June 27, 2008
Dear Members, Exhibitors, and potential new exhibitors and members of SDQHA Shows,
The SDQHA Directors take a strong interest in our South Dakota Quarter Horse Shows. As an organization, we want our shows to appeal to our membership, as well as new potential exhibitors and members.
Many members and exhibitors of SDQHA are not aware that South Dakota Quarter Horse Association has only 2 shows that they “own” or have management rights to. These shows are the Huron Show in June, and the Brookings Show, held this year in May. All other South Dakota shows are managed by outside entities, and control their own shows and the management of those shows.
At our March Board of Directors Meeting, our board discussed our current economy and ways that we could keep our two shows strong during difficult economic times. Much discussion took place on the potential advantages of combining the Huron Show and the Brookings Show.
As a result of the discussions, a committee was formed. The purpose of the committee was to look into the possibility of combining the two existing SDQHA shows for the purpose of;
Reducing transportation costs, stalling costs, and bedding costs associated with traveling to multiple shows by holding 1 larger and more lengthy show.
Adding additional cattle classes for the purpose of expanding our current class offering as well as allowing for additional income from the volume of exhibitors that attend these classes.
Opening up opportunities for other organizations (i.e. reining, roping, cutting, working cow, etc.) to become more involved with SDQHA events.
Reducing the costs of holding 2 shows versus 1.
Creating an event that will, at a minimum, break even on expenses, thus protecting the assets of SDQHA.
Creating a fun event that family’s will enjoy attending year after year.
The New Show Research Committee began meeting April 12, 2008 and finalized their research On May 12th, 2008. The committee compared costs of 3 potential sites. These sites included Huron, Sioux Falls, and Brookings.
A committee tracked the positives and negatives of each potential site. After some investigation, and discussion around the sites, Huron was eliminated from the discussion due to several objectives that the committee felt were more suitably offered through the Brookings and Sioux Falls sites.
As discussion continued, the Sioux Falls site was eliminated due to several factors that the committee felt could be potential problems in the future. These items included;
The cost of the Sioux Falls site continues to go up. Along with the cost of the facility, additional set up costs, clean up costs and adhoc costs which make the facility a larger expense for any show.
In working with the facility, and explaining our committee mission, and the length of our potential show, there were no offers to reduce expenses to make the facility option more cost affective or equal in cost to the Brookings site. These offers could have included reduction of expense for stall set up, additional set up or clean up fees that were being charged by the Sioux Falls site. The lack of these offers made this facility a less desirable option due to costs and manpower that would be needed to cover these duties by utilizing our own people in non-paid/volunteer roles.
The future of the site was also in question. Little is being done to improve the site. It continues to not be well maintained. The committee discussed the issue of starting a large show at this site only to have the site become not available for these types of events, thus causing the need to discontinue or move the event after it had been established. This was considered by the board to be a risk to the longevity of the event.
On May 12th, the committee met at the Brookings Show. The committee discussed in depth what they felt it would take to make the potential new show break even in today’s current economy.
During the discussion, the committee discussed potential risks of starting this type of a show in today’s economy. Some of those factors include;
forecasted costs of fuel
cost of judges
cost of airline travel for judges
cost of facility
future cost of dirt work for the Brookings arena
stalling capacity/limitations in Brookings may not offer enough income potential or space for a growing show.
The committee proposed dates of the new show to be June 15, 2009 through June 21, 2009.
What’s next? Most of the research is complete, however, the opinions of our membership, exhibitors and potential new members/exhibitors is very important in order to make this change. In order to act quickly, we have set up a link at our website to gain your feedback of this proposal. We appreciate your feedback as your opinion weighs heavily on our decision to move forward.
Here’s how you can provide your feedback…….
SDQHA Members & SDQHYA Members-
Please leave comments on this blog thread. Your comments can be left anonymously or with an email address. This is an open blog so comments posted can be read by anyone. You may also email or call anyone on the committee directly. Their email addresses and phone numbers are at the end of this blog. Things to consider in your comments are the questions below. We also welcome any other comments.
Do you believe that this show is a benefit to you?
