Hobbyists flock to

pigeon, poultry show

Junior competitors show renewed

interest in hobby

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- For Doug Grams, the best part about raising birds is seeing things start over again.

From getting the eggs to put in the incubator to the annual bird show in New Ulm, the beauty is in watching birds and what they do, said Grams.

Grams and nearly 30 other breeders of pigeons and poultry spent the better part of a chilly, blustery Saturday looking over exhibits at the Brown County Poultry and Pigeon Association's annual show at the county fairgrounds in New Ulm.

There were 568 pigeons and 800 other birds at the show, which was spread out over two consecutive weekends. Saturday's show attracted an estimated 300 different breeds of pigeon.

Exhibits increased from the 2001 show.

The club's junior competitors are a bright spot, Grams said. They're the most promising part of the club because of their renewed interest in the hobby.

Grams described raising pigeons and poultry as "a quiet hobby."

Robert Kosek, a New Ulm native now living in Morton, specializes in breeding rare kinds of pigeons and chickens. He remembered a time when people in New Ulm kept pigeons in their back yards and even used them for food. He said it was part of being self-sufficient back then.

"These days, you can have a dog the size of a horse, but you can't keep pigeons in your back yard," Kosek said.

Pigeon breeders enjoy sharing their hobby with other enthusiasts.

"Every year, it's a new beginning," he said. "And you keep trying to preserve for the future."

Judging categories for pigeons included Best Fancy, Best Utilitarian and Best Flying-Performing.

One local kid, Aaron Dittbenner from Morgan, is going to the state poultry championship in Hutchinson next month. He and friend Cotey Bandow of Courtland are two of the club's newer members.

"It's a fun hobby," Dittbenner said.

"It gives you something to do," added Bandow.

Dittbenner will be showing five ducks, two geese and two chickens at the state show.