Russell, Your website is a great tool for the industry. I think it has made a huge difference for many with their knowledge and marketing of their animals. I will give my thoughts on some of the points that you listed. I also understand that these points are some ideas you had and that you are actually looking for everyone to give thoughts of their own as well.
1. Promoting and expanding the deer farming industry to attract new farmers.
There are some who have started saying that the industry has focused too much on attracting new farmers to the industry. I think that in some respects this is true. However the "new blood" brings new money, and along with it new ideas and new talents as well. I don't think attracting new farms is a bad idea, but we have to grow the end market of most animals grown as well. That would be the hunting side of the industry. I don't however feel new hunting areas is what we need. I instead think we need to move high fence hunting more towards the mainstream and not allow it to be looked at any longer as a "rich mans" sport.
4. Getting more hunt farms and ranches established.
See my comments to number 1 above.
6. Lobbying governments to being about changes in regulations.
In a post on another thread I spoke about the almighty dollar. That is truly where the power to influence rules comes from. I think the industry needs to continue showing that we are a viable industry. As we show that we provide a service that in turn not only pays our bills, but adds to the overall economy in each state that allows deer farming and hunt ranches to operate, we will give validation to our visits to Washington D.C. and state capitols around the country. These visits are an important part of spreading the word about who we are and what we do. Logical discussion supported by facts is what these legislators need to have presented to them during each visit.
7. Encouraging and funding research and development.
Here again is where the visits talked about above are important. We need to show why our industry is worthy of funding for research and development of new medicines, products, and the opening of markets where they are currently being held stagnate by an oppressive state government or agency.
I also think that our industry has to be ready to pay some bills towards research and development as well. I to often see our state and national orgs doing feel good projects like school grants for children of membership holders. I to often see growers who won't open their wallet and contribute to a org but yet they are the first to complain, "What is so and so org doing for me?" Or I hear, "I don't like so and so and he/she is in charge or on the board of such and such org so I won't join them."
All growers need to set aside their differences and work together, and contribute together to further their own industry. Even though the U.S. is currently being run by a guy who would like to see every aspect of the country be controlled and funded by government we can't sit around and wait for them to come fund us. We have to do it for our selfs.
8. Training and educating its members (deer farmers)
Here I think our orgs do a pretty fair job. Could it better in some ways? Yes. But I think the biggest issue I see with the education process is the growers. It is not unusual to speak with someone who has NO CLUE about what the regulations are in their own state. Yes, I concede that rules seem to change every year if not more in some cases. But many growers don't even make the effort to learn what is required of them to operate in their own state. Many growers in each state don't join their states org or national org so how are they supposed to learn new things? I kid you not there are still some out there that think semen can be stored in a FREEZER like ice cream.
People need to join their state AND national orgs and make an effort to learn new things. They also have to be willing to open their wallets and pay a little for the knowledge.
9. Running conferences, workshops and similar events.
Workshops and such for promoting our industry is what I would like to see more of. This goes along with moving high fence hunting towards the mainstream. I have to admit I have never been to an SCI conf nor a B&C conf. Does NADEFA or any other part of our industry attend these? Do we provide handouts that explain the benefits and advantages of hunting at high fence facilities? Or do we just hope that each hunting place takes care of the education. I know my state org attends agriculture days and tries to promote deer farming as an alternative way of farming. That's fine but how about attending or being a part of hunter safety courses. How about coming out of the closet and having a booth at places like Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, or Gander Mountain? We need to educate those who have a similar interest as us. We will never convince a bleeding heart liberal who don't eat meat to try hunting at one of our places. We need to target those who do hunt as well as those who grew up in the country and have common sense beliefs.
10. Providing services for its membership, e.g., discounts.
I don't know about this. I guess maybe along with the industry joining forces in some way with Cabelas and the like we could develop some type of discounts I guess. Maybe some of this "new blood" and new money has companies that would benefit from having a relationship with our industry?
If you notice I skipped the stuff related to the venison market. Personally I don't see it as much of an end market for whitetails. I know some out there have made it work in some small way for them. And that is AWESOME! I just think that with elk and red deer and such the venison side is pretty filled up. So don't ever try and get me on a committee about venison promotion
I would love to see a system established where our state and national orgs could contribute to the deerfamer website and utilize the calendar feature as well as develop a way of taking input from the industry.
But and I know that is a big but. But I can easily see how that could get out of hand with anon posters. Yes, there still are anon posters even though everyone must register. How many users actually are known to all of us? It is easy to get an email address and make up some dumb username and then post on here. Just think about that dsmj or whatever his username was and you will see what I am saying.
Well, I have other thoughts but I have spouted long enough and I am sure most are sick of reading what I have to say. Besides I have to learn how the hydraulics system, electrical system, and bleed air system, all talk to each other on the Boeing 747-400.
So back to the books now
