>I went to the AFA website to see if I could learn more info on how the >judging systems works to understand what everyone is talking about and >I'm curious that if a ferret places as a Gold or Platinum winner, they >have a list of ferrets who have reached that pinnacle of their show >career in 2004 and the ferrets that made companion, alter, adolescent >and breeder of the year from that group, why are they still being shown >this year? According to the AFA's show standards, haven't they reached >all the points that they can actually get, is there another level of >recognition they can get, can a ferret go higher? Is there something >bigger and better after that? If not, why are these ferrets still >being shown? because they can...a ferret can be shown from the age of 16 weeks 'til 6 1/2 years of age...just because a ferret has reached Platinum or Gold status, does not mean that they can not be shown or should be removed from showing...what purpose does this serve? - I keep hearing, "well it gives someone else the chance to win"...huh???... so, in effect, what this says is the best of the best ferrets should discontinue being shown so that those ferrets that may not be taken care of quite as well or bred quite as well can have a better chance to win??..wow, sounds backwards to me..the IDEA behind the shows is NOT to remove those ferrets who continue to thrive due to care received and good breeding, and thus have reached a Gold or Platinum status --- the most important thing that the AFA shows accomplish is EDUCATION -- education on good breeding practices and good care/maintenance of ferrets -- if we fail to show those ferrets that continue to show well due to great care/maintenance and great breeding practices what does this do?...open the door for those ferrets who maybe aren't so well taken care of or aren't so well bred?...just sounds like a step backwards to me and defeating our goal of educating the public on health/maintenance and good breeding practices --- I would think the idea is to strive for all ferrets to be the healthiest that they can be through excellent health/maintenance and good breeding practices for the betterment of the ferret species.. and if someone can show their ferret (pet store or breeder), whether or not they're Platinum or Gold, and beat my ferret(s) or your ferret(s), more power to them!!...I say job well done, keep up the great work with your ferrets, congratulations!!...good for the AFA for doing its job in educating the public...and, most of all, GREAT for the ferret!! :-) [Posted in FML issue 4993]