March 2025 President's Report

Greetings all. First item is a NOTICE of change in the banquet date. I stated in my last report the banquet was to be held March 15. Since that time there has been a conflict occur with that date. The banquet date has been moved to April 5th for our 23rd Annual NTF/ITA Central Iowa Sportsmen’s Banquet. As last year, it will be held at Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel 1800 50th St in West Des Moines. The hotel is located just east of I-80/I-35 at the University Ave exit. There will be our normal games, raffles, silent and live auctions during the evening. If you are interested in attending, contact me and I will get you that info when it becomes available.  Last year tickets were $50 each which included a sit-down dinner. Doors open at 4 P.M. with dinner being served at 6:30. When you get there park on the southside of the building, walk through the double doors and down the hallway to the banquet room. I will get that info out when it is available. 

Since my last report in November, we have steadily increased our membership numbers and had a few lifetimes as well.  I know they are new members as Kristan sends their emails to enter into my ITA member list.  New lifetime members joining since my last report were Chad Uhlenhopp, Ty Uhlenhopp Jason Martin, Jordan Nieman, Josh Turner & Keaton Jones. Thank you all for your life membership.  Not knowing numbers for sure, but I figure they are close to 1455 with 555 who are lifetime. Thank you to all new and renewing members of this association, your support is greatly appreciated.

Saturday January 11th we had our 15th annual ITA fur auction. Thank you to all who sold fur, but a big thank you to the buyers who attended --- North IA Fur - Bill Drewelow, NE IA Fur Exchange - Rick Hemsath, Otter Creek Fur – David Raber, Stark Fur – Ernie Kovacik Stark, KS, Hutton Valley School of Taxidermy - Roger Hutton, Central States Fur – Dean Hoffman, Kokas Fur Barn – Craig Kokas Prospect, OH, Hindman Fur – Al Hindman, Sleepy Creek Tannery – Ben Deters. We had a couple other buyers who planned to attend, but were unable.

Help with setting up, lotting in, carrying fur during the day were Chad Thede, Peter Fritzell, Dave Phipps, Cody Hutton, Brock Holker, Zach Grossman, Calvin, Curtis & Beckett Barber, Allyson Oser, Kerry Baestle & Pat McAninch.  Bret Smith was our auctioneer, Nat Hill & Tracy Hutton - clerked, Dan Roberts, Kristie Lambert and Jesse Lambert oversaw the food area. Funke Trap Tags (Jeff Inlow) Backwater Baits (Bruce Rhoads) sold supplies and bait/lure, Sleepy Creek Tannery (Ben Deters) accepted fur to be tanned. I also need to thank Justin Deaver for setting up video to stream the auction live on our ITA YouTube channel. I looked and there were already 12k views by Sunday evening after the auction. I also want to thank Lonnie Archer. He had a very nice blanket made of pictures taken during the 2024 auction. The blanket was auctioned off with proceeds donated to the ITA. Thank you Lonnie for donating the very cool blanket and for your generous donation.

We had 9 Buyers, 47 sellers and 451 lots of fur. "F" is for finished -- "G" is for green, “C” is for carcass. We had carcass bobcat, otter, badger, 1 skunk, 1 mink and a few odd colored raccoon. Below are the results from the auction:

