NFDA WORLD POINTS
AS OF March 27, 2010

GARY HULL-833
RICK WHITTER-788
LARRY LANGE-776
JOHN PEETERS-473
WAYNE KOLSTAD-400
PAUL SPARKS-358
JERRY FUGLSETH-215
LLOYD RADI-205
RUSSEL CONE-203
MAURICE STIFF-201
JARED SYPNIESKI-143
RON HAMM-142
CODY ZITZOW-104
DAVE DAUER-65
PAUL MCNEAL-39

It's almost show time! The Gathering 2010 is April 17th and 18th in Perham , Minnesota.
 
 If you want to learn about fish decoys, start a collection, meet carvers, see spearing videos, meet spear fisherman, and have more fun then you can handle-come to the show! You can learn more about fish decoys in 2 days at Perham than any other method.
 
The Perham show is the single largest fundraiser for the NFDA of the year and we hope that the majority of the NFDA members can attend.
 
Here is the show schedule
 
THURSDAY NIGHT
 Table set up starts at 6:30 pm to about 9 pm. Volunteers are needed
 
FRIDAY
 
Friday is dealer day. Dealer set up is 6 am to 4 pm.  Non-Dealers can buy a weekend pass for 10.00 and attend all 3 days.
Carver decoy registration for the John Jensen Nationals, Birds and Texas,  runs from NOON to 2 pm. Volunteers are needed to help handle all the decoys.
 
FISH FRY-starts Friday night at 4 pm at the Super 8.  This is a pot luck event. We are always in need of fresh fish fillets, and other snacks. Some beer, booze, and pop is provided. (You may want to bring anything special that you like to drink) We should be frying fish by 5 pm.  Any NFDA member that you talk with will tell you not to miss this fun filled event.
 
SATURDAY
 
Final dealer set up is from 6 am to 7 am.
 
Final decoy registration is from 7 am to 8 am.
 
Doors open to the public at 9 am. Daily admission is 5.00 for adults, 3.00 for teens, and kids are free.
 
Decoy judging starts at 9 am.
 
DOOR PRIZES
 
Major door prizes this year are a RICK WHITTIER TROUT PLAQUE, and each day we will give away a Las Vegas trip for 2.
 
NFDA SILENT AUCTION-- The NFDA silent auction runs Sat and Sunday, with new items each day. A feature item this year is a NFDA decoy box and decoys. This decoy box features hand painted original art scenes from, Bob Johnson, Sharon Thomas, Jay McEvers, Dean Steffen, and Ken Hedmark. We hope to have 20-30 donated small decoys to go with the box. The bidding for this item will end on Saturday.
 
NFDA RAFFLE  The NFDA raffle features 6 guns, a Ron Hamm custom spear house and numerous decoys, all on display at the show. Tickets are 5.00 and the drawing is Sunday at 3;30 pm.
 
This show is for buying, trading and selling, so old decoys are welcome.
 
Other stuff--
        -- We will have a weekend raffle on a round spear house, hand crafted by Ron Hamm and painted buy Paul McNeal. Tickets are 5.00 with the drawing on Sunday.
        -- Larry Lange will be selling decoys fins
        -- The NFDA will have a paint sale hosted by one of the show sponsors , featuring the new 2X paint--the best under coat for decoys you can buy.
       -- The NFDA will be liquidating its clothing line, getting ready for next years new look.
 
SATURDAY NIGHT
 
    NEW LOCATION  for the banquet this year. It will be at the Cactus, which is on the south side of the freeway. Turn left at the gas station on Fort Thunder Road for about 3 blocks, last building on your right. Use west side parking and west side entrance.
 The NFDA Annual Banquet tickets are 35.00, which gets you the meal, 1 year membership and the awards program.
 We always have good door prizes and this year we will be drawing for a Las Vegas trip for 2.
 We give out over 200 awards to the carvers from the John Jensen Nationals, Casey Edwards Gunning Bird Contest, and the Texas Worlds.
 We also crown the new NFDA World Points Champion  for 2009-2010. Will Larry Lange be the repeat champion? He is in 3rd place right now, slightly behind Gary Hull and Rick Whittier. Larry has all the entries done for the contest while Gary and Rick are still carving! It will be close.
 
Sunday
 
 For the public the show is open from 10 am to 4 pm.
 
 Early Sunday morning we put out the ribbons on all the winning entries starting at 8 am, and we always need volunteer help.
 
We usually hand out on Sunday the decoy contest and show schedule for the next 12 months , and it will be posted on our web site at www.nfda.tv
 
SHOW CONTACT-
Rod Osvold at 1.218.841.3566 
 
STATION HOUSE RESTAURANT
 The Station House is offering discounts to show goers and NFDA Members. We will have a discount coupon on the web site that you can print out and use, or pick up coupons at the Super 8 or the show.
 
 
Good luck to everyone and we will see you at the show!


Grand Rapids 2010 Results

Service Working Grand Rapids 2010

NFDA NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2010
 
Greetings to all NFDA memebrs.
 
We trust that everyone had a good Holiday Season and many fish decoys were found under your tree.
 
