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ISTA 50th Convention and Rendezvous
Mill Pond Park, Union Mills, Indiana
September 16 & 17, 2011
The Indiana State Trappers Association held its 50th Convention and Rendezvous this past September 16 & 17, 2011 at Mill Pond Park, 100 Mill Pond Rd., 400 W., Union Mills, Indiana. (www.indianatrappers.org) A larger than normal crowd turned out to watch the demonstrations, attend the membership meeting, and visit with the vendors, both inside and along tailgate row.
President Ron Elliott especially wanted to thank Amos Malstaff and Kenny Peregrine, the Union Mills Lions Club which did the breakfasts, and the Union Mills Conservation Club, Keith Swanson, and others, who got the dealer building set up for our use. Ron also wants to really thank his wife, for many, many, things. “Thank you to everyone.”
At the Saturday Board Meeting, the Hall of Fame Award was given to Keith Winkler of Sterling Fur Company for their many years of support of the ISTA. Terry Manley, of the NAFA, gave a great preview of the season to come. Finally, Amos Malstaff was presented with the Pioneer’s Award, for being the last surviving founder of the ISTA AND for his attending every fall Convention for the past 50 years. Amos had brought a picture to the Convention that was taken at the 1962 ISTA Convention. This picture is available on-line below. If you can identify a person, please let us know.
Vendors and tailgaters were allowed to get set up Thursday night, September 15, 2011. Many of these vendors made donations for the fundraising auction held Friday night. The ISTA would like to thank the following vendors, in no particular order, for their presence and contributions, at our 50th Convention and Rendezvous: Grand River Fur Exchange, NAP’s Trapping Supply, Trapper Corky Klausing, Trapper’s World magazine, P.D.K., Murray’s Furs & Supply, I.V. Shorts (Phil), Appalachia Mountain Pure, Miami Valley Supply, Bower Built, Wayne Spatz, Welch’s Lure, Epler Fur Co., Hair of the Bear, Northern Sport Co., Alert A.D.C., Dennis W. Cobb, P.A. Spring & Bait, Wilbur Cook, Tom Butz, The Ohio Trappers, Wolf Creek Pro., Joe Goodman, Buckeye Trap Supply, Pjoenix Composite Solutions, Williams Trap Co., Hoosier Trapping Supply, FTA Chapter 7F, Jerry Schilling, Sterling Fur Co., Mark June Lures, JR and Sons, Ricky McCaw, Stu Grell, Fred Philips, and anyone that I have possibly missed. THANK YOU.
Demonstrations were put on Friday, September 16th, 2011, by Jeff Robinson (canines), Tom Larson (canines), Jerry Schilling (turtles), Ron Elliott (skinning), Amos Malstaff (muskrats), Mark June (canines), Kenny Peregrine (beaver) and John Allen (raccoons). Demonstrations Saturday, September 17, 2011 included Jeff Robinson (canines), Jerry Schilling (turtles), Amos Malstaff (beaver), Mark June (canines), Robert Wadell, Tim Julian and Gary Jepson, and Ron Leggett (fox and coyote). Several impromptu demonstrations were given one on one around the Park. If I missed anyone, my apologies. I still want to thank everyone who took the time to put on these demonstrations.
The Fundraising Auction, held Friday night was well attended. Don Neihl purchased the Henry Golden Boy #2 Rifle for $725. As Fred Philips, DVM, owner of the Animal Hospital of Rushville, PC had donated $300 toward this project, the #2 Henry Golden Boy Rifle brought in over $1000 on its own. This was one of our better auctions, run by Corbin Bultemeier, an excellent auctioneer. (260.223.7352).
Dave Naillieux was the lucky winner of the Henry Golden Boy #1 rifle.
Activities for the younger set were available through out the day on Friday and again on Saturday. Many wooden sifters were assembled and immediatedly put to good use in the volley ball court sand. Adjustable drowning slide wires were also constructed, some by the older set. Finally they younger trappers were offered a 1.5 jump trap to "adjust" by tightening the dog, filing off the notch and lowering the pan some. With that final activity, the participant was permited to take everything that they had done home with them to be used under the supervision of their parents or older trapper. Many a finger was pinched during these activities, but everyone had a good time. Ron wants to thank Fred Philips for organizing, financing, and running the Kid's Tent and activities. Fred would like to thank Tom Setser and Kenny Peregrine inparticular for helping out and also several other members, who's names escape him, who jumped in when things got particularly busy. Thank you.
On Saturday, after the Membership meeting, the games were opened for all the youngsters present. First was the hay scramble. Starting with the youngest, the kids were permitted into the hay pile in a staggered time frame. The youngest ended up with four minutes more than the oldest to scramble for candies, coins and Convention Tokens. The $200 in tokens could be used as money in the dealers' building to purchase whatever they had to offer. Many used traps, and bottles of lure were thus purchased.
Following the hay scramble, the trap setting contests were run. For those trappers under 12 years old, Shelby placed third with a time of 1min. ,11.5 sec. Remy was second with a time of 59.7 sec. And with much fanfare, Ian was first with a blazing time of 18.4 sec. For the 12 to 16 year old trappers, Tyler G. and Tyler N. initailly tied for second place so another trap was added to the mix. With that addition, Tyler G. took third place with a time of 1:37.00, just a few seconds behind Tyler N's second place of 1:01.00. First place was taken by Tim F. with a lightning fast speed of 13 seconds, and no fingers pinched. Wow, it was a sight to see. The over 16 year old trappers took on a 330 Conibear type trap. Travis Allen was able to get it set in 47.8 seconds for third place. Jim McCulla tried twice, and his best time was 31.4 seconds, good enough for second place. First Place was taken by Ben Tate with a time of 26.3 seconds. Quite impressive. With the end of the trap setting contests, the skillet throw was the last competition on the adgenda.
Initially female trappers were in short supply to toss the "light" skillet, but Carrie managed to heave it out there 37 feet. Tossing a "heavy" skillet, Bill C. managed 51feet, 6 inches for third place. Kenny P. took second place with a toss of 64 feet, 6 inches, while Travis A. flung that skillet a record setting 66 feet and 6 inches for a definitive first place. Bill C. thought that he could do better, so he gave it one more shot, breaking the brand new skillet into several pieces, and thereby ending the competition.
Trophy plaques were awarded to all the winners. Hopefully I will be able to get some pictures in here in the near future, but until then that is all that I have to report on the ISTA 50th Convention and rendezvous.
Next year's ISTA 51st Annual Convention and Rendezvous will be held on September 21 and 22, 2012 at theTipton County Fairgrounds, 1200 S. Main St. (SR 19), Tipton, IN. Please see the notice under Coming Events or the Calendar for further information concerning the ISTA 51st Annual Convention and Rendezvous.
Watch your top knot. Keep your eyes along the skyline.
Fred Philips |