Species... Number... High/Low... Average... Total… Top

Coon ...F…255… $15.50/25c....$7.67…$1957.75…. Joel Golish

Coon…G...1475....$7.50/10c…$3.11…$4590.85… Mike Van Renterghem

Coon …C…7… $10/50c…$7.14…$50…. Lonnie Archer/Brian Burrows

Coyote…F…100..$34/$1…$14.41…$1441…Donated to ITA Mike Mazur

Coyote…G…101....$6/$2…$4.04…$409…Calvin Barber

Muskrat…F...619…$3.40/45c…$1.74…$1081.55…Adam Sadewasser

Muskrat…G…54…$2.90/25c…$1.62…$87.50…Brian Burrows

Mink…F…100…$12/$1…$10.96…$1096.70… Steve Grulkey

Mink…G…1…$8/$8…$8…$8…Scott Nibe

Mink…C…1…$5/$5…$5…$5…Steve Grulkey

Bobcat…F…2…$37.50/$31…$34.25…$68.50…Darwin Marshall

Bobcat…G…2…$55/$52.50…$53.75…$107.50…John Doud

Bobcat ...C...15..$135/$12.50…$60…$900…Mike Long

Skunk…F…70..$20/$5..$13.75..$962.50…Duane Arkema

Skunk…G…101…$23/$5…$15.13…$1528.50…Zach Grossman/Keaton Jones

Skunk…C…1…$1/$1…$1…$1….Sam Hutton

Red Fox…F…39..$26/$6…$12.29..$479.50…Donated to ITA Mike Mazur

Red Fox…G...10..$11/$10…$9.20…$92…Zach Grossman

Badger...F...7...$38/$5…$31.28…$219..David Burma

Badger…G…3…$21/$5…$8.66…$26…David Burma

Badger…C...2..$30/$25…$27.50…$55…David Burma

Otter...F...8..$40/$25…$31…$248…Dean Bartz

Otter…G...7..$31/$8…$24.28…$170…Scott Nibe

Otter…C…9…$34/$25…$29.77…$268…Kelly Jessen

Beaver...F...21...$18/$10…$8.95…$188…Russ Bruns

Beaver...G…94..$11/$1…$4.76…$447.50…John Doud/Brian Lewis

Opossum...F...25... $6/50c... $2.64…$66… Craig Sweet

Opossum...G...20..$1/10c…25c…$5…Brian Burrow

Gray Fox...F...6..$31/$10…$21.66…$130…Donated to ITA Mike Mazur

Weasel...C...2…$2/$2…$2…$4…Brian Burrow/John Davidson

Fisher…1..$13/$13….$13… $13 … Donated to ITA Mike Mazur

Nutria...5…$3/$2….$2.20…$11…Donated to ITA Mike Mazur

Kit Fox…1…$20/$20…$20…$20…Donated to ITA Mike Mazur

Castor…7oz…$11/$11…..$11….$11… Virgil Davis

Squirrel Tail...85..55c/25c…49c…$41.65… Curtis Barber

Squirrel…8…$3.50/$1…$3.18…$25.50….Curtis Barber

Beaver Tail...68..10c/10c…10c …$68… Bruce Hutton

Groundhog…4…$4/$2…$3.50…$14….Curtis Barber

Total…..$16,786.30  

The next item, I now have the first 2025 ITA sustaining donor patch in my possession. The sustaining donor patch is available to anyone at a cost of $25 each per patch. This is NOT a membership to/for the association, but for those which wish to further assist the association financially. There were only 100 made with the initial design of a mink, since mink is our logo.    

I will be handling all sustaining patch orders for the association NOT Chris. Please contact me or send your requests and payment to 1825 Kirkwood St. St. Charles, IA 50240. Make checks payable to the Iowa Trappers Association or ITA please. I will also have them when I attend different events as well. The association would like to thank Leon Windschitl for designing and ordering, Kendall Obermier for funding. Those who have purchased patches to date are Top Lot Stretcher, Brian Wilderman, Louie Krumwiede & Troy Hackett – thanks guys!!

As stated in my last report, March 7-9th the ITA will have a booth for the second year at the Iowa Deer Classic in Des Moines. Our booth will be number C08 located on the Upper Level Grand Concourse close to the entrance into the Big Buck display area. If you attend, stop by and say hello.

Our 14th annual ITA Legislative Breakfast is scheduled for April 1 from 7:15 A.M. to 9 at the Statehouse. This has been very good over the years as we get to meet legislators in a more relaxed atmosphere and speak to them one on one. The amount of fur items we display has grown to include not only pelts, but coats, fur trimmed items, scarves and fur teddy bears. We have had some female legislators inquire as to where an item on display could be purchased. The two hours spent educating and talking with our lawmakers over the past 13 years has been helpful for the time and monies spent.

The ITA Winter Board meeting will be held 10 A.M. February 2 at Farmers & Merchants State Bank in St. Charles. The address for the bank is 317 E Main St. I am planning April 6 and June 22 as dates for the Spring & Summer meetings at this time.  As always, all current members are welcomed to attend any meeting.

