I would like to take this opportunity to announce the finalists in the American Ferret Association's Specialty Ferret of the Year competition. If you are receiving this email (or reading it on the fml) and you and your ferret's name is included in the list below, then your ferret is either the winner or the runner up. I'm sorry I can't just list the winners, that would take all the fun out of the presentations now wouldn't it! The AFA Specialty Ferret of the Year Awards will be presented on Friday, March 27th at AFA's First Annual Awards Banquet to be held at the Old Main Building at the York Fairgrounds in York, PA. The dinner and awards presentation will be from 6:00-8:00pm. Any and all are invited to attend - information such as the cost per person for the buffet and the deadline for reserving your seat is included in the AFA Spring Nationals Ferret Competition Show Packet that will be sent out in the next day or two and will be available for download from the AFA website (www.ferret.org) starting early next week. Martin's Cages was our most generous sponsor for the AFA Ferret of the Year and AFA Specialty Ferret of the Year awards. Skip and Diana will be joining us at the dinner and presentation ceremony on Friday night. We will also have a photographer at the hall so you can get pictures of your ferret and their award. The main qualifications for this award are the ferret must have been in the specialty class in at least four (4) AFA sanctioned shows; the class must have been judged by a licensed AFA specialty or title class judge; and the ferret must have consistently placed well in the competitions. If you think your ferret was missed, please contact me directly at jbferret @ mindspring.com (no spaces). Doreen Anderson - Dweazel, SH's Cappie Julie Bender - GFX's Zoot Suit Riot Mary Bologansky - DM's Surprise in Disguise Beth Bowles - RN's Lord Aragorn Danee DeVore - SHD's Luna Bella of TCF Ann & Patrick Grimm - Penny Sally Heber - SH's CrossFire (Batty), SH's FireBrand Dr. Ruth Heller - Basilisk of RN Pat & Bill Highley - Jumper, Pouncer Shelly McAllister - My Princess Gracie, NB's O'Darby Girl Vickie McKimmey - JBF's Pink Squirrel, JBF's Caribou Lou Susan Mentzer & Joe Hahn - SF's Water Angel of FPWC, Cheer Up Bunky of FPWC Jessie Molan - FP's BorumHa (Boru) Chris Sayne - FFP's Talladega Paula Woodland - SH's Ichi-Ban of WWW Congratulations to all the finalists and I look forward to seeing everyone and their ferrets at the award presentations and at AFA's Spring Nationals Ferret Competition, Old Main Building, York Fairgrounds, York, PA on March 28th. Vickie PS The announcement for the finalists for AFA's Ferret of the Year for Title Classes - Adolescent, Alter, Breeder and Companion will be made soon! Look for it! Vickie McKimmey Just a Business of Ferrets www.jbferret.com American Ferret Association Director of Shows and Special Events www.ferret.org Author of Ferrets: An Animal Planet Pet Care Library Series Book [Posted in FML 6235]