters to make one. They were about twice the diameter of the buns. Probably a 1/2 lb. Tasty.

I watched a young man eat a hamburger with two patties, then go back for seconds (one patty). Then he went for thirds! Oh, to be young again.

I met with a group of friends at a restaurant in town for dessert. It was a very fancy restaurant. Most of us ordered the pecan cheesecake, but I ordered chocolate cake. It was served on afull sized dinner plate, with chocolate splashed around the plate, whipped cream and chocolate chips. Decadent!

We sort of worked out a plan for what we might ask for at the meeting on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Craig Turpin ran into The ADCA president, Jim Woehl, and they had an informal talk. A short time later, Jim Woehl ran into a bunch of us at the arena and we had about a 1/2 hour talk. He told us about the plans that have been made to include a tab on the web site for posting information about Traditional Dexters. He wants us to try it out for a while and see how well we like it. Only no negative posts. He said if it it used to knock other peoples' cattle then it would be yanked.

The general meeting went smoothly, while we waited for the vote to come up about requiring genotyping of female registrants starting in 2016. There was a lot of discussion, but all kep civil. It sort of looked like the vote of the members present might go either way. But when they started to count the balllots, all of the proxies were thrown in. The vote results were broken down: the proxies were overwhelmingly for the issue. Over all, the issue won by a big margin. I'm not positive, but I think it was 130 to 29.

A slide was displayed that detailed the plan to add a tab for Traditional Dexters to the web site.

The Bulletin editor answered the charge that the Bulletin only showed pictures of polled, red cattle by saying that she publishes almost all of the pictures submitted. We aren't submitting pictures to her that she can use. I intend to send her some nice shots.

The AGM Photo contest entries were on display. These were supposedly all the photos that were submitted. Black was scarce and the number of Dexters with horns was small. Very small. Only one horned Dexter photo won a ribbon.

The Virginia weather cooperated pretty well until I left right after the general meeting. Then the wrath of Virginia was dumped on the show. I barely escaped it.

I didn't meet or see or hear of any of the people I dreaded to see there. The atmosphere was friendly and polite. I was wearing my Paradise Farm T-shirt and hat and several of the officers I didn't know by sight came over to say hello.

The size of the crowd was smaller than expected. Lots of withdrawals between the entry deadline and the AGM. Dinner reservations were anticipated at 225, but turned out to be 150 for the two dinners. One of the Motels sold out the block of 20 rooms they had allotted for ADCA members, but all but 11 canceled.

During the meeting, a speaker from the floor stated that Missouri is the center of the Dexter Universe. I suspect he is right. Virginia is more lightly populated with Dexter owners. I saw some of the people who had previously visited Paradise Farm at the show and I'm sure there were other newbies there. Hopefully, by the time another big event like this is held on the east coast, we will be better represented.

I missed seeing Hans. He couldn't get away from working too hard. I think of him as a bike racer, slim and muscular. I wanted to see how close my mental image of him was.

[wvdexters]

Hubby and I had a good time. I enjoyed "meeting" so many of my Dexter friends and getting to put some more faces with names. It was fun watching Adam and Dara Inion out there in the show ring. Carole and Clem are doing a great job with them, and as ambassadors for our Traditional Dexters.

We had to leave early on Saturday because of my husband's work schedule. so Unfortunately we missed Dr. Sponenberg and the general meeting. I did leave my proxy with a friend though, so my vote would be counted. Luckily we made it home before the storms hit. I think it rained about as hard as it could.

I think having a tab for Traditional Dexters on the ADCA page is good. I wasn't there for the presentation, but I believe it will be a good step for the breed and the members. A source for information and to raise the awareness. Hopefully in the coming yrs, we will see more at the shows.

[lakeportfarms]

It sounds as though the AGM this year is nowhere near going to be in the financial black. From the few photos I saw, there didn't appear to be many entries in the various classes. And it looks like the sale was a total bust. I'm wondering, how many mature bulls (greater than 3 years old) were shown? Can you be in the top three just by showing up with an older bull with a nose ring that you can reasonably handle?

I contrast the AGM to the fair we attend in Armada, about an hour's drive from us. www.armadafair.org I would guess there are over 10,000 people that walk past our Dexters during those 7 days. Though it is true that most of those people will not be in the market for purchasing a Dexter because they live on a small lot or even an apartment, we have plenty every day asking us about our cows that could be and do end up being customers.

If I were king of the association, I'd start seriously negotiating with existing well established fairs in different parts of the country on a rotating basis to combine the Dexter AGM and show and sale with those kind of fairs. Now a fair like the Armada one that we attend would be difficult, there isn't any extra room there, but there are some other fairs that would be thrilled to have a national show for a breed of livestock as part of their offering to their visitors. Far more exposure for the breed, probably better attended by exhibitors, certainly better attended by spectators, and there may even be some non-Dexter owners bidding on the Dexters that are brought for the sale to start their own herds. The logistics and costs would be simple enough to work out between the ADCA and the respective fairs. Ours spend a week under a large tent because the barns are packed with 4-H animals and exhibits, but they do just fine with that since they live outdoors anyway. The show is also held under a large tent with bleachers as well. But hey, what do I know?

[otf]

Hans, I think you're correct -- the financial bottom line will tell a great deal. And I believe that will be published in the next Bulletin. I doubt anyone can get the figures before that. When I tried to get a line-by-line accounting of the AGM a few years ago, the powers that be promised to send it to me, but that never happened.

I like your idea of hosting an AGM under the umbrella of another fair. It is a plus for the fair in that it's something a little "different."

Gale
Olde Towne Farm
Mineral, VA

[lakeportfarms]

Gale,

I don't think this year's AGM will be in the next bulletin. From my understanding the fiscal year has closed before this. You'll have to wait until August of 2016 to find out how this year's event fared. In any case, I doubt you'll ever see a line by line accounting of the AGM. Between this and the Bulletin a lot of money could probably be saved by making some changes that would also be more beneficial to both the breed and the majority of members who don't participate.

[jamshundred]

As a member of this region I am appalled that we are stuck with such a miserable showing!  The talents and expertise of members of this region were not used !   The first meeting at the facilities was attended by members willing to help promote our region as was the second meeting, but I think few members in this region were even aware of the AGM. It wasn't even promoted within the region itself!  The last email I saw regarding the event was in November.

this is the FIRST annual meeting where members of a region had the AGM removed from them and taken over by leadership.

Had members of the region been given the opportunity to plan and promote the event I am confident there woukd have been a larger showing.

Judy

[genebo]

I agree.

After the first planning meeting, I was so Gung-Ho about it. When I read that this would be the first meeting that was not to be entirely set up and run by the region, I was offended.

From that point on, I felt out of the loop.

[otf]

Folks, it is NOT because help and ideas weren't offered (more than once I might add). I could go on and on about the hours I spent and people I contacted, but I'll spare you the details. In fact, I was willing to provide a tremendous photo I took to headline the whole theme (huh? what theme?) but no acknowledgment was even made of that, so it is now adorning the Olde Towne Farm website.

Gale

[lonecowhand]

Did anyone from ADCA reach out to the traditional folks, other than the conversation regarding a tab with Woehl?