President — W.R. Brecheisen Jr., 24685 Lyon Rd., Chanute, KS 66720; phone: 620-432-1074; e-mail: wrb43epb@hotmail.com
Vice President — Roger Macy, P.O. Box 112, Portis, KS 67474; phone: 785-346-2076
Secretary — Donna Macy, P.O. Box 112, Portis, KS 67474; phone: 785-346-6017
Treasurer — Pauline Brecheisen; 24685 Lyon Rd., Chanute, KS 66720; phone: 620-432-1770; e-mail: e-pauline@live.com
NTA Director — Russell Voelker, 11816 K-16, Hwy., Valley Falls, KS 66088; phone: 785-945-6750
FTA Director — Robert Currie, 926 M St., Belleville, KS 66935; phone: 785-527-2449
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Family membership with subscription — $25
• Junior (14 & under) with subscription — $15
Complete membership application on first page of
association section and send dues to:
KFHA, Treasurer
Pauline Brecheisen
24685 Lyon Rd., Chanute, KS 66720
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
As president of the Kansas Fur Harvester Assn, Inc. I feel very privileged to be the president of an association with many dedicated and hard working members, working to advance our mission of educating the public about the fur harvesting industry. We are an association with a small membership compared to other state fur harvesting associations but we are more active in promoting fur harvesting and educating the public on the benefits of fur harvesting than most of them with larger memberships.
I would like to say thank you to these members and it is through their dedication and hard work to further our mission, through educational booths, that other organizations in our state are now “asking” us to participate in their organizations events. Many organizations have asked our members to set up an educational booth at their event, or to do a demonstration for them or as the Wild Turkey Federation’s Jake’s program which has asked us to do both this fall.
Many of the KFHA, Inc. educational booths are targeted toward the adults as the Topeka Farm Show, The Wichita Boat Sport and Travel show or the Chisholm Gun Show in Wichita. The Kansas State Fair, we can target both adults and children as a great number of both attend. Others as the USSA Trailblazer event in Topeka, the Farm Bureau Safety day in Abilene, the OK Kid day events with the dept. of wildlife and parks as well as the Wild Turkey Federations’ Jakes program, are geared for children.
We hope through these educational booths that we influence some to become fur harvesters, but also educate those who chose not to participate in fur harvesting on the benefits of fur harvesting. Members also do classroom presentations in school districts within the state about fur harvesting and we hope by educating this next generation they will be more informed about the fur industry and hopefully they can make a more educated evaluation of what the antis tell them and can tell truth from fiction.
I would like to thank all of those members that have helped in the educational booths that we have set up at events around the state which include, the Topeka farm show, the Wichita boat sport and travel show, the Chisholm gun show, the hunting and fishing expo in Emporia and the trailblazer event in Topeka and the many classroom presentations. Yes, we have had booths at many events this spring but we are always looking for new events and venues to further our mission.
Also this year we have many more members volunteer to help with the state fair booth and I would like to thank them for volunteering some time and I am sure they will be awed by the number of people that the Kansas Fur Harvester Assn, Inc. has a opportunity to educate on the benefits of fur harvesting. In the ten,12hour days, hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and from all walks of life file past our booth. Not all stop, but there is no other venue in the state that offers the KFHA, Inc. such a wide spectrum of people to educate on the benefits of fur harvesting.
This will be our fifth year to have a KFHA, Inc. booth at the fair and for those members that have not yet spent time in the booth at the fair are missing out on a great opportunity to educate a vast number of people. It’s fun and sometimes can be exciting when an anti gets in your face.
With the depressed fur market it is hard to remain motivated or committed to the association, but we must continue to educate the public, for the antis are always coming up with new ways to attack the fur harvesting industry. Please take time and volunteer. And remember to support not only the KFHA, Inc. but the NTA and the FTA as well.
May God Bless. — W.R. Brecheisen Jr.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
As spring has approached us and everyone has got all their fur harvesting equipment cleaned and put away, it is now time to think of the many national, regional, state and local events that will soon be taking place. We all know the economy is not the best, but attendance is what makes these shows a success, so make plans to attend one or more shows.
Most all events are operated on volunteer help, so step up and do your part, by donating a little of your time. There is always something that you can do to help make things go better. The rewards of donating your time may be more beneficial than expected. We all need to pitch in and help.
On the state and local level don’t forget to mark your calendar of events in your area. Educate the people in the proper and ethical means of your activities and what the association is for. As all are members of the association, attend your district meetings, and learn of the activities in your district.
Help is always needed to put on the activities in your district and on the state level. Don’t rely on someone else to do all the work. People do get tired of doing your part for you.
Don’t forget about the FTA Rendezvous in Columbus, Indiana on June 10-12.
The NTA Regional Rendezvous or the 51st National Convention in Marshfield, WI on Aug. 5-8.
The State Rendezvous in Osborne, KS on Oct. 1-3.
There is always something to learn at these gatherings, and friends to meet, and the public to educate.
Take a youth along and let them get educated in the real outdoors. Have a safe and enjoyable spring and summer. — Roger D. Macy
