So, I went to the FTA's website last night to try to find out where the convention would be next summer. (I never did....does anyone know???)

But anyways, when I was on there, I noticed something and I thought it was pretty cool! I had never been a huge supporter of the FTA over the years, choosing instead to support the NTA... to the point I even became a board member.......up until they kicked me out of the association for publicly questioning their illegal activities. One thing that always bugged me about the associations in general, was the lack of innovation. They all seemed to just be going along to get along with no new ideas coming out.

Que the 2026 FTA convention!! I am in no ways affiliated with the FTA other than being a regular old member....... but what they are doing at this convention is, imo, a wonderful new idea!!

In addition to their regular lineup of trapping demos, they will ALSO be hosting 2 full days of homesteading demos! I will post the demo list below. But, what a wonderful idea!! First of all, many of these demos may be of some interest to the womenfolk at the convention, and give them something to do while their men are watching trapping demos. But more importantly, if properly advertised, this could be a huge draw for people who are NOT trappers........ but may be trapper-friendly! For example, Jane Doe may never be a trapper, but she may be glad to attend this convention to learn how to catch the coon that's been killing her chickens. And Old McDonald probably will never send a pickup load of furs to FHA but he might want some pointers on keeping the coyote out of his sheep. These homesteading demos could open the door for a slew of non-trapping but trapper-friendly folks to attend the convention and learn more about our sport/activity.

Which leads me to the question.... is this convention being properly promoted?? It should be!! I am hoping people in the FTA are reaching out to the appropriate sources. For example.... beekeeping association, rabbit breeder associations, farmers of all stripes, and especially the homesteading magazines (Mother Earth News, Backwoods Home, Self Reliance, Countryside, Grit, etc.). I believe integrating trapping and homesteading into one convention is a wonderful and innovative idea, but let's not stop there... let's the get the word out about it! I am hoping someone from the FTA sees this post and chimes in!

Here is the list of homesteading demos which will be held in addition to the normal trapping demos.

August 7:
8:00AM Opening Ceremony
9:00AM Defending Your Flock & Garden from Predators
10:00AM From Trap to Table - How to process for human consumption
11:00AM Canning & Preserving Your Meat Catch
12:00PM Fur Handling & Pelt Preparation - Utilizing pelts from meat rabbits and more
1:00PM Tanning Demo - Learn to tan meat rabbit, goats and muskrats
2:00PM Defending Your Beehive & Basic Beekeeping
3:00PM Defending Your Flock of Sheep or Goats from Predators
4:00PM Marketing Animal By Products & Gland Collection
6:00PM Fur Fashion Show, Awards Banquet Dinner & National Council Meeting

August 8:
8:00AM Fur Market Report
9:00AM Defending Your Beehive & Basic Beekeeping
10:00AM Defending Your Flock & Garden from Predators
11:00AM Defending Your Flock of Sheep or Goats from Predators
12:00PM From Trap to Table - How to process for human consumption
1:00PM Canning & Preserving Meat Your Meat Catch
2:30PM Tanning Demo - Learn to tan meat rabbit, goats and muskrats
3:30PM Marketing Animal By Products & Gland Collection
6:00PM Free Meal for All & FTA Live Auction

That's cool and a great way to get more attendance.

I get paid to do classes on some of the homesteading circuit and get asked to do many more, but can't travel much because of our animals. I've considered cutting back and speaking more. I enjoy it and it usually pays well, especially if I merchant at the same events. Teaching a class is in many ways like an hour long sales pitch, when you're selling what you're talking about.

Keith

It's a good idea, IF it's promoted properly, and often...hopefully it will be...

ANYTHING other than the same ol same ol is a great idea. Lot of ways to accomplish what those in charge wish they could accomplish, not rocket science but they make it tough for new people/new idea's to prosper in the setting they have. Regional convention's could be tripled in attendance in a couple of years with a few twist added to things. But keep slinging that skillet and selling them raffle tickets, that's how it's always been done, can't change now!

Angela I was JUST on the site because I was looking for a particular educational video…and I see they have some new apparel. Really nice knit caps and hoodies and new ball caps.