Do you see a longer show as a cost savings?
How many days of showing would make this beneficial?
Would you attend?
Why or why not?
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Neighboring states and friends we also value your input.
We appreciate all of our friends from neighboring states that attend our South Dakota Shows. When it comes to roping events and reining, we have appreciated the fact that your attendance at Dr. Christensen’s Sioux Falls Show in April has made it a great show for everyone trying to gain points. In South Dakota, we would like to offer additional roping events, cattle events and reining events, and this venue offers that possibility. Please leave comments on this blog thread. Your comments can be left anonymously or with an email address. This is an open blog so comments posted can be read by anyone. You may also email or call a committee member directly. Their emails and phone numbers are listed at the end of this post. Things to consider in your comments are the questions below. We also welcome any other comments.
Would this be an event that you would/could support?
How many days of showing would make this show a benefit?
Are there any major events in your area that would conflict with these dates? (June 15, 2009 through June 21, 2009)
If these dates are a conflict, are there other dates that we should consider?
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Potential new exhibitors and members we also value your input. Please leave your comments on this blog thread. Things to consider in your comments are the questions below.
If you have never attended one of our South Dakota Shows or been a member of SDQHA, would this be an event that would bring you our way?
What things do you look for in the shows that you attend?
What would bring you our way?
On behalf of the New Show Research Committee, we appreciate everyone’s speedy input. Your ideas will pave the way for our future SDQHA shows. Please contact any of us with any questions or comments you may have regarding this proposal.
We look forward to getting the feedback by August 1, 2008, so that we can make plans for our 2009 shows.
Sincerely,
The New Show Research Committee
Jim Hootman (605) 368-5826 email- jhoo721874@aol.com
Mike Clites (605)-690-1279 email -weqh@brookings.net
Rhonda Nussbaum (605) 359-9911 email- rhonda.nussbaum@citi.com
Shawn Jaacks (605) 351-8007 email- sjaacks@cedaramerican.com
Misty Schaunaman (605) 226-5927 email- schauncm@nvc.net
Janet Hansen (605) 223-9949 email- jpslider@msn.com
Dean Johnson (605) 456-1176 email- drywellranch@sdplainswb.com
JD Lauing (605) 962-6372 email- lauing@venturecomm.net
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15 comments:
With the rising fuel costs I think the expanded single location show would be great!
Kristen Gonsoir
Nebraska QH Association hosted a combined show of 6 days at Grand Island on June 10 - June 15. It was a huge success. Ropers from California, Texas and Florida attended with over 45 entries in open heading and over 60 entries in open heeling for each show. Hunter under Saddle had 15 entries and the youth classes were also very well attended. Everyone was positive about not having to haul so many miles and saving on fuel. The creation of a 6 day run at Brookings would be great. Developing some evening events such as a bar-b-que, dog races, etc. would also be fun.
Trish Kolterman
I'm new to the club and old :) but new to showing at AQHA. I would be more inclined to show at the longer run in June and since I have cutting bred horses would like the added classes. Of course $5/gallon gas might leave me out.:(
I think this is a great idea. The only concern that I have is that the next weekend is a show in Rapid City and therefore if the brookings show is a week long then people want to show at the plains show in rapid that gets long. I think it would be better to have it a the same week that the huron show use to be or the next week. Just a thought. Thanks for asking for our input. AnneMarie
I will miss the Huron Show since it was the first show I went to when I started showing again about six years ago. It has always been a smaller show that is nice to start at. I do know that people starting out for the first time are not likely to come to a large show with big time showers and be encouraged to stay since it will come across to tough for them.
I did not go to the Brookings show this year since the stalls were $90 and expenses were very high there. I went to Gillette Wyoming and spent less than half on that show for stalls and trailer hook up. In order for the show to appeal to me I would have to see a strong change in the price of the hook up fees - stalls and showing fees to make it work for my finances with it now costing over $360 for me to make a trip to the East. The facility is nice and well maintained. The show held there last year was very well run and I enjoied the location.
