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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

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