Arkansas Trappers Association June-July 2012 Report

www.arkansastrappers.org

President — Gary Helms, 1092 Vanderbilt Rd., Texarkana, AR 71854; 870-772-3834; Arkansastrappers@aol.com

Vice President — Aaron Hitchcock, 9331 Sister Ln., Mulberry, AR 72947; 479-997-8401

Secretary/Treasurer — Rocky Weeks, P.O. Box 987, Cabot, AR 72023; 501-259-3610; secretary@arkansastrappers.org

NTA Director — Mike Fischer, 13823 Masoner Rd., Lonsdale, AR 72087; 501-939-2325

Editor — Mark Alexander, P.O. Box 1681, Greenwood, AR 72936; 479-310-0692; info@arkansastrappers.org

 

Membership Options:

• Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $22

• Family membership with subscription — $27

 

Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:

ATA, Secretary/Treasurer

Rocky Weeks

P.O. Box 987

Cabot, AR 72023

 

EDITOR’S REPORT

The 9th annual National Trappers Association Southeast Convention hosted by the Arkansas Trappers Association was held at the Pope County Fairgrounds in Russellville April 13-15th. Early estimates were 350 trapping men, women and kids came through the gates.

Demonstrations were held all day Friday and Saturday by southeastern US trappers Jeff Dunnier, James Lord, Danny Redwine, Rick Friedrich, Tony Howard, Woodrow Cain, Mike Bailey, John Lindsey, Marty Harmon, Kirk DeKalb and Tony Howard, and Arkansas natives Gary Helms, Danny Rowland, David McCain and Mario Swayzee. Area NAFA representatives Stan Berkbuegler and Sterlen Kirschman held a fur grading demonstration.

Randy and Karen Davis hosted a beef brisket and smoked chicken dinner on Friday night with proceeds of $722 going to the ATA. Joey Morris was chief cook of the delicious dinner.

Money was raised for the NTA and Fur Bearer’s Unlimited from auctions and raffles. The NTA staff made sure we all had a good time and did a great job of keeping things exciting.

Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance, Mississippi Trappers Association and Kansas Fur Harvesters had booths in the vendor area. For supplies, there was Minnesota Trapline Products, Sterling Fur Company, Duke Traps, Advanced Trap, Thompson Snares and Okie Cable & Trap Supply. Local vendors American Animal Control, B&G Fur Shed, KK Animal Control and AR Critter Getter were also resupplying the trappers.

ATA member volunteers in bright orange shirts ran the admission gate, helped with parking, ran the ball toss game, helped with the demos and vendors and did other chores that kept the convention running smooth. The local Boy Scout troop helped keep the grounds the clean.

Trap setting contest winners were James Parsons, Shane McMillen, Casey Dick, Kevin Whitworth, Cynthia Oxford, Shiela Smith, Michela Oxford, Farrel Kiindsfater, Chase McMillen, Aaron Rainey, Nicole Phillips, Elizabeth Arnold, Ethan Arnold, Gus Davis, Sawyer Smith, Kiera Stevens and Shelby Davis. Frying pan toss champion was Diana English with runnerups Michela Oxford and Viece Cain. The Youngest trapper award went to Evan Kirshman.

The ATA would like to thank NTA, FBU, the demomen, vendors, ATA member volunteers, attendee’s, the city of Russellville and the Pope County Fairgrounds for an outstanding convention.

District 5 will be having a meet, greet and eat June 16th at Toad Suck Park, whole hog and potluck. Contact Heath Shaw 501-889-4619 or Doug Henderson 501-288-0915 for details.

The next ATA event will be the state convention at Petit Jean State Park September 7 and 8. Convention organizers are Charlie Bass and Dustin Lunsford. As convention details are finalized they will appear in the next edition of this magazine, on the ATA website and in an ATA mailing.

Also, it’s not too early to start planning to attend the ATA Trappers Workshop next October 26,27 and 28th. Aaron Hitchcock is organizing another great weekend of trapping. Watch for details and registration forms in the convention/workshop mailer.

Hope everyone has a great summer! — Mark Alexander

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