I would hope that by going big we do not loose those who enjoy the family atmosphere of the Small Huron type shows. We go to the five day every year and it is a good experience and more and more local people seem to be showing there at first some thought it to tough for them and the SD people stayed home. It was pretty hard to decide to jump into the Western Pleasure with Cleve Wells.
The reining and other types of events are growing still and that is a good thing to look at to keep the shows together.
I would point out that however small Huron has been it has always brought in a minimum of $1500 and sometimes as much as $3000 to this Association that continues to use its fifty cent fees, membership and for a long time only the Huron Show as its source of income. How much did the Brookings Show clear this year and how much did the Huron show. I bet the Huron show made more money. If going big is the issue than I guess Brookings will accomodate that, but going big with the futrity did not work. In these troubled times will that work or will we find our Association in financial trouble because they wanted to be big.
It seems that the committee has made the decision to dump the Huron show already and that is without really asking the membership how they feel about it. So what is the purpose of this Blog?
I think the combined show is a good deal and I hope that this decision will work. I agree with Anne Marie in that the early June date always used for Huron is a more desireable time and would not hurt other state shows.
But I think the SDQHA should look at other options like how our points count it is a trailer race and only the rich at these high prices of fuel will be able to continue to show. Maybe the committee should also look at point counting like CONQHA top 10 scores for the year etc.
I liked the cross over fees that Jo Waldner used at the Huron show where you could go novice and open youth or amateur for a certain fee and cross over. How about keeping hatler a part of that. The all day fees didn't apply to halter. Here halter is hurting and we don't put them in. I guess there are other things to look at besides locations. Look at what is going on with our youth. We have no 13 & U numbers it is terrible. How do we encourage new members. Look at your judges I will have two judges in SD this year three times at minimum. Due to the fact they can judge a novice show and than two more shows. I don't have anything against any of these judges but what if they don't like you?
Enough said thank you for allowing us to voice our opinion.
Linda J.
I think combining the two shows is a great idea. Although, I would like the show to come after the Corporate Challenge and before the run in Des Moines, if possible.
The facilities in Huron are no longer acceptable to hold a show. Between the stalls being too small and having to check them for nails before you put your horse in them, the ground being uneven and hard, and then the facility is just plain dirty. Not that a horse show is clean, but you shouldn't have to clean a seat off of the bleachers to be able to sit down.
I would personally like to see Brookings have the show. The stalls are nice, the ground is very good, and its CLEAN. And if they want us there, lets go.
Sioux Falls is depending too much on other sports to make their money. They don't see a horse show as being a money maker. And if they don't want us there, then don't go.
The shows would conflict with Denison, IA, the third weekend in June. While it might not pull away the halter/pleasure crowd, I think it could potentially impact roping entries. Depending on your fees/schedule/facilities/cattle, it might hurt the Iowa show, or it might hurt your show.
We rope Thursday-Sunday in Denison...maybe if it was scheduled so that the roping was earlier in the week, then it might work. But, if the two events were scheduled on top of each other, I don't know how it would work.
If the Brookings facility is nicer, if the cattle are good...there is a lot to consider. Denison also offers cowhorse, which would be an added draw for a number of the ropers.
I have heard that the fees at the May Brookings show were rather pricey. Not everyone can afford to take a week off from work, but if you want to try to entice them to spend at least some of their vacation time on a horse show, it had better be affordable. Look at what the Iowa Run has done with their flat fees, and the overwhelming response that they have received - that might be something to consider!
Living in NW Iowa, I would gladly rope more often in South Dakota, if the fees were reasonable, the location was relatively close, and it worked with my schedule. But, I will more than likely support my own state's show before I go out of state, if the two conflict.
--Holly Benton
You know Linda made some very good points.........we all can't be gone for a week because of work, or just being away from home and finding someone doing chores for a whole week. Plus you have to look at the price of going for a whole week........man it is one big bill when you settle up. I personally would like to space my show fees out.
I find the Huron a very fun show to attend. There is some things that need changed there.........but I feel that it is a show that most of the families can afford to show in SD.
I to like Linda can not afford 30 camper spot to plug my coffee pot in and run a reading lamp. I just as well try and get a motel with someone. Or are they higher there too? The stalls where out of sight as well.........you have a large amount of money tied up and you haven't even went in the ring yet!!
