Second Annual International Gathering of Friends and Champions June 15-17, 2012 Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA  3000 East University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317

It's a SURE BET it will be a great time for everyone who attends!

  The Gathering 2012 FOR-the-FUN-of-IT Events:

No game of chance here - they are all sure to please.

Take NOTE of events where you need to do something in advance to participate, e.g. Tastes & Treasures, the Photo Contest and the Youth Auction.

New for 2012 - CHINESE AUCTION, TRADITIONAL SILENT AUCTION and SPECIAL RAFFLE ITEM drawing.

CHINESE AUCTION

This auction will be limited to 5 items of the best quality. You can purchase tickets for these items at the price of $5.00 for 1 ticket or 5 tickets for $20.00. You can buy as many as you want. The Chinese Auction works like this: You put the stub from the ticket you purchased  in the container for the item you can’t live without! You can spread the stubs out to many containers or put them all in one container. You can add ticket stubs as many times as you want until the auction is closed. The winner of the auction item will be determined by randomly picking one individual ticket from each container for each item.

TRADITIONAL SILENT AUCTION

There is a limit of 15 items in this auction. These are special items with a value of at least $75.00. You will be able to bid on each item using either your name or your ILR owner code number. It’s best to keep an eye on the bidding sheet for any item you want to make sure your have the last and highest bid. There will be a pre-announced cut-off time ending the auction. Whoever has the highest bid on the item at the end of the auction will be the winner.

SPECIAL RAFFLE ITEM   

We will be selling raffle tickets at the Gathering for a 'special' raffle item to be revealed at the Gathering. Save some bills for raffle tickets to be in the 'special' item drawing!

BACK DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – Finished Fleece Products

Criteria:  Fleece product MUST be entered in the Fleece Product division for judging.

Judging: Judging of the fleece products is to be done as soon as possible on Friday to allow maximum time for items to be on display.

After the fleece products are judged, all fleece products will be in the People’s Choice Award Contest and will be on display. Individual names or farm names will not be attached to the product. Each product entered will be assigned a number. Exhibitors and visitors may vote, only once, for the Finished Fleece Product they feel should be the “People’s Choice” based on the creativity of the finished product, and what catches their eye. Cast a vote by filling out a ballot and placing in the ballot box located by the People’s Choice Award display.

Winner will be announced Saturday evening and awarded with ribbons for Fleece On. Time to be announced.

Finished Fleece Products and Shorn Fleece may be picked up after the awards are announced Saturday evening 

TASTES AND TREASURES

Tables will be set up for people to bring “goodies” (baked or otherwise) for sale. These will be out starting on Friday morning for people to purchase. All proceeds will go to the ILR. 

Items could include cookies, bars, fruits, breads, candies, caramel corn, cheese curds, etc. These went very well and very fast last year – bring what you can!

Additionally, items that a person no longer has a use for, wants, or simply needs to eliminate from their barn, will be put on display for sale. People can purchase them for a nominal charge and all proceeds will also go to the ILR. This can be leads, halters, brushes, grooming aids, nail trimmers, show clothing articles, cria coats, tie outs, nick-nacks, knitting supplies, spinning supplies, display boards, hangers for banners or posters, basically anything that is portable and could be useable by someone else.

Please no hard to transport items.

BLUE RIBBON DADS

Since The Gathering is being held on Father’s Day weekend, we want to recognize Fathers. Thus, there will be in each exhibitor packet a ribbon for each father to wear that will recognize BLUE RIBBON DADS. There will also be extras at the show office for the grandfathers and those fathers who we all depend on to receive and be recognized.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE WORKING LAMA PHOTO CONTEST

Bring your photos along or submit them by mail. Here people can submit a photograph of themselves and/or family members, along with llamas and/or alpacas in a creative working lama format (specs below). Not the standard “posed” photos. Photos can be of lamas in a parade, nursing home, packing, exhibiting in performance etc. Exhibitors and visitors will vote on the best working lama photograph. Winner will receive a prize yet to be determined (hoping for a gift certificate from one of our vendors). These photos will be on display the entire weekend and the winner will be announced on Sunday.

Photo Contest Specifications:

1)      Minimum size: 5”x7”   Maximum size: 8”x10”

2)      Photo only – no mats or frames

3)      Black & white or color

4)      Photo paper is not required but it will present your photos better than on plain paper.

YOUTH GATHERING DOLLARS            

·        Youth receive points for any placings at ILR-SD shows during the 2011 year.

·        Each point will be $10.00 in Gathering Dollars. Gathering dollars are NOT real money, but rather “funny money” or “play money.”

·        If a Pot of Gold animal was used in earning those points – the points will be double value.

·        Youth can earn extra Gathering Dollars at the 2012 Gathering event by volunteering to help at the show in various areas and/or exhibitors or visitors can purchase Gathering Dollars to give to youth that they feel are deserving for any reason of receiving those dollars, i.e.: well mannered, well dressed, helpful, friendly, etc. Ratio for purchase will be – $10.00 will purchase $100 in Gathering dollars.

·        Youth will receive a bonus of $100 Gathering Dollars for each class they enter at the 2012 Gathering event.

·        All youth Gathering Dollars earned through 2011 will be in the exhibitor packets at the 2012 Gathering event in June of 2012.

·        Gathering Dollars earned will be for youth to purchase donated items at the YOUTH ONLY AUCTION to be held on Saturday evening at the 2012 International Gathering of Friends and Champions.

Anyone wanting to make a donation of an auction item for the Youth Only Auction may do so at the 2012 Gathering event, or in the alternative, people can contact Matt or Erin Fruits at (765) 376-0261 or [email protected] to let them know of a youth auction item you will be donating and sending and/or bringing to the Gathering.    

Once the 2012 event is over, any dollars not spent by the youth will have to be discarded. The 2012 calendar year will be used for accumulation of Gathering Dollars to be used at the 2013 Annual International Gathering of Family and Friends.

CLICK HERE for complete Gathering information.

Norris Berg, Superintendent
(715) 273-5230 or e-mail [email protected]

ILR ~ [email protected] ~ PO Box 8, Kalispell, MT  59903 ~ (406) 755-3438

Remember - Alone we struggle; TOGETHER we thrive!!!