President — Tom Peterson, phone: 918-241-2677
Vice President — Shannon Sheffert, 1301 Old Bumpy Rd., Stillwater, OK 74074; cell phone: 405-742-7884; e-mail: ssheffert@odot.org
Secretary — John Weygandt, 4720 S. 26th W. Ave., Tulsa, OK 74107; phone: 918-645-5667;
e-mail: j.weygandt@maccor.com
Treasurer — Vivian Scott, P.O. Box 179, Alderson, OK 74522; phone: 918-426-6918;
e-mail: littlerockmeme@msn.com
FTA Director — Terry Thornton, Rt. 2 Box 71, Hartshorne, OK 74547; phone: 918-297-2073
NTA Director — Leo Farmer, phone: 918-616-7662
Membership Options:
• 1-year membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
• Lifetime (Over 70) with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $150
• Lifetime with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $300
• Youth membership — $10
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
OFBA, Treasurer
Vivian Scott
P.O. Box 179, Alderson, OK 74522
918-426-6918; littlerockmeme@msn.com
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
I finally sit down to write this news letter nearly 2 months after our fur sale. The last report went in right before the sale and we reported that the winter weather shut down our February sale, but our March sale more than made up for the difference. Our sale was huge, one of our biggest in probably 10 or 15 years for a couple reasons. Obviously the combined sales from 2 to 1 was a big factor but prices were up from the past several years. When it was over and done, we had about 100 sellers who had sold over $52,000 worth of fur!
I think that almost every one went away satisfied with the fur prices. Some of the highlights of the fur prices were the bobcats with the top cats which went for $230, coyotes $20, otters $65, beavers $15 and the top Raccoons went for $15. The overall average for the bobcats was $68.19, Coyotes $6.80, otters at $45.13, beavers $4.48, and raccoons (total number 1717) at $6.57 average. If you are looking for the rest of the fur sale prices and averages, I believe that we have these posted on our website at www.oktrapper.com.
One of the biggest problems with waiting for 2 months to write the newsletter is that I have already misplaced the paper with the names of some of the people who worked around the sale checking people in, running the sale, keeping the books, serving lunches, carrying furs and then cleaning up afterwards. The usual crew John Weygandt and Ranee and daughter were doing the data entry and tally, Bill Scherman and see, I have already forgotten the other auctioneer that helped and a new auctioneer Gary Crawley called the sale, Reginald Murray and his boys Chas and Weston along with Jacob and Chris Ponder who worked hauling furs.
Ron and Vivian Scott at the front desk taking memberships checking people in, Cathy Sheffert, Clois and Gene Calloway, a new member/helper Shelley Fowler, TJ Norman and friends, and many others that helped from start to finish. Sorry if I didn’t get your name on the list as there was a lot going on all day. We also had a couple suppliers, Jeb Hollingshead and his crew and Dub Shankle and his son in law I believe who were there to resupply us trappers. And finally without the buyers as a final part, we would not have had a sale! Thank you gentlemen, and your staff, we appreciate your attendance.
One other exciting thing is we had a couple donations, someone anomalously donated 15 beaver pelts and Jim Eulitt from Locust Grove made a donation of $100 because of the fur sale. Thank you again to all for making this one of our best sales in recent history.
Just a quick reminder for the summer meeting that will happen right about the time you get this newspaper. Our summer campout/Trappers Workshop will be at Ft. Gibson Lake on June 3rd – 5th. The campout will be at the Rocky Point campground. Hopefully there will be quite a few people there camping out to enjoy the cookouts, trapping demos, kids fun events and general comradery. If you need more information please check the website or feel free to give me a call.
We will probably have a hot dog cookout on Friday night and Saturday night there hopefully will be a ham and brisket for the main part of the meal. Please try to bring a side dish and dessert to help. This rendezvous- trappers workshop is free (campsite fees from the Corps of Engineers still apply) still no fee will be charged by the association, so it can only be as good as we, you and I make it.
Two more things, our fall meeting will be in Crowder OK on October 8th at the Choctaw Center. More details to come in later newsletters, but please mark your calendar. And this summer, we are planning to attend the National Trappers Convention in Columbia Missouri in early August. There might be an opportunity to ride with some other trappers to this convention to save some gas if you want to try to share a ride. Give me a call if you are interested in a car pool to the convention.
One last thing is that this fall we will hold our election for officers. All offices will be up for a vote but we need nominations for all positions from President down through the Directors, we will be discussing this at the summer campout/ trappers workshop so please plan to attend.
Thanks.
— Shannon Sheffert
