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History of the SPPA, and What to Expect from Membership

History of the SPPA   𐡸 𐡷

Glenn Drowns

Excerpt from the SPPA Breeders Directory 2005-2006

I struggled to find information for this piece. I am a history buff and felt we needed to document our beginnings to better chart our growth. When I first took over the job of Secretary-Treasurer I was regularly receiving mail wanting to know about this “new” organization. In some ways we are “new” as we had a nearly ten year period in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when little, if anything was taking place with the SPPA. I must confess that I became discouraged and dropped out for a year in the late 1980’s when I didn’t receive any directories or newsletters. I am sure that there are many individuals out there who hold a grudge and will never rejoin us because of this inactive period. Sad, but true, our organization declined at the same time as the rapid drop in numbers of rare poultry.

I remember as a high school and college student living in Idaho in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s I dreamed of the day when I would be able to have a permanent location to establish preservation flocks of some rare breeds. I scanned the Breeders Directories and took note of people I would contact once I was established. I didn’t feel that time was critical on many of the items that interested me, in fact, many of the rare turkeys that I wanted were available commercially. I moved to Iowa in 1984 and was without poultry for 4 years while I searched for my own farm. I closed on the farm where I now live a week before Christmas, 1988. I spent my Christmas vacation (I am a teacher) unpacking and working on my dilapidated barn to be ready for spring and poultry. I dug out all my old notes and started writing letters and making calls. Time after time I heard the same old story: either someone had died and relatives either killed or sold the birds, or the individuals had lost interest and disposed their flocks. I became more and more convinced that the SPPA should not die and that we needed to do something before it was too late for the genetic diversity of poultry. The following is information that I gleaned from the bulletins that I received from 1976 through 1986, which is the last bulletin (I think) published prior to my becoming Secretary-Treasurer. This first account came from the back of the 1973 Directory, the first ever printed and commonly called the yellow book by those who were involved:

“Much credit is due Neil Jones for the origination of the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities back in the Spring of 1967. It was his awareness of the serious situation pertaining to rare breeds that caused him to write an article that appeared in Poultry Press. This stressed the fact that some breeds were either on the verge of extinction or urgently in need of dedicated attention by breeders to exhibit and improve these breeds. This ultimately was the start of SPPA. Unfortunately, Neil was doing most of the work without the aid of an organization to co-ordinate the responsibilities. An article followed in Poultry Press, July 1967 issue by Loyl Stromberg which further emphasized the critical situation with considerable publicity emphasizing the sad plight pertaining to too few dedicated breeders specializing in a breed for ultimate improvement, to attain the very, very best in perfection. This also helped make more people aware of these needs.

Some of our founders (from 1973 Directory)

Without an organization to back up his efforts, Neil Jones finally resigned in the spring of 1971 . . . thereby, likely the end of the SPPA. In the Fall of 1971, Loyl Stromberg announced a meeting to save SPPA, to be held at the famous Apache Plaza Show in Minneapolis in October. At this meeting, there was sufficient interest in continuing the organization that officers were elected, to strive to attain the outlined objectives. Following is a list of those who attended this reorganization meeting:

Herman Curtis, Juneau, WI; R.E. Lineness, Burnsville MN; Thane Earl, Whitewater, WI; Marvin Guenther, Mt. Holly, PA; Mr. and Mrs. Arden Miller, Norwalk, IA; Charles Frederich, Verdigree, NE; Richard Fox, Montour, IA; Myron Beulow, Blooming Prairie, MN; Robert Vaugh, Red Cloud, MN; Duane Urch, Owatonna, MN; Mr. and Mrs. Burton Scripture, Geneva, MN; Mr. and Mrs. Dale Branderhorst, Blooming Prairie, MN; Dr. L.S. Norden, St. Paul, MN; Robert Delancey, York, PA; Bob McLean, Oranaco, MN; and Loyl Stromberg, Fort Dodge IA.”

The following individuals have served as president of the organization: Thane Earle 1971-1978, Marion Nash 1978, Duane Urch 1979-1986, Russell Bodwell 1987-1988?, Duane Urch 1989?-1996, and Craig Russell 1996-present.

What to Expect   𐡸 𐡷

Josiah Moore
Bulletin co-editor, 2019

class="" 1980s era SPPA breeders directory recent SPPA breeders directory Much has changed in the world of poultry since Glenn wrote the article above. The new networking possibilities of the internet have transformed the way people look for fowl and learn about rare breeds. To many, our society is very old fashioned. We still are check and cash only and send out a paper bulletin and breeders directory. To some, this is just the right fit, but like anything it is not for everyone. Our breeders directory was once the premier place to locate breeders of rare fowl; unfortunately, with the increasing popularity of the internet it is less useful than it used to be. That said, it is still a very nice resource, and is perhaps one of the best places to get in touch and obtain fowl from older breeders or breeders who don’t advertise online.

Besides the directory, we support the showing of rare fowl because we feel it is important to put rare breeds before the public. One way we do this is by providing prizes for rare breeds at our club meets. It is easy for people to come into the club expecting a poultry version of the American Livestock Breeders Conservancy (ALBC now just the Livestock Conservancy, LC). While we do share some similarities with that great organization it is important to understand the differences. We are a smaller organization that focuses on rare poultry breeds and which is volunteer based. Because of this, we have some limitations on how much we can accomplish.

Where our organization excels is on education. Our bulletins are a fantastic way for breeders and historians to share what they know and educate other members. The members of this organizatiog n f possess a wealth of knowledge and experience which they pass on through their writings in our bulletins. Because of this our bulletins are a great way to learn breeding techniques and breed histories. Besides all this they are also simply just an enjoyable read in a format that is easy to save for future reference. As a young man who grew up reading the writings of Craig Russell, Tom T. Walker, Ed Hart, Monte Bowen, Charles Everett and many others I can assure you that this organization is as useful and informative as it has ever been. For those considering membership, I would encourage you to give it a try and see what you think.