The FTA promoting sustainable lifestyles and grass roots living behind trapping is absolutely the right track. In my opinion. Very proud of the team moving this forward

Angela,

Thanks for the compliments and ideas on marketing/advertising. I'll be sure to pass them along.

Regarding the 2027 rendezvous, a site has not been formally selected yet but we are working through a few ideas. We will probably finalize the location and dates at the upcoming board meeting in August at the Rendezvous and announce at the National Council Meeting on that Friday evening.


Regarding the homesteading aspect of this year's rendezvous:

Trapping conventions have saturated the market. Between June and late September, there is essentially an event somewhere every weekend and most have the exact same format. The only way to compete in a saturated market is to either do it better or do it different. We are in the process of trying to do it a bit different and the homesteading aspect is the first step. We ultimately want to keep the components that long-time members enjoy while adding something for the newer folks that could be interested if they knew opportunities existed. Recent surveys show that less than 4% of trappers are members of the FTA. While most long-time trappers are likely aware of the organization there is some barrier to them joining. However, there are likely way more people that are unaware of us because they either are not trappers or are new trappers. Targeting these individuals would seemingly give a greater probability of growing membership and trapping supporters than working to get existing trappers to join that have not crossed the barrier and may never do so.

The recent AFWA survey done in 2024 showed that fur was the #5 or 6 motivation for why people are trapping. Wildlife management, protecting livestock, decreasing human-wildlife conflict were all ranked higher. This doesn't mean that fur harvest and use of animal parts wasn't important but only that people are largely trapping for other reasons first.

What is really interesting with the homesteading events is that they are growing across the landscape and the homesteading conventions usually have good turnouts despite the admissions being $50-$150 for a weekend pass. Many have options to pre-buy tickets online and some are sold out before the events happen. These people crave knowledge and experiences and are not afraid to pay for them which shows a high level of commitment.


In my opinion, marketing of conventions and the FTA rendezvous has largely been low key despite it being the most important component to having a successful event. Return on investment of ads in print media or fliers at the local coop are pretty poor. Ads in our trapping magazines are nothing more than preaching to the choir but at least keep our members up-to-date on the event. We are moving towards doing a lot more with advertisements on social media using look-a-like audiences, geofencing, etc. For those that are not familiar, this is why you get advertisements for something that makes you think your phone is listening to your conversations. A good example would be using a recent homesteading event that was held in MO in April and geofencing everyone that was within 500 yards of the location during a specific range of dates. This would put targeted ads for the rendezvous to everyone that had a phone at the event during the specified period. You can also target specific people that might like back-yard chickens or homesteading, turkey hunting, etc. that live within 180 miles of the Macon, MO for the rendezvous to make sure they get the advertisements.

The groups you suggested are certainly going to be used for some of these ads over the next 9 weeks so thank you very much as ideas like this are greatly appreciated.

Also, I realize that there are a lot of really great ideas people have that may never get considered because they are never brought to our attention. Don't hesitate to reach out with any ideas. I won't guarantee they will happen but they will be evaluated. Also, keep in mind that the FTA board and officers are entirely volunteer so what may seem like something that can be done in a few days in a typical business might take a bit longer or might not be something that can be done with this limitation.

Jason Wisniewski
FTA President

Wow......Jason......I am even more impressed! You obviously have a background in business. Your advertising strategy sounds pretty dang solid.

It has been a long time since I have been able to support an association because I WANT to!! I REALLY like what you are doing with the FTA. I don't know if you recall, but I met you last year in Iowa and we talked briefly. I will be attending the convention this year as well and am trying to talk as many folks as I can into coming too.

Keep up the great work.... it's incredibly refreshing to see a trapping association being ran as a business and striving to increase revenue!!!

As a side thought... you mentioned ROI on print advertising and what you said makes sense. But.....many of those magazines I mentioned.... Backwoods Home, Self Reliance and Countryside for sure........ have active "letters to the editor" sections... and I have seen events plugged in those letters many times.... so.... writing a letter about the upcoming convention may be a worthwhile pursuit. If printed, and I am willing to bet that if worded right it would be........it would be completely FREE advertising......likewise... sending letters/emails to groups such as rabbit breeders/beekeepers/4-H/FFA/etc. could also gain attendees without costing the assn a dime.... Just some thoughts.....

