BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS SECTION FOR ALL UPCOMING IFA ACTIVITIES! Specific dates and details for IFA Field Meets and events will be posted on the calendar page.


NOTICE TO INDIANA FALCONERS

THE NEXT IFA SCHEDULED EVENTS include the following:

IFA Annual Picnic - Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 ~ Brown County State Park. AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE THE EVENT IS SATURDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2009 (NOT the 23rd, as previously posted incorrectly). We apologize for this error and remind you to please correct your calendars accordingly, so you don't show up a day late.)

RECENT EVENTS:

Last year, the 2008 Summer Picnic & Raffle event was a huge success, with over 100 in attendance. Falconers from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri enjoyed IFA's traditional pulled pork picnic extravaganza, a nice assortment of falconry birds, enjoy entertainment and educational workshops including emergency raptor hydration techniques—presented by Master falconer, Laura Edmunds, Hood Making—presented by Master Falconer, Dan Bloodgood, Braided Leash Making—presented by Master falconer Mark Booth, and Bell Making—presented by Master Falconer, Karl Shank. Additionally, participants enjoyed a remarkable presentation by our special guest speaker, Washington falconer Steve Layman. Steve is a passionate and gifted speaker, well-known for his amazing success and expertise in the world of "operant conditioning" — advanced falconry training techniques.

The IFA Field Meet in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 (last field meet of the 2007/2008 season) and the preceding Jan 19th Evansville Field Meet were both great successes — and very well attended. Everyone flying saw plenty of game. Thank you to Don Garvin, Don Bensinger, Joe Katterhenry, Bill Rosenbarger, and Greg Howe (KY), who did a great job of ensuring people had plenty to eat and were able to find good hunting locations.

The Merrilville Field Meet, December 1st, was a great meet to start the season and was well attended. The club profited $82.21 after all expenses as the result of sales, new memberships, renewals, and food donations. The weather was great Saturday morning and turned to windy, snowy and then freezing rain coating at least a 1/4" that evening. Several people stayed over and watched hawking videos and DVD's till well after midnight, courtesy of Ken Jennings huge collection. In attendance were: Kurt & Cheryl Dorman, Colton Kreider, Mike Carey, Todd and Cathy Freeland, Tom Davis, Wolfgang Schwamberger (Tom's apprentice), Don Garvin, Doug Bensinger, Jerry Thomas, Lee Slikkers-MI, Tom DePas-MI, Mike Evans-MI, John Shull-MI, Ken Jennings, Karl Shank, Mike Jones, Bryan Payne-Prospective and his nephew, Elena Murzyn-prospective and her mother, and several other visitors. Numerous birds took game, the MI guys flew Friday, Saturday and stayed Sunday flying Harris and Redtail hawks. By Sunday morning, the ice, snow and wind were gone and the hunting was very good. Those who did not attend were missed.