With as high priced as everything is we SDQHA needs to just try and keep the cost of everything down. Do you think that more people will really go to Brookings over Huron.
Like Linda made the statement........Huron has always been a money maker.....if it isn't broke why do we have to fix it.
I to like the idea that Linda made about picking your 10 best shows.........South Dakota truly has turned into a trailer race.....with the price of gas/fuel only the rich can afford to hit every show........well it is to the point that well I can't make all the shows.......so I will just go show put some points on my horse (I hope anyway) and not join SDQHA ( you have lost my membership)........because there is no way I can get anything done at this stage of the season....but if you only take the 10 best shows.....I might kick my membership out there.
I guess I'm all for leaving Huron the way it is.......it has been a very nice show for lots of families!
Juli
To answer and correct some comments.
The board has not made a decision to get rid of the Huron show. It is all part of this proposal. The Huron show will probably NOT make money this year due to judges' costs and declining entries.
The proposed show MAY exist in a 5 day format with four days of split/combined. Maybe it would start with a special event reining/cowhorse??? That is why we want to hear your comments.
The board is trying to make the best decisions for the financial health of the organization and for the membership. Unfortunately, when we make sure that the finances are covered, it may affect some people. There's no easy answer to that.
If we change the point system by dropping the requirement to best of 10 shows, then our numbers will drop. That's a given. How many shows would you NOT attend if you could only use 10 shows for year-end points.
With the cost of gas, one of your largest expenses will be fuel. Maybe it would be better to drive once and get in 5 or even 6 shows for that cost. Any show has to ensure that the costs are covered and with the rising travel expenses for judges, all costs are going to go up. We're trying to give you the best for your money and are looking at all options.
So, think outside the box and help us out.
Thanks
-Janet Hansen
I attended the Iowa Show Circuit in June and it was very well attended. I believe part of the reason is the all inclusive fee but also part is the encouragement of show management to sign up for more classes (easy sell when you don't have to pay extra to show in another class). This show did not count towards Iowa year end points and was still well attended. I believe that because of the high price of fuel, shows need to be longer in length and less of them. Folks just aren't going to be able to afford to go to as many. I would strongly support combining Huron and Brookings and holding the show at Brookings. I believe the neighbor states are changing dates, locations, length of shows just to try to encourage numbers. You need to have sufficient numbers to cover costs, increase participation, etc. I believe you need longer shows and less of them. I would suggest trying to combine more of the shows than just these 2. I understand that you don't have control of them but I would suggest maybe alternating sites each year for some of the other smaller shows for state points. To encourage participation in classes at some shows I have been to, several different ideas have worked. Examples would be: Free halter class if entered in a performance class. (this could be any class and not just halter) Paybacks in halter for 5, 10, 15 & 20 places. I applaud the leadership in SDQHA for taking on such tough issues. This is not an easy job. Not everyone is going to agree with every change that has to be made but I believe in the best interest of the association, that changes need to take place. Things can't always happen "Just because we have always done it that way!"
Janeen Dickes
I would like to see a 4-6 day run in Brookings, or even in Sioux Falls. With at least 2 judges each day, if possible.
The economy is changing and we can either change with it or we can sit on our butts and watch our shows die, which is exactly what is happening to the show in Huron.
Every time I have gone to either show or watch the June show in Huron, the numbers seem to get smaller and the number of complaints about the facility seem to grow.
Having a fun, family atmosphere is something that the EXHIBITORS create. So its up to the EXHIBITORS to WANT to create that same atmosphere at a larger show.
And if having a larger show means that someone like Cleve Wells, Ted Turner, or Steve Heckaman shows up, more power to them! Having that kind of competition at one of our shows should be taken #1 as a compliment to the kind of show we are running, and #2 as a HUGE learning experience.
The fees associated with having this kind of show are also going to have to be very friendly. The problem with that, is that there are some fees that SDQHA can not control. Most camping fees are set by the facility, not the show management and/or SDQHA. I would like to see an all inclusive fee to get the show off and running.
