NEW Reunion UPDATES = Turtle Fest & MORE 2011 Sept. 23, 24, & 25

Congrats to one of our instructors. Dan psycho Hudzik wins BOC Masters at the Missouri Show. Way to go Foocker!

 

New Vendor just added to the line-up. Ross Vogler will be here with his beautiful copper bases. Pretty fitting for a venue location called the Copper Dock Winery! If you haven't seen Ross's bases, you need to. They are first class. Now here's a little something SPECIAL added to the mix. Ross and Michael P are gonna team up and do a rock inlay on the inserts of one of Ross's pedistal bases. Raffle tickets will be sold for this base at the convention, and all the proceeds will go to Hunt of a Lifetime. Thank You Ross and Michael.

http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,274774.msg1903712.html#msg1903712

 

Breakthrough Ad on pg 87. Anyone see it? If so, whatcha think?

 

Just a little over a month away. Everything is set to go. Hope you guys are getting those comp mounts ready.

 

I know I have beat this thread to death over the past year, but I've been working hard on getting this finished up for everyone. In the past few days I have sent out over 800 e-mails, the Breakthrough ad has hit the mailboxes, sent out a mailer to every taxidermist in the states of Illinois and Missouri, and have placed over 7000 fliers in the hands of several suppliers to be included in shipment boxes over the next 5 weeks. There will be newspaper ads in the St Louis region 2 weeks prior to the event inviting the public to come and see your work. Every effort has been made to get the word out and many vendors have been added to the lineup. Now I am working on the finishing touches for our awards banquet. The following is a list of awards you can come and compete for.

BEST YOUTH ENTRY sponsored by WALNUT CREEK HARDWOODS
BEST NOVICE ENTRY sponsored by WALNUT CREEK HARDWOODS
BEST of CATEGORY PROFESSIONAL DIVISION in BIRDS, FISH, MAMMALS, GAMEHEADS, WHITETAILS & REPTILES
BEST PROFESSIONAL ENTRY sponsored by WALNUT CREEK HARDWOODS
MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPION (MASTERS DIVISION) BIRDS, FISH, MAMMALS, GAMEHEADS, WHITETAILS, & REPTILES
BEST COLLECTIVE ARTISTS ENTRY (2 awards)
McKenzie CHOICE AWARDS sponsored by McKenzie (voted on by competitors) Awards for best BIRD, FISH, LIFESIZE, WHITETAIL
RESEARCH MANNIKINS AWARDS goes to BEST YOUTH, BEST PROFESSIONAL AND BEST MASTERS ENTRIES
WASCO AWARD (Judges choice MOST ARTISTIC ENTRY)
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD (voted on by the viewing public)
COMPETITORS CHOICE AWARD (voted on by fellow competitors)
COPPER DOCK WINERY CHOICE AWARD
MIDWEST REGIONAL CHOICE AWARD
JUDGE'S CHOICE AWARD "BREAKTHROUGH BEST OF SHOW" sponsored by BREAKTHROUGH MAGAZINE



Several SPECIAL INTERESTS AWARDS are up for grabs, including awards from
National Wild Turkey Federation
Ducks Unlimited
Illinois Trappers Association
Whitetails Unlimited
Carlyle Lake Waterfowlers Association
I.F.O.R. Illinois Federation of Outdoors Resourses
B.A.S.S.
RMEF Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

and working on a few others. So come expecting a wide array of awards up for grabs. And don't forget, Kent Reedy's bird seminar and Brian Claar's fish seminar are limited in numbers so don't hesitate. If you want in, let it be known asap.

 

Sometimes you just don't know what to say. I know many of you know Larry and Kathy Blomquist much better than me, so perhaps I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. But I had a conversation with Larry yesterday that just warms my heart so much about how some people can be so giving and so supportive of others, that I'm left with emotions that tell me this taxidermy world in which we live has some of the most generous people on earth in it's fold. In a world where we all are counting our pennies in this depression time we are living, once again, Larry has bestowed yet another gift to us for the Turtle Fest/Midwest Regional, event. As many of you know, our beloved Simon Blackshaw did a massive array of drawings before his passing to be used in conjunction with the new scoresheets that will without a doubt become the industries new standard that has been in the works by Larry for some time now. In part, these were used at the last WTC. Well guess what? We are going to get to use them here in Sept. as part of a trial run. All I can say is Thank You Larry for entrusting us, and allowing us the privilege. It will be as though a part of Simon will be here with us. Thank You Larry, from the bottom of my heart.