And one more thought.... posts like mine, and your reply to it.....are likely exactly what is needed to get those longtime trappers that are not members.... to cross that line. No one wants to invest in anything unless they expect to get some sort of ROI for their investment. For too long, trappers have felt that throwing money at associations has not provided stellar returns. Seeing this post, and what the FTA is doing, may make some cross the line and decide your assn might be worth investing in afterall.

Hear that, all you naysayers? Join the dang association!! They are trying to do things... but they will need money to do it. Uncrease that moldy billfold and shoot a check their way.......

Sounds good,. I think I will reup!
Always enjoyed the FTA conventions.
There is a bit of a problem integrating some of these home steading sites,..they are heavily influenced by the cute animal aspect.

Wiz's post above is reassuring.

Market advancements will do well for convention attendance.
Good times ahead .

Good post everyone!
The Wiz and his staff are always working hard and in the right direction as this post has revealed.
4% of the trappers in the USA are members of FTA? Grrrr. I wonder what the numbers are if the NTA was included?
I hope that of those numbers, that those trappers at least support their state associations.

Keep up the good work Jason W.

Low percentage of trappers belong to anything has ALWAYS been the case and always will be. Allowing people of low character to run for the various office's within the organization hasn't helped at all in the past 25 years. Known crooks and liar's help up as outstanding officer's and the face of the organization pretty much guarantee's a certain percentage will turn their back and never join again. Watching money be squandered foolishly and each passing decade more and more trapping rights go away is another issue that some will just throw their hands up and walk away.

It's about impossible to get walk away members back!

The new wave trappers are taught and trained on the latest Utube channel, they have their hero's internet trappers and could care less about joining any association much less buying 4 dollar gas and driving half way across the country to be a part of anything. As hard as it was to get and keep my generation (60) together this new generation of 'trapper' if you can call them that is about impossible. Most are doing some ADC work at their hunting club with hopes of having more deer and turkey and could care less about tradition, ethics, comradery and everything else to do with the history of the fur trade. Whatever they catch they kill and toss in the woods.

Jason did you use to work for the Alabama DNR? Was thinking we met long ago when you did.

The New Mexico Trappers held a fur auction/rondy we advertised a lot. I was supposed to skin a beaver but it refused to thaw. So I talked about the animal and was pleasantly surprised at the people who weren't trappers asking all kinds of questions not just about the beaver but other animals as well. They kept Wayne Derrick answering questions on different predators long after he was supposed to be done. The joint venture also brought new buyers looking for just a few pelts. I believe there is a real hunger for honest information about our wildlife----we are gonna do it again next spring!

See you in Missouri!

One thing we all need is to eat. Dutch oven cooking would be welcome I bet,

According to the 2024 AFWA survey, 4% are members of the FTA, 9% are members of the NTA and around 29% belong to their state associations.

Thank you Sir.

I never worked for AL DCNR but spent 15 years with the GA DNR, 5 with TWRA, and 3 with the PA Fish & Boat Commission in the late 90's/2000's. We left TN in 2023 and moved to the wife's family farm in NE Alabama.

You are spot on regarding the members that get burnt as well as the newer generation which has been shown across all activities to not be part of any organizations.

The focus of many newer folks getting into trapping is certainly on protecting turkeys, especially in the Southeast where we are seeing the most growth. I worked the TFHA booth a few years ago at the NWTF convention. We had a great location where we got to talk to a lot of folks as they made the turn from one aisle to the next. I estimated that about 1 in 20 to 1 in 30 stopped to say they were trapping raccoons on their property or they just got into trapping. Assuming 1 in 30 or 3%, about 2,400 of the 80,000 folks in attendance were trapping to some degree. Very few mentioned anything about fur. I do wonder if some interest in fur may occur over time as these folks start to realize running a trapline can be expensive. Then again, it may be too much work for some of these folks.

Jason:

Kudos for your work and the corresponence above - it is reassuring to see.
Too often, the impression is that 10 people are running organizations in a closed-door, "good ol' boys" club.
Glad to see that the doors are open at the FTA.