Increasing participation in Grow-out contests...

[luke frisbee]

Mike
Since you stated the problem it can be diminished..and already has by adressing it...
i don't see three people going but it would be a helluva prize....the three could agree to a 10 minute time limit at each breeder...or what ever works..say they have an hr a day... the dealer tells the contest winners at the beginnijng of the day who the+y are going to and what they might have...if they use up the hr early then they don't have anything at the end of the day...
and to keep on task they can "earn another five minutes per meal by eating it in the car.

[PapaBear]

Quote: Originally Posted by CarolinaGirl you do sort of grow on people Luke.......

Yeah he does.... Kinda like a wart, hemorrhoids, or a mole with a big ol' hair sticking out of the middle...

JK Lukie boy

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee Mike Since you stated the problem it can be diminished..and already has by adressing it... i don't see three people going but it would be a helluva prize....the three could agree to a 10 minute time limit at each breeder...or what ever works..say they have an hr a day... the dealer tells the contest winners at the beginnijng of the day who the+y are going to and what they might have...if they use up the hr early then they don't have anything at the end of the day... and to keep on task they can "earn another five minutes per meal by eating it in the car.

Luke

Actually, as long as the dealer is at a particular breeders, it wouldn't preclude the hobbyist(s) from looking around as well. It just comes down to this: Don't ask prices on fish you know are out of your price range and certainly don't ask to have a fish bowled by the breeder unless you are very serious about buying it and can afford to. It's great to be able to go see all the breeders you can on a trip, observe all the quality fish you can. Hell, take pictures of them in the ponds if you want to for future reference. Just make sure you don't waste the breeder/dealer's time.

Mike

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Pond Digger How about at trip to NIIGATA, JAPAN to visit the breeder to pick out the prize of selecting their own koi with the training of the breeder? How can that be arranged? That would get some serious players involved! Figure out the cost of the fish including some profit for the dealer of course! Figure out the cost to send a person (OR COUPLE) to JAPAN for an all expense PAID trip. Divide by 200 (or more) participants and create an entry fee. Since it is lottery style and the first picks have a much greater advantage there could be additional ways created for an upset from a late picker. Kumonryu, Showa and Shiro Utsuri will most likely create the greatest possibility for an upset from a late picker. I'm just talking to open the communications for possibilites! NIIGATA, JAPAN! Yeah, I know, I think big. Call me Kichi, or crazy, or insane. I'm used to it. The Pond Digger

This is certainly full of potential and something that PSKoi can do. We haved signed up to do a grow out with Bito. When the time is right bring it up.

[The Pond Digger]

Now that's what I'm talking about! I knew someone would step to the plate.

[Beniguy]

If the "Grand Prize(s)" included the freight of the koi back to US that would be very cool!
From my trip we had five people on the run, excluding Russell and Kari. We had ample time at each breeder I thought. We'd look into the various tanks and found out which tanks were already sold so we looked on.
You do not ask the breeder the price, never. If you find something you like you go to the Host (Russel in this case), and ask him.
At one place I was admiring an incredible two step kohaku, while standing there, eyes fixed on its every move the breeder walked over to me, saw my interenst, and said "spensive". I got the idea.
Like posted earlier, this is not a sight-seeing trip. You go there to get koi straight from the source.
I'll add that one of the koi I purchased (an Aka Masuba) was the one I actually harvested from the pond! You can't beat that.
Ed