SDQHA is a business. And I think we all forget that sometimes. And being a business, SDQHA has to make decisions that are best for the livlihood of SDQHA. This show proposal and having this blog, is exactly what the leaders of SDQHA are trying to do. They are trying to make the best decision for the livlihood of SDQHA and I commend them for that.
Proud member of SDQHA
I attended my first SDQHA show this year in June at the Huron show. I've been showing in open shows for many years. I have always wanted to get started showing AQHA and finally took that step. One of the reasons that I went to Huron was because it was a smaller show and it was a good place to "get my feet wet". I probably wouldn't have if I would have had to go to a big 5-day run. I had a great time and enjoyed the experience very much. That is something I'd like to continue doing in the future.
I understand that most of the fees that exibitors experiene with showing has nothing to do with SDQHA. Fuel is a big one and will probably always be. Still, if there are other ways that we could give the exibitor a break, that would great help the people like myself. We are definitely not in the "rich" category. I have 3 small kids (ages 7,4 and 2) and I would like to see them show in the future, but if having expensive stalls for the family's horses and higher fees would probably make that more expensive than our family could afford for a big run. I would encourage SDQHA to find ways to keep it affordable for everyone, but mostly families. A break on stalls all for one family and keeping affordable "all-day" fees would be great. (A great way in increase your number of Youth, too.)
I don't have the answers, I just know that for MOST people to be able to show, we need to do the best we can to keep it affordable. I agree that having people like Cleve Wells at a show in SD is a big compliment and we should take it as a chance to see how we compete against the best, but if I have to have the funds of Cleve Wells, than it's more than I can afford.
Maybe a big run is the right answer to this issue and I'm glad that SDQHA is proactive about the situation. As I see it, keeping it affordable for everyone is a win-win... you'll get more entries in not only Open and Amt, but also in Youth. More entries is one of the assoiciations biggest goals, right? Thanks for giving us a chance to say a bit or two about the idea.
Amber Kolousek
With the hike in fuel price i think horse riding would be best.SDQHA SHOULD ORGANISE MORE SHOW.
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animesh
Addiction Recovery South Dakota
I just got done reading all the comments about the possible new show for Brookings. I agree with the comments from both sides. our family started out AQHA showing by being encouraged to venture from our open shows to Quarter, something we were afraid we were not GOOD enough for. Huron was our breakout show, we were told to go there because it was a smaller show to start the kids with. We loved it and we had some much fun meeting new people, people we now call our best friends after 10 years. We travel the state still showing, but finding the cost of everything is up from feed costs, wood chips, and that everyday costs just to keep that horse. Lets not forget the new clothes, show supplies, trailer and pickup repair ect. But does that stop us ..no just makes us save in other ways. Horse people sure are a crazy group.
I would like to see the fees as all day fees like Huron, to encourage more families starting out on a limited budget. Can't we do both shows by changing Hurons date. this way we are offering something for everyone. Try it for a year or two and see what happens to memberships, show entries, and our economy?
The thing that I would like to see changed is to give everyone a chance to be in the arena for exercise with other horses in their class. In other words I will not be going to the Sioux Falls show this year because there is no place to ride or exercise your halter horses or lounge line horses without the reiners running all around you and sliding their horses into you.
At the world show you do not see the english horses out in the warm up pen with the reiners or the ropers?
Please have a time that is just for the reiners and have a time when it is just for the western pleasure or english horses in the warm up pen and then ENFORCE IT AND DON'T LET OTHERS IN THE PEN UNTIL IT IS THEIR TIME. If you post this when people sign up and enforce it everyone will be happier.
I have had many people from others states like Minnesota and Nebraska tell me they do not go to Sioux Falls anymore because there is no place to exercise there horses with out the reiners sliding into them. Don't you remember when we had huge english and western pleasure classes and a big majority of them were from Minnesota and Nebraska.
To me it will be worth every bit of the time to drive to a show that doesn't cater to the ropers and the reiners. Why can't everyone show, we all could if the show people would just regulate the exercise arena . I really believe if they would do that , they would see that your show size will increase because you will see people start to come back to the Sioux Falls show.
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