We closed out 2009 with 2 fish decoy shows, Fergus Falls MN and Park Rapids,MN. Fergus Falls was not bad on decoy sales but the crowd was down from last year, a victim of Octobers weather. Park Rapids show was very good for decoy sales for most of the carvers. Congrats to Paul Mcneal who won the working  decoy class and Gary Hull who took Best of Show. Gary is currently leading the NFDA Points race with Rick Whittier a close 2nd. All contest results are on the web site.
 
On to business-
 
 The NFDA is once again doing a raffle. Last year we mailed tickets to all members  . This year if you would like to help sell raffle tickets you need to request booklets of tickets to sell and we will mail them to you. Contact this email address -  nfdaraffle@hotmail.com with your request and mailing address and we will get them out to you.
 This years raffle has 6 rifles, a Ron Hamm custom spear house and numerous fish decoys. Tickets are 5.00 each and come 10 to a booklet.
 This is the largest fund raiser for the club. We need to sell 1000 tickets, or 100 booklets. This means if 100 club members each could sell 1 booklet we meet our goal, or 50 members sell 2 books each. Not a real hard goal to reach!
 The raffle drawing will be held at The Gathering 2010 in Perham, MN on April 18th. Any unsold tickets need to be returned by April 10th, 2010
 
 Rod Osvold will handle all mailings and returns on Raffle tickets. Here is his contact info:
 
Rod Osvold
Po Box 265
Perham, MN 56573
1.218.841.3566
nfdaraffle@hotmail.com
 
 Future Shows
 
The next fish decoys shows are:
 
Grand Rapids , Mn - Feb. 6th 2007
Alexandria, MN      -March 6th
Brainerd , Mn        -March 20th
Perham, Mn          _ April 17th & 18th
 
We post all contest information, contest results and show updates on our web site.
 
Good collecting and fishing
NFDA Staff

HERE ARE THE WINNERS FROM PARK RAPIDS 2009 SHOW
 
  NFDA POINT SERIES

MDAA

NOTE--PAUL MCNEAL IS A 5 TIME 1ST PLACE WINNER AT PARK RAPIDS

 NFDA WORLD POINT STANDINGS
Updated December 1, 2009
 
GARY HULL -260
RICK WHITTIER-244
LARRY LANGE-233
JERRY FUGLSETH-215
LLOYD RADI-205
WYANE KOLSTAD-196
RON HAMM-142
CODY ZITZOW-104
JOHN PEETERS-130
PAUL MCNEAL-39
MAURICE STIFF-35

2009 FERGUS FALLS "UP NORTH" NFDA Decoy Contest Results

CURRENT WOLD POINTS
November 9, 2009

GARY HULL-160
RICK WHITTIER-154
WAYNE KOLSTAD-146
LARRY LANGE-144
JERRY FUGLSETH-138
LLOYD RADI-133
RON HAMM-112
CODY ZITZOW-104
JOHN PEETERS-76
PAUL MCNEAL-39

2009 The Gathering RAFFLE WINNERS

Ruger 10/22 Rifle: Dustin Johnson  Marble, MN
Browning 270 Rifle: Kayla Chock  Little Falls, MN
Bob Johnson Decoy: Amy Stone  Detroit Lake, MN
Gary Hull Decoy: Steve Leidenthal  Antioch, CA
CVA Black Powder 50 cal.: Brent Lamblee  Dent, MN
Larry Lange Decoy: Bell Buschette  Duluth, MN
Benelli 12 Ga Pump: David C. Beighley  Erhard, MN
Ron Ham Custom Spear House: Mark Sparks  Wadena, MN
Zippel Bay Resort Fishing Trip on Lake of the Woods: Lloyd Radi  Crookston, MN
Harley Ragan Fish Decoy: Kim Harlow  Perham, MN

The NFDA Will have another raffle with ticket sales starting in August and ending
at the next "The Gathering" in 2010.
 

2008-2009 Top Ten World Points Totals

  IMPORTANT NOTES FOR 2010

Mail in entries. 

 Mail in of fish decoy entries will be accepted in 2010 for Fergus Falls, Park Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Brainerd from out of state carvers. Mail ins must arrive 1 week prior to the contest and must include enough monies for return postage and insurance. We will accept no liability for any damages in mailing, shipping, or handling of the decoys. Mail at your own risk. Watch the web site for details on mailing locations.

Perham Community Center/NFDA

The PACC is in need of new tables for 2010 and the NFDA may be running a raffle to raise monies for them and the club. Please watch the web site and newsletters for details.

Sponsorships

We are always in need of sponsorships dollars to help keep the shows and contests alive. The following is the dollars we need:

Fergus Falls Show Promotion           --- $100.00

Park Rapids Show Promotion-- ---   ----$ 100.00

Grand Rapids Show Promotion ----------$600.00

Brainerd Show Promotion---------------$600.00

Perham Show----------------------------$5000.00

Anyone knowing of potential individual or corporate sponsors please contact Rod Osvold.

