FTA Convention???

How did it go? Attendance? Weather?

Excelent rondy, but extremly short of people! 800 through the gate! Weather was hot, but were several buildings with air where you could cool off. Everything about the convention was top notch, but low fur prices and high gas prices put the kabash on it! All the loyal Fur Taker members were there, but only a few new folks. By the end of it, I knew about everyone that attended! lol

This was the third rondy of the year this year, and they have all been the same, people are not traveling because of the gas prices. Prolly not what any of us wanted to hear!

I had hoped to attend but the weather had finally cooperated here so I was in the hay field all weekend

Tailgated there for the entire show.
Smallest crowd that I’ve ever seen at a FTA by far.
The grounds were great and John and crew did a tremendous job running the convention, but the masses didn’t show. Nothing you can do about that.
That being said, we sold enough and bought enough to make the trip a success.

Hats off to the Kansas Furharvesters. Great job!!

One of the best demos where I learned a lot was the one Lee put on about sharpening knives, even if we did have to move from and air-conditioned building to another location. After seeing and feeling how sharp his fleshing knife was, I can tell my own Steinmeyer knife can use some work on it. After he taught me how to bring the edge back the right way, I'm back in business now with a sharp knife.

My wife and I both went. We had a great time and got to meet lots of people. Numbers of people were down, but from what we saw and heard, it sure looked like everyone had a great time.

Them Kansas folks put on a top-notch rondy and worked long and hard to make sure things went smoothly. They should all be congratulated for a job well done!

Thanks Clay, we gave it our best shot! John put his everything into this convention, and I really feel bad for him, but it was anything but his fault. It sounds like we lost a good bit of money on this one. The one six years ago, we made good money on. Who could have guessed, when we bid on the convention, that we would get hit with years of covid nonsense, then no fur market at all, and last but not least, crippling inflation! Can we have a redo.....prolly not!

Thanks also for the kind words, C-traps! Was nice to meet you!

Lee, how did that wine event do?

I got to meet some great folks and really enjoyed that. Had a great lunch from the fish fry truck and some very good conversations.

If attendance was low this year, I hate to see what it will be next year if gas goes up to $10/gal. as some are predicting.

I think the attendance at the Pennsylvania Trappers Association Rendezvous was more than that.

did I miss the auction for the F TA ADVENTURE HUNTS? Or was that not held this year?

http://www.furtakersofamerica.com/adventure2020.pdf

The info on Minktoberfest is old on the link provided. I believe the auction is in September.

In the May edition of the Fur Taker Magazine they're looking for donations yet.

KFHA and the volunteers did an outstanding job, but yup, attendance was low. I'm seeing this across the board at a lot of events (NWTF, Delta Waterfowl and even non-conservation minded things). Gas prices, and inflation are really hurting folks.

I didn't get the visit with all the vendors and folks there, as I was otherwise occupied most of the show at the FTA booth.

The Saturday night round table was EXCELLENT. A lot of folks really missed out by not attending. I didn't get the attend the wine tasting, but I heard a lot of positive feed back, and did get to sneak a taste of some of Lees wine at the fish fry, and it was delicious.

It was so great to catch up with folks, meet new, and experience Kansas in June!

Adventure Auctions will be coming up in September. We (the FTA) wanted to focus on a few one of a kind items that we had up for auction and release the 1st of a limited run of Cowboy Gary canvas prints by Adrian Romero.

Been working on the spread sheet for the convention, still not fully complete, but far enough along to see we did finish in the Black. So, we did not lose any money.
Want to thank all my help this week and all of you who attended. John

great thank you!!

Slower convention, but how could it not be with lack of a fur market, high fuel, and extremely hot weather. Kansas folks did a great job, volunteers jumped right in to help unload and make sure that dealers had everything they needed. Everyone was in good spirits despite the current market conditions. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put this convention together.

I just got home. What an amazing job the Kansas guys and gals did! My hat goes off to all of you! Thanks for a great convention. I met some new folks and got to see some old friends that I hadnt seen in many years.

Paul, my wife sure loved the wine tasting, thought we might have to cattery her out for a bit..

