Well, guess what folks??  I finally got to attend a ferret show!!
 
I happened to be in Frederick, MD on the 23rd of last month so I stopped in
to the armory where the AFA was having their show.  I saw lots of fuzzies
there, of course.  Frederick, MD is the city that the AFA is based so I had
counted on a big event, I must say I was quite disappointed.  I was there, I
think right in the middle of the activities, and there were hardly 50 to 60
people there TOTAL!  including spectators, breeders, vendors, and judges!
MD seems to be the heart of the larger ferret community I expected the show
to be in a much larger building and with far more people than that!  I guess
the AFA is not nearly as big an organization as I thought it was.
 
I visited all the tables (didn't take long) and saw some neat ferret
goodies, and hand-made stuff for them.  I bought a couple of small trinkets.
(I had been given strict orders by all the fuzzies here not to spend any
money unless it was for treats or toys for *them*.) Totally Ferret had a
table and was offering a 'show special' on their food of $30.00/20 pound
bag!!  Believe me, I strained my brain trying to think of a way to get a
bunch back here to TX, but I would have had a heck of a time carrying food
on the plane, and as it turned out, I had a little biter ferret to bring
back so it would never have worked.
 
I met Mary Shefferman and bought an autographed copy of her new book.  I
read part of it at the airport to little Tiki (the biter ferret) and she
enjoyed it, though folks around us kept looking at me like I had flipped.  I
met a couple of other shelter operators who had tables, though I was hoping
to meet many more, I guess the folks running shelters up there are far too
busy helping the needy fuzzies to spend their Saturday's attending shows.
If I lived there, I can't say I would be inclined to set up a table either.
 
The center aisle seemed to be all filled with ferrets that were being
judged, probably breeders I guess, the people were all busy brushing ferrets
and talking among themselves so I didn't bother them.  There was also a man
there with a little Radio Flyer wagon taking photos, that was cute to watch.
Honestly, I wasn't that taken with the judging going on at the end of the
room, it is kinda boring to watch as they tell you *nothing* about what they
are judging on.  They also were pretty rough in tossing the ferrets around
while judging so I walked off before I said something to get me in trouble.
 
I saw Bill Killian, in his big black cowboy hat, judge a couple of ferrets.
[I liked your shirt, Bill, gee it seemed like I was back in TX.] I also
listened as the lady from the WarmFuzzy Ferret Rescue asked Bill Killian to
explain why her little ferret was not able to win at the shows.  I never did
really 'get' the answer, but since it mattered little to me I just went
about my business.  I believe too much emphasis is placed on 'show quality'
and 'points' and not enough on helping needy fuzzies out there that are
living in poor conditions or without homes at all.
 
Well, gotta get back to the fuzzies.  See ya!
Trish
[Posted in FML issue 1784]