I have been out of communication for a little bit, trying to find out
about my family who was down south when the hurricane hit.  I finally
breathe with a sigh of relief for the time being.  They found shelter at
the Hammond Airport (between New Orleans and Biloxi).  The surrounding
area is just devastated.  They are hungry and thristy and there is only
one phone that a few hundred can use and so it took them until last night
to be able to talk.  They are in tears just knowing that happened and how
it is affecting them.  The airport has electricity via a generator but
it's not enough to run the AC properly and it's hot and sticky.  All they
can do now is sit and wait as the roads are torn apart and being that
they don't know the area very well, it's hard to find back roads not
torn up like the major roads.  I haven't eaten or slept well since this
all happened.  I talked to them on Sunday afternoon and then not until
yesterday.  Too many days without knowing.
 
I had a chance this morning to read the most recent posts.  And though
the following is not meant as a flame, just stating facts and how our
shows are run.
 
I have to ask the anon poster, do you have breeder or pet store ferrets?
I ask because I didn't see that you listed what you had but the posts
following mentions pet store vs.  breeder.  Depending on the show format,
some prefer one over the other.  Judges within LOS are taught the
difference and to judge them as they are.  So in Specialty, if it's a
petstore ferret, the judge knows the structure may not be the same as
breeder but if the maintenance is done and the color is correct, then
either breeder or pet store ferret may win.  Judges are taught that a
breeder will have this type of structure and pet store will have this
type of structure.  We have a mix and usually it's about equal in the
Specialty Rings.  In Championship, we have rings such as Judge's Cup (for
judge's ferrets), Kit (ferrets under a 1 year of age), Breedable Adult
(for the breeder adults) and Alter Adult (for the alters (late and
early alters), Senior (over 5 years), Handicap, About Perfect (slight
imperfections), Royalty (1st place winners), Nobility (2nd and 3rd
place winners).  This because we want to make sure that the ferrets are
competiting against others of like or similiar structure or stance.
 
Also sometimes it's hard for first time showers to understand that
in some formats and not just AFA, that the judge's ferrets may be
competiting against your own in Championship Rings.  This is not
uncommon.  In dog and cat shows (now I haven't shown in them but know
others who have), the judge's compete with the other exhibitors.  Our
format took a different approach.  We felt the judge's ferrets should be
judged among ferrets of other judge's.  Also at LOS shows, the ferrets
are judged against a standard.  Judges are to remain non-baised and are
not take into account who the owner is.  The ferret is being judged and
even though the judge may not care for the owner, it is not revelant.
The ferret is the one who deserves to win the ring.  Past show winners
were based on the ferret and how they meet the standard.  Every ferret
show has it's own set of rules and how they have it set up.  It's always
good to ask the show coordinator about their set up of rings and such.
 
But again, you should check into the show and ask questions about the
show rules.  Each show has a different goal in mind and set up.  Many
take a dog and/or cat format but in our shows, we blended formats and
applied them ferrets and how we saw that it would benefit the domestic
ferret.  Our shows are to help improve the standard of the ferret.
Ferrets change with season and as they age.  I am sure we have all looked
at our ferrets and wondered what they thought when they blew their coats
or changed colors.  Well it happens and so they should be a common
variance with shows, like for example in the Spring and Fall, they coats
will be opposite in some cases.  Short during Spring and Summer and Long
during Winter and Fall.  But again, to anon, perhaps you should contact
the show coordinator of the Ohio show and ask her these questions
directly.
 
Though I understand why the anon, so no flames can be sent personally or
whatever the reason or didn't want anyone to know you were.  However, i
feel that really some of those comments would be best sent directly to
the show coordinator as to not attempt to infringe or damage a show's
reputation.  I understand how AFA feels and I also feel that it's best to
send such comments directly and if you wish to post after you received
your answers, that would be your choice.  But you didn't leave a way to
contact you directly, so there isn't a way that AFA can contact you and
help alleviate any problems or concerns you may have.  As a show
coordinator myself, I would ask the same of you.  I would want to know
what is that I can improve upon.
[Posted in FML issue 4988]