Marty it was great meeting you and glad you enjoyed the food.

Thanks for asking, Paul! It went well, but like the whole rondy, was short on people! DeAnn Buser did a great job of putting the details together, and deserves a shout out! Had lots of wine, and food, and everyone I talked to that went enjoyed it. As a side note, I couldn't have wine at my table......and had game wardens right beside me, does that remind you of a previous event? lol. Spent six days down there, in liberal looney land, but survived, and didn't get attacted or protested! I took five galllon of wine, gave DeAnn one that she liked and brought most of the four back home. So to answer your question, it went well, just short of people. I was mowing till after dark last night, as they are predicting rain, and I hadn't mowed in two weeks. Almost needed to swath and bale it!

we had a great time. first time for us to do a show in kansas. i must say that those folks sure did put together a great show with plenty of friendly helpful folks. although we were in the open air building the big overhead fans did a great job, and the building was very clean and neat. although the crowd was small i had one of my best sales ever. hats off to all the FTA folks.

I had a great time it was Father's day weekend so the wife and daughter stayed at the Wolf lodge. So I spent half my day with them and half at the show. We had to leave Saturday morning to get back home for Sunday the wife's family was having a dinner for her dad. So with that said I had a great time got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while. I thought the KTA did a great job putting on the convention they had a lot of hurdles to overcome and did a great job.

Thank you immensely, to everyone involved!!! FTA workers, Kansas association, demo folks, tail gaiters and vendors. Everything ran smoothly and folks all appeared to be having a great time. Much to see and do for certain. It was great to sit down and visit with old and new friends.

I ended up bailing hay also , wish I could have been there . I really hate missing one even though I’ve been to so many. Does anyone know how to get a copy of the demo’s that are recorded every year. This would have been my first opportunity to see Lee’s demo and would like to buy a copy.
Thanks,
Don

likewise, sir.

Don, I can't answer your question, but You missed ten minutes of trying to get a stake out of the arena floor! I usually don't drive a stake on demos, but thought I would this time. Of course, all I had to pull the stake was my trapping hammer! It was a hoot and wore me out for the rest of the day!

Marty, how is PJ? Hope all is going well!

Pup is doing great. He helped at work today. Just over a day here and he goes to the door/barks to be let out to go to pottie. Very smart pup. Thanks again.

Names, please.

Quiet but deadly, Lee Steinmeyer, and trapper les

Turkey call, Death Ray, & Lake of the woods "Mountain Man"

Am I Right?

I got a lot of compliments on that Trump hat, lol, pretty much the only thing that kept all them liberal women off a me.

I was sitting right behind the picture taker, next to the puppies.....Les, I saw you walk by a few times but did not know that you were Les....

Was a good convention, hats off to Kansas Fur Harvesters! Was good to see several old friends hadn’t seen in awhile.

That’s alright Lee , I’m gonna shoot with Louie tonight. He will know or know who to call .

was this about but on edge or touch it up back side after a couple fleshings ?

I heard groenwold an FHA auction co. Wernt there, I don't think that normal, maybe at nationals, was to FHA convention in Manchester , 5 years ago

Dave, Lee explained very well how to touch up a fleshing knife, using a smooth steel to bring back the edge and also create a burr on the bottom side of the sharp edge of the knife.

He also explained using a smooth mill file and draw filing the cutting edge to remove knicks etc. from the cutting edge. Followed up with the smooth steel process.

It was a great demo, probably one of the best as far as I'm concerned.

Got to meet Marty at the FTA, always liked his posts. Great guy, he gives you his opinion, and backs it up with facts. So you know exactly how and why he arrived at that opinion. He thinks things through very carefully before he speaks. Pretty rare in today's world.

U can use back edge of quality knife to touch up an create a bur, sharpen mine lansky on angle once year an don't screw up angle, but still there but make it better , the bur is wierd how works,it is sharp bur though , guy at nafa demo In Illinois at nta show it me , 5 yrs ago, it was dead at conventions clear back then, at some demos, 6 guys there or maybe less

Thank you, Gerald. It was a pleasure meeting you.

They usually warn everybody that Les has entered the building, somebody dropped the ball, lol