2009 Grand Rapids Show Results

NFDA Member's & Carver's Jason Trout and Mark Rinas
make a heroic rescue while spearing in Montana.
Their story featured in two news papers:
(click on link to view)

 http://www.northfieldnews.com/news.php?viewStory=47600
and
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/39871702.html?page=3&c=y


The scene where the ATV went through.

2008 Park Rapids Show Results

CONGRATULATIONS TO LARRY LANGE.
WINNER OF THE 2008 PARK RAPIDS MDAA BEST OF SHOW
THE HIGHEST AWARD AT THE ANNUAL SHOW

 NFDA POINTS SERIES

Update November 13, 2008 - Update October 7, 2008 - Update from  August 4, 2008  -  Original posting June 21, 2008
( Michigan Outdoor News Online Opinion Pole)

The question was:
"SB 1331 (Senate Bill) would add the month of December and the first two
weeks of March to the winter spearing season. Do you support this legislation?  
A. Yes    B. No

(8/4/08) The results of the Online Pole were 78% Yes and 22% No.  So, the
results were positive.  You can add the results to NFDA if you wish, then remove
the information whenever you wish.  Thanks again.

                                   Mike Holmes, NFDA Member and MDAA President

(10/7/08) I have learned our Michigan Spearing season bill
has passed both the Michigan Senate and House with unamimous support and is
sitting on the Governors' desk for signing. So, we will have a December spearing
opener this year!!  Mike Holmes NFDA Member and MDAA President

(11/13/08)   Well, it's official. This morning DNR Director Rebecca Humphries signed into
law, Michigan's new spearing season dates.  The season for northern pike and
muskellunge will be extended from the existing season of January-February to a
season of December 1-March 15 of each year.

                                    Michael Holmes, President
                              Michigan Darkhouse Angling Association 


Posted August 4, 2008

Dear Carver/Dealer

I am involved in helping to build an antique/arts/collectible show in Frazee on September 20th of this year. The show/sale will be held outside on main street.

The cost is $15 for a 10x10 area and you provide your own chair/table/tent or shad umbrella. Set up is from 8 am to 9 am, and the show will run until at least 4 pm.

There are a lot of other events running that day, which along with our advertising should bring the people to shop.

I am hoping that a fair amount of our Gathering vendors will attend. Please contact me regarding registration asap. The cost is cheap for a one day event.

Regards,
Rod Osvald

Posted June 21, 2008 

Hi everyone, the Michigan Outdoor News is having an "Online Opinion Pole"
regarding the new spearing season dates, which the results will be in the next
issue of the Outdoor News. The pole reads as follows:
     "SB 1331 (Senate Bill) would add the month of December and the first two
weeks of March to the winter spearing season. Do you support this legislation?  
A. Yes    B. No

    This is our Michigan Darkhouse Angling Association bill.  Senator Mike
Prusi, Ispeming is the sponsor of our bill.  It just takes a second to vote, so
if you would tell your spearing friends and family to vote on this "Online Pole"
it would be great for a big turn out of Yes votes.
     Just go to:   www.michiganoutdoornews.com   and vote.

                        Thanks, Mike Holmes, President
                     Michigan Darkhouse Angling Association

 

Posted June 3, 2008

Perham Community Center (PACC)/NFDA

PAST NFDA NEWS

NFDA DONATES DECOY TO THE MINNESOTA FISHING MUSEUM

This year at the "The Gathering" the NFDA sponsored a category in the carving competition that required carvers to produce a Cutthroat fish decoy. The winner, Harley Ragan, earned himself an award of $300 for his master crafted creation.

Gary Hull presenting $300 award to Harley Ragan for winning the 2008 NFDA Sponsor Series.

 The NFDA then donated this fish to the Minnesota Fishing Museum which is located in Little Falls, MN. 

THE GATHERING 2008

April 13, 2008   Despite the weather, Carvers from around the nation gathered in Perham for the 11th annual "The Gathering" which is an event held at the Perham Community Center in Minnesota. The main auditorium was filled with displays of fish decoys and various outdoor sporting equipment that is for sale to the public. The lower area of the center was filled with competition decoy carvings that radiated the talents of the many participants aging from junior high students to retired individuals. It was a pleasure to see carvers and collectors attend the event from as far away as Michigan, Idaho, Missouri, Texas, California, Illinois and many other areas of the USA.

Saturday evening the Annual Awards Banquet was held at the Playtime in Perham to announce the winners from "The Gathering" carving competition and the long awaited 2008 NFDA World Points Champion. After the top five winners from each category were announced from the carving competition and the points tabulated the World Points Champion was recognized... Gary Hull had taken the title with  742 points.  John Peeters and Larry Lange following closely behind. See below for the top 10 Point Leaders.

2007 - 2008 NFDA World Points

GARY HULL-742
JOHN PEETERS-590
LARRY LANGE-559
JERRY FUGLSETH-398
RON HAMM-357
LLOYD RADI-321
SKEETS PETERSON-320
JACOB SAZAMA-175
HARLEY RAGAN-136
DEAN STEFFEN-117

Stay in touch with the NFDA site over the next few weeks as highlights, photos and results will be posted.