US Shows - Page 2

KatiePillow · 12-27-2011, 06:30 PM

In the United Kingdom membership of the souther/norther/midland hamster clubs, as a breeder, requires following a set of ethics.. I think that's the main thing which makes hamster clubs so important.
Although England is obviously smaller, and therefore it's easier logistically.

Vectis Hamstery · 12-28-2011, 11:40 AM

Have you seen the Internet Hamster Association of North America? (IHANA- Internet Hamster Association of North America) there is a code of conduct there and may have useful links for you.

Bozly's Family · 02-20-2012, 05:52 PM

We live in southern California. What are the hamster shows you found in CA? Thanks and good luck in finding other ones nationally

**Hamtastic** · 02-21-2012, 09:15 AM

California has California Hamster Association (CHA) with a website and periodic hamster shows.

That IHANA site is only partially functional (can't load lists of breeders and some other links), and mostly for general information--not a very active "club" in the same sense that U.K. hamster clubs/associations are

Certainly no shows other than those in California that I'm aware of.

radiocricket · 02-25-2012, 06:42 AM

IHANA is not a club in itself but was started as a governing body over the regional clubs, such as the CHA, similiar to how the NHC is structured in the UK, there just doesn't happen to be any other clubs besides the CHA currently.

I have tried for years to get the Great Lakes Hamster Club off the ground but here's the problem- there's no interest. There are not enough serious breeders in the US and someone with just a few hamsters isn't going to drive for hours and pay the fees needed to make a show happen. While I'm knowledgable enough to be able to judge Syrians, have stewarded at a show and been guided by a judge through the years, I can admit I'm not that comfortable yet with being able to judge dwarves to standard. Nor would I want to put in all the work to have a show and judge and not be able to enter my own hamsters. This means that I'd have to have a recognized judge flown in, which significantly increases the cost.

On top of all of that, I did try to organize a show in August of 2010. We began planning it around a CHA judge's availability in the spring and can you believe that by the time July came around, all the other breeders that I'd initially been talking to backed out!? Thankfully I'm friends with the CHA judge so we had a nice visit for those few days in August but the burden of shows, both planning and financially, has been solely on my shoulders thus far.

That's starting to change though. There's a small group of very interested breeders that I'm currently working with both to help with their hamsteries and breeding plans but also to really get the club off the ground. I feel confident about these breeders and good things are already starting to happen. If everything goes well and interest doesn't wane, we may just be able to have a show in the summer of 2013.

-Janice

radiocricket · 02-25-2012, 06:47 AM

Oh- and I should add that I'll eventually finish the IHANA site. We had to hurry get it off of MSN Groups before they closed. The code was bad and all the pages had to be revised. I'd gotten part of it back up fairly quickly but then life happened and I've not gotten back to it. The most important information it up, I still have the old BHA standards portion to put back on the site as well.

To be honest, right now I'm a bit glad that there are no IHANA breeder listings as I don't have to concern myself with "policing" the list whenever I see a member doing something against IHANA's codes, a position that no one wants to have to be in.

-Janice

jewelkrist · 03-10-2012, 12:02 AM

I think recently there are no such shows in US. so hopefully we can see the shows in California or Texas.

Jaybee · 03-14-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jewelkrist

I think recently there are no such shows in US. so hopefully we can see the shows in California or Texas.

There are still hamster shows in California, about 4-5 a year

Next one in CA is April 21st

dainellemk · 04-07-2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jewelkrist

I think recently there are no such shows in US. so hopefully we can see the shows in California or Texas.

Or here in Ohio! That would be a great teaching experience. Seems like some of the 4-H shows allow guinea pigs, not sure about hamsters, though.

Jaybee · 04-07-2012, 01:25 PM

Texas has shows? I thought only California did.