The Most Influential Koi People of 2007.

[aquitori]

Another year is coming and going, with that comes another list of "Who are your Most Influential Koi People of 2007"?

[The Pond Digger]

I would like to extend a warm thank you to these influential people in the Koi industry that have tolerated my presence & willingness to grow over the last couple of years. Not necessarily in this order!

Taro & Mamoru Kodama, Bill & Shawn at Mystic Koi, William Lim and Kent Wallace.

Cheers!

Happy Holidays,

The Pond Digger

[dick benbow]

In this age of instant communication via chat lines, I don't think we give enough credit to those that offer and maintain them. What an awsome tool to learn and make friends from. We'd be a lot poorer without them.....one person on the boards that I always appreciate for his wisdom and dogged determination to help over a long period of time is Jim Reilly. We know him as JR....
also credit goes to the ZNA and AKCA judging efforts in the states for the high class individuals who are willing to sacrifice of their time money and wisdom to the benefit of many clubs and hobbyists. What a great group of koi kichi's.....
also credit goes to my Hero Toshio Sakai, for his willingness to share his time and knowledge with koi kracies around the world. Here in the states, he'll be here in California in February (thanks Russ) and here in Idaho in September
(thanks Dan).

The sum is only as good as the individual parts and I think we are very lucky
to have great numbers of very good individuals who are always willing to contribute.

[Danjols]

Hats off to all those that contribue!!

[Brutuscz]

I'm voting for our koi coach..Dick B. He has helped me a great deal with my koi education. I always get an honest opinion and a knowledgable explanation. He has also been a wonderful, calming voice in many heated koi discussions. Add to that some excellent articles in some recent magazines, and we have a true gem of a koi person. He is Invaluable on this and other boards. All I can say is Thank you!!! I'll be picking your brains plenty in 2008

[bone]

I live in a part of the country where Koi Kichi are far and few between. Most of what I have learned comes from the internet and books. I did manage to make it to a Koi show in the state of Washington last May. Dick Benbow was there and gave a Tosai selection presentation. Needless to say it was very educational. I was only able to have a brief conversation with him after the presentation. Looking back I wish I could have had more time to get to know him better. As I said the internet is my lifeline to the Koi world. There are many very knowledgeable individuals that post on this and other forums that I have learned much from. But I would have to say that this last year, Dick has been the best mentor I have. It's funny tha he probably doesn't even know me. Thank you Dick for being a great teacher and inspiration for me. Those that teach on the forums are the most influential for many of us. Thank you all!!!

Daniel

[Birdman]

My Vote also goes to Dick Benbow. Since meeting Dick he has never refused to help me. And many times I have seen Dick more than willingly answer questions for anyone asking. I am glad to see Dick now offering his knowledge on a professional level.

[Lam Nguyen]

Looking back over this past year, I have had many koi mentors that came and go, but perhaps the one individual that stood out the most was Dick Benbow. I had the rare opportunity of being paired up with him as a wrangling team at the NWKG Club Show this year, and it is an experience that I will never forget. The things I remembered most were his knowledge, guidance, and patience as he taught me how to bowl koi for judges. Above all, he taught me what to look for in a quality koi. Now, whenever I look at a koi, a smile appears on my face as I remember what the "Koi Coach" taught me. Thank you for the guidance and inspiration, Dick Benbow. You have got my vote for Koi Person of the Year. Can't wait to spend a weekend absorbing your knowledge in April at Birdman's place!

[Fishbreeder]

Ron Goforth, ZNA District Chairman.

For many things, but foremost for not turning a blind eye to rules infractions, pros trying to co-opt clubs for thier own financial gain, pros trying to enter fish into shows then sell them with the prize afterwards, for a lot more, etc.

But also for freely and willingly teaching anybody that asks.

He doesn;t do the internet thing, but a few folks understand that if they approach him with a serious interest, he'll instruct.

Of all the English speaking (as a first language) koi people I've met in my twenty plus years in koi, he knows the most, and can get complex ideas across to simple minded folk like me.

Brett

[kingkong]

Well...I am going to vote for myself because nobody else is.