Dear Members & Friends of the Virginia Foxhound Club,
Our 77th annual Show was a big success due to the many volunteers we are fortunate to have, and the beautiful weather over the entire weekend! It was an opportunity to see the very best hounds and we are honored that we had so many hunts who brought hounds from great distances to be part of the show. It is a credit to our show that we also had representatives from over twenty hunts who attended but could not bring hounds because of the distance. As I often have said, our Show is one of the few opportunities for foxhunters to share camaraderie and discuss with other foxhunters all matters pertaining to our beloved sport. The weekend was also marked by a fun showing of some red foxes on the Green and on another field who came out to entertain the attendees for our hound show dinner.
Results
I would like to particularly thank the volunteers under Sherry Buttrick for putting up the Rings and taking them down; Betsy Smith for coordinating the Clerks, the Caterer and flowers arrangement, and the terrific Vendors who made the show so enjoyable and arranging for all the advertisements in our program; Mary Ewing for writing all the checks and sending them to every commercial entity involved in the show; our web site designer and manager and trouble shooter, Cheryl Microutsicos for helping Hunts and members register and bring our show into the 21st Century; and our Show Secretary, Stuart Sanders who spent more hours than all of us coordinating entries, contacting huntsmen and Masters, and getting all the problems solved that arose. And to Vicki Crawford for managing the trophies for us! This is just a small sample of the many people involved in making the show come off so well.
We have been able to keep the cost down for exhibitors despite rising costs everywhere. That has only been able to be accomplished through the many sponsors who have generously contributed to the show. These include the following:
- Mr. & Mrs. C. Martin Wood, III, Joint MFHs, Live Oak Hounds
- Mrs. Sherry Buttrick, Ex MFH
- Mr. Hugh H. Brown, III, MFH
- Blue Ridge Hunt
- Mrs. Linda Armbrust, Ex MFH
- Dr. Steven Thomas, MFH
- Mr. Clinton Kelley and Ms. Jill Marshall
- The Foxhound Retirement Program
- Mr. James B. Newman
- Mr. Patrick A. Leahy
Now as we look to the future, there are two major steppingstones that we need to get in place. First – we need a volunteer to assume the job of Trophy Manager. This involves coordinating with ordering ribbons and cups for each show, engraving of trophies, and reminding hunts to bring their trophies back if they took them with them. For instance, there is a Show Reserve Champion trophy that was not returned this year to be presented to the Reserve Champion of this year’s show. I would like to ask that someone step forward and serve as our Trophies Manager.
Second – as we look to the future, I agreed to serve as President and Chairman of the Show through 2026 and convinced my Whipper In and now, Joint Master, Stuart Sanders, to stay on as Show Secretary. Our efforts have been over the last few years to make the weekend welcoming to all hunts and modernize the process of putting on this Show.
After the Show in 2026, both Stuart and I will be stepping down and we would like to have our replacements shadow us over the next year, so they understand what is needed and how things run. It will also give the new crew an opportunity to look at the show and determine what improvements they want to make to put their mark on the Show. It is also essential that my replacement become known to the Morven Park Executive Director and Staff so the transition will be seamless.
We would ask you to submit your name to volunteer to serve as Trophy Manager, Show Secretary, or President by June 30th through the form on our website and we shall hold a vote for President shortly thereafter. Also, voting for The President will be online and we request all voting to be concluded by July 15th. The successful person to receive a majority of Votes will select the person they wish to have serve as the Show Secretary and Trophy Manager.
This is a critical time for our Show. One of the finest Hound Shows I attended when I was Vice President of The Foxhound Club of North America was the Mid Americas Show. It was run by the Iroquois Hunt in Lexington, Ky. When the Show responsibility changed away from Iroquois, the show failed and closed. When I started my hunt many years ago Jimmy Young told me I had an obligation to give back to the sport beyond my hunt and asked me to volunteer for the VFHC. We NEED dedicated volunteers to lead our Club or unfortunately we slip into history of foxhunting in North America of what used to be….. so please step up by filling out the form below.
I am entering my 26th year of serving as a volunteer with the Virginia Foxhound Club and I am one of the younger volunteers! If you love what we do here in Virginia, please identify a younger volunteer and have them shadow you for next year’s show and pass the torch to a new generation.
Thank you,
Bob
Robert N. Ferrer, MFH
Please submit your name to volunteer to serve as Trophy Manager, Show Secretary, or President by June 30 through the form below.
We shall hold a vote for President shortly thereafter. Also, voting for The President will be online and we request all voting to be concluded by July 15th. The successful person to receive a majority of Votes will select the person they wish to have serve as the Show Secretary and Trophy Manager.
Please submit a separate form if you are volunteering for more than one position.