Til next time - Craig

January, 2025 President's Report

Greetings all. I will start this with a note for those lifetime members who joined at or since convention. The business that makes our plaques ran out of plaques we utilize for our lifetime members. He has re-ordered them, but there has been a delay getting them back in stock. As soon as they arrive and Kristan receives them, your lifetime member package will be sent to you. We apologize for the delay in getting those out to everyone. 

As I write this, season is underway for another year. I am waiting to set, but will get some out here soon. Hope everyone has an enjoyable season, since that is what it is all about the past decade. As has been said many times, take someone along who hasn’t participated whether young or old, female or male. It can make a good time to be had for you and them as well.

I did a pre-recorded interview about the ITA, which aired November 2nd, for Cedar Rapids WMT radio Iowa Outdoor show with Doug Wagner and Ron Lane. I did pretty good until about half-way through when I had one of those blank moments, which was cut out of the interview prior to airing. I did a live show once about 2010 for Sportsmen’s Notebook on WHO radio in Des Moines, the nerves came out that day!!  Back in July, I was voted onto the NTA’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee, then in October received word I was elected to the FTA Governing Board. I never imagined I would have an opportunity to do such special things like this, let alone be YOUR president of the ITA. Almost 23 years ago when I was voted onto this board, I remember well that feeling inside. The great people I have met not only from Iowa, but all over this country only makes my life even better today. I do all this for the passion it has become for me since that first day in the fall of 1972.  I want those in the future that may want to experience this to have that opportunity as well if they desire.  

Currently we have District 20 that is open due to the passing of Scott Webb this past June. The counties in that district are Allamakee, Chickasaw, Howard and Winneshiek in NE Iowa. Requirements for the position are that you must be a current member, live in one of those counties listed and attend at least two meetings in a 12 month period. You must present yourself before the ITA Board for consideration. If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me for more information.

A couple weeks ago we finished our last beginner trapper classes of the year.  Thank you to Roger/Cody Hutton and Calvin Barber for covering the St Charles class, the one closest to home and I wasn’t able to be there. Talked with Cody, he said all the attendees participated and was one of the best classes since starting these 3 years ago.  He indicated that some new members would be coming from this class. A short time later Kristan was sending me new emails to go into my ITA email list. Thank you to everyone who helped with these classes, without you these would not have been possible. Also to all who joined the association due to these classes Thank you!

I talked with Kristan before my interview to get membership numbers which was at 1442 with 541 lifetimes. After convention we were a little over 1400 members, so membership keeps steadily growing. Between the beginner trapper classes, our YouTube channel and blips from other YouTuber’s  is where we are gaining members. Thank you to everyone who has joined or renewed their memberships with the association, your support is greatly appreciated.

Our next event is our 15th annual ITA Fur Auction. The auction will be held January 11th at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone. We will begin accepting sellers starting Dec 1st.  This is done so we know how many people are planning to sell, since we limit the sale to 60 sellers. Contact Dave Phipps at 515 491-8214 or myself at 515-306-9385. If you need guidelines you can go to the ITA website or email me at hightoweria@aol.com  and I can send them to you. We will have our normal 10-12 buyers present as in the past. When you get there you will receive a card with a number, this number will be your seller number for the auction. This helps Dave, Cody and myself with the lotting in process. This will be our 9th year with the computer system, so this year seller numbers will be 900 plus the number on the card.  Also, if you have blue or damaged pelts put them on a separate string. Those blue or damaged pelts will only reduce the value of your good pelts if mixed in. Once your fur is lotted in, all fur MUST cross the buyers table before it can be pulled for “No Sale”.  Let us know when we are lotting in your fur the minimum price you are wanting, so that can be written on the seller sheet.  For any “No Sale” fur, the commission is calculated off the last bid received. Commission will be 3% for “No Sales” and 5% for sales. Pay the clerk via cash or check only as we will not be able to accept debit or credit cards. After paying your commission, a sheet will be given for you to take to the buyers which purchased your fur. Doors will open at 7 A.M. and auction will begin at 9.  Dan Roberts and Kristie Lambert will have food for lunch plus we will have doughnuts, pop and coffee for a free-will donation.

Funke Trap Tags, Backwater Baits & Sleepy Creek Tannery will be present. Contact them prior if you need them to bring something as they may not be bringing everything you may want. Ben will be accepting fur to be tanned if you want to bring it along as well. Everyone is welcome to attend whether selling or just to see what goes on.   Hope to see everyone in Boone!!

March 7-9th the ITA will have a booth at the Iowa Deer Classic in Des Moines.  Our booth will be number C08 located on the Upper Level Grand Concourse close to the doors into the Big Buck display area. If you attend, stop by and chat with us.

March 15th we will be having our 23rd Annual NTF/ITA Central Iowa Sportsmen’s Banquet at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel 1800 50th St in West Des Moines. The hotel is located just east of I-80/I-35 at the University Ave exit. There will be games, raffles, silent and live auctions during the evening. If you are interested in attending, contact me and I will get you that info when it becomes available, usually around late January. Last year tickets were $50 each which included a sit-down dinner. Doors will open at 4 P.M. with dinner being served at 6:30. When you get there park on the southside of the building, walk through the double doors and down the hallway to get to the banquet room. It is a fun evening for a good cause for all who attend. See everyone there.

Currently, I am looking at February 2, April 6 and June 22 as dates for Board meetings this year.  I have yet to select a location for meetings, but will let everyone know when I do. As always, all current members are welcomed to attend any meeting.

That is about it for now. Hope everyone has a good holidays. Til next time - Craig

November, 2024 President's Report

Greetings all. As I write this on August 31st, four of ten Beginner Trapper classes have been held. Attendance numbers to this point have been good to excellent – 22 to over 40 at each event, with about an average of 30 for 4 classes. There has been young, old, male and female who have attended. There are still 6 remaining around the state starting the weekend after convention.  Those locations are: 9/14/24 Cherokee/Quimby - Silver Sioux Recreational Area 5938 Silver Sioux Rd, Quimby, IA,  9/15/24 Ames - Story County Conservation Area 56461 180th St, Ames, 9/22/24 Knoxville - Marion County Sportsman's Club 1702 Old Hwy 92, Knoxville, 9/22 Dixon – Wapsi River Environmental Learning Center 31555 52nd Ave, Dixon,  9/28 Burlington – Des Moines County Conservation Board Starr’s Cave Nature Center 11627 Cave Rd, Burlington, 10/19/24 Saint Charles - Hutton Valley School of Taxidermy 2514 Victory Ln. St Charles. Go to the DNR website: https://license.gooutdoorsiowa.com/Event/EventsHome.aspx

Select an event date on calendar for “Learn to Furharvest” then “Go to Event” to register and read info for that location. Attendee’s leave with a dvd, traps, stakes,  bait, magazines and other information materials. We have found  a lot of kids in these classes are eager to participate, we just need to get them into the field.

Iowa had quite a presence at the NTA in Sioux Falls last month. We had one   area of the campground where most of us from Iowa camped and spent evenings. Also, thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth and signed up or renewed their membership as well as everyone who helped in the booth.

With the unexpected passing of Scott Webb back in June, the ITA has an open director position. District 20 includes Allamakee, Chickasaw, Howard & Winneshiek counties. Requirements for the position are: 1) you must be a current paid-up member of the ITA. 2) live in one of those counties listed. 3) be able to attend at least two meetings in a 12 month period. You must present yourself before the ITA Board for consideration. If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me for more info.

The Fall ITA Board meeting was held Friday September 6th. Guests were Calvin Barber, Curtis Barber, Justin Stiens, Jeff Milner, Allyson Oser and Jamie Cook. At that meeting Tony Evans accepted the NTA Director position. After watching Tony inter-mingle with other NTA Directors at Sioux Falls, I was pretty sure he would accept that position. Thanks Tony. Director at Large positions up for election this year were Ray Eserhaut & Brad Mohr. Nominations made at the Board meeting were Ray Eserhaut, Brad Mohr & Calvin Barber. Since there were 3 nominations, that requires a vote of the membership on Saturday. Spencer Hill’s term on the Executive Council was up. Spencer and Kerry Baetsle were nominated for that position. Spencer was re-elected to his position on the Executive Council by the Board.

Kristan indicated our membership at 1392 with 537 lifetimes, 2 lifetime numbers are saved, but not filled prior to the Board meeting. By the time convention was over I feel our membership number to be in the area 1415 with 550 lifetimes. Our new lifetimes since my last report are Wes Schlenker, Tony Roden, Jeff Hale, Todd Schultz, Jared Charland, Gary Reeder, Brock Hutton, Beckett Barber, David Eivins, Jeff Milner, Jonathan Wilbourne, Ryan Ruhl, Eric Faber, Dylan Schlichting, Christain Nook, Cassie Elliot, Maddie Olson, Shaun Eilander & Kristan Barclay. Thank you to all our new, renewing and lifetime members who have joined recently.

JD Rogge has met with the Cherokee County Fairground board and confirmed Sept 5-6  for our ITA Convention & Sportshow in 2025. We will be in 1 building for inside vendors, same food vendor as in 2020.  Hopefully we will have a good weekend like this year, so make your plans for 2025 in Cherokee.

The next item that came out of the meeting was the finalizing of a new item the ITA will release the first part of next year. A sustaining patch will be available to ANY member at a cost of $25. The initial design will be of a mink, since a mink is on our logo. I will let everyone know when they become available and I will be handling all sustaining patch orders for the association not Chris.

There was a committee formed for gathering of input looking at possible convention date changes. Any input should be relayed to Bruce Rhoads, Dave Phipps or Julian Johnsen. There was also a demo committee formed to bring input back to the Board concerning the demo area. RJ Barclay, Shane Burmeister, Luke  DeMeulenaere & Justin Deaver are on that committee.

Saturday morning at 9 A.M. the Beginner Trapper class was held. There were 41 who participated in this event. Different types of sets and locations were covered. Afterwards everyone received traps, stakes, t-shirt, lure, bait, magazines and other items. There was also drawings for some special items that were donated. Those who helped with this were Luke DeMeulenaere, Shane Burmeister, Justin Deaver, Bruce Rhoads, Micky Craig, Tyler Haden, Grant Beschorner & Nathaniel Utterback. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. 

At the General Membership meeting on September 7th, I introduced Tony Evans as our new NTA Director and indicated that District 20 was open to attendees.  

Ballots were passed out for election of the 2 Director at Large positions. After ballots were counted Brad Mohr & Calvin Barber were elected to 3 year terms. Thank you Ray for all your assistance to the ITA over the years.

Chris Grillot and I ran unopposed for our current positions since there were no further nominations from the membership. The current members of this board are some of the hardest working gals & guys I know. All dedicate many hours to the association and the pastime we so deeply love. There are currently 515 years of experience on the Board. Thank you to everyone for all your dedication to the ITA.

The ITA had the pleasure of having Miss Iowa Teen Avery Bradley at our convention in Winterset. I know she had a cross-country meet Saturday morning, but was able to attend afterwards. She strolled over the grounds and spoke at the membership meeting as well before leaving. Thank you Avery for your time and presence at convention.

I presented the President’s award to Tony Evans. I remember a conversation from many years back in which Tony said “you never asked”. Since that time, Tony has accepted the District 5 Director position, jumped in to see we had a convention in 2022, past 2 years oversaw the pre-convention raffle, helped out at our banquet, state convention or even the NTA Nationals, fur auction and many more. Thank you Tony for all you have done to represent the ITA.

The 4 ITA $750 scholarships this year went to Josie Hutton, Elaina Murders, Allyson Oser & Catrina Sells. Congratulations to all these young ladies for their efforts to receive these scholarships.

Roger Hutton read all the trap setting and skillet throw winners as plaques were presented. Thank you goes out to Rick Hemsath for the trap setting plaques that he has donated for as long as I can remember for this event.

After calling for any “Old Business” during the meeting, I heard a faint reply of “Craig Sweet” from the bleachers. After asking who said that, fingers got pointed to Bridger Hutton.  Thanks Bridger for your reminding me, but whisper softer next time!!

Convention was super this year and weather could not have been any better. We had new vendors, tailgaters and people attend from near and far. Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas even New Mexico to name a few I know of. The buildings were full as usual, tailgating area filled with about everything you may need.  Thank you to Terri Webb for all of Scott’s items she had Grace & Dale Rowson sell for her. All proceeds from those sales were donated back to help fund our Beginner Trapper classes. The demo area was far above what we have ever had. The guys put a lot of effort into this area were Calvin Barber, Shane Burmeister, Justin Deaver, Luke  DeMeulenaere, Cody Hutton, Dale Rowson, Jeff Inlow & Tim Anderson.  I know there have been pictures posted on our ITA facebook page, it was pretty awesome what the guys put into this – check it out.

The auction on Saturday evening was over the top. Dan Roberts and Kristie Lambert provided food prior to starting of the auction. All proceeds from their free-will donation were requested to be utilized for our Beginner Trapper classes – Thank you Dan & Kristie for all your help and generous donations. At the auction we had 2 bear traps, red fox quilt, beaver bedspread, ITA logo decanter, cement ITA logo w/stand, trip down south to run a trapline with Dean Bartz & Tim Anderson, bows, some of Scott Webb’s personal items, our #10 and final hardcover ITA History book, Gail Clouses’ painted saw blades and many other items donated by our generous members and attendees. There was one item that sold multiple times that generated over $1600 during the evening. Thank you to everyone who donated and purchased those items to make the evening the biggest we have ever had. Thank you to Bret Smith for auctioneering, Roger Hutton & Dave Phipps for assisting, Chris & Kristan for clerking and all the youngsters for their assistance getting items to buyers.

The ITA Fur Auction will be held January 11, 2025 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone. Dave Phipps, I presume, will begin accepting seller numbers starting Dec 1st as he has in the past. You can contact Dave at 515 491-8214. Some contact me, which I have no problem with, and will relay that info to Dave. My phone is 515-306-9385. When you get there you will receive a card with a number, this number will be your seller number for the auction. This system helps with the lotting process as Dave, Cody and myself no longer have to inquire which seller number we are currently on and much easier to keep track of. Also, the issue we see most when lotting in fur is ‘bad” pelts mixed with good. If you have blue or damaged pelts put them on a separate string. Those blue or damaged pelts will only downgrade the value of your good pelts if they are mixed in. Once your fur is lotted in, all fur MUST cross the buyers table before it can be pulled for “No Sale”.  Let us know when we are lotting in your fur the minimum price you are wanting so that can be written on the seller sheet.  For any “No Sale” fur, the commission is calculated off the last bid received. Commission as in the past will be 3% for “No Sales” and 5% for sales. Pay the clerk via cash or check only as we will not be able to accept debit or credit cards. After paying your commission, a sheet will be given for you to take to the buyers which purchased your fur. Doors will open at 7 A.M. and auction will begin at 9. Last year Dan Roberts and Kristie Lambert provided food for lunch plus we will have doughnuts, pop and coffee like in the past. We will be doing the same again this year as well. Hope to see everyone in Boone!!

Two more Beginner Trappers classes were completed this past weekend. Saturday September 14th in Cherokee we had 10 youth and 10 adults attend. Laura Jones, Director of the Cherokee County Conservation Board, explained some common animal tracks printed on paper. Then we went outside for “tracks in the snow” which were a series of tracks painted on a white bed sheet. While outside “in the snow” kids were guessing each track and direction of travel.  Most tracks went off the edge of the bed sheet, except for opossum tracks that started at the end of a short piece of a painted log with woodgrain showing on the end. One young boy, guessing about 10/12 years old, said “where did the opossum come from, there are no tracks on or before the log? All the adults started laughing due to his analysis of those tracks. Laura stated that was the first time anyone had ever called her out over the many years she had displayed it. She was going to paint that end of the log black to make it look like its hollow. All the kids left with pelts or an ITA membership plus everything that goes with the class. Thank you to JD Rogge for organizing, John Sells, Chad Mahler, John Lenz and Cody Wright for assisting during class.

Sunday September 15th we were at Ames with 7 adults present for this class. Most had not trapped before, but were asking questions and taking notes. All were happy with the information and materials they received during the day. Thanks to Shane Burmeister, Luke  DeMeulenaere, Jeff Milner and Bruce Rhoads for their assistance.

Well that is about it for this report. Trapping season will start November 2nd this year. Have a good season and take a kid along or even an adult. Til next time - Craig.