Give Your Hand And Plant A Seed

[Bill Birdseed]

Give Your Hand & Plant a Seed


Article by
Bill Burnside
NPA Representative
Florida


I come in all shapes, sizes, and gender. I am at pigeon shows throughout the world, showing my bird of choice along with other fanciers of the pigeon hobby. You may only see one or more of me at any given show.

I may walk by you carrying in my small hands a very large pigeon. It could be the same breed you raise or another breed you are well versed on.

You might even see me walking down the show cage rows, stopping and peering into the cages at the different birds. I might just ask you a question or two about a particular bird. I hope you are the person I remember who gave me the answer to my question no matter how trivial it was.

Many of you know who I am. Others just pass by and for whatever reason, ignore me, or just don’t see me there. Some of us are pretty small. Perhaps you are so wrapped up into winning an award; you don’t have the time or maybe the interest to recognize our importance for the future of the pigeon hobby.
Many of us entered the hobby as a junior fancier. Some are lucky enough to have a parent who raised pigeons, or a local fancier who took you under their wing and became your mentor. In some cases the mentors became the kid’s idol. What a wonderful way to remember someone in the fancy.
For an adult later in life to remember and mention about a bygone fancier with the words of “He or She taught me about pigeons when I was a kid” “was the person I so admired in the pigeon hobby,” “Would always be available for a question about pigeons,” “Gave me my first pigeon and told me how to take care of it,” “Was the person who gave me a hobby that kept me from running with a bad crowd. Last but not least “a fine person who cared about junior fanciers”.
There are many more ways to describe these caring individuals. They never forgot how it was to be a kid with pigeons. They gave back to those in need. They reached out and gave their hand to a junior fancier.

Many of you wonderful adult fanciers are still around today, taking the time and making an effort to help the pigeon kids of today, become the adult fanciers who will be the pigeon world of tomorrow.
I challenge others to do the same. Support the juniors. Plant the seeds for tomorrow.
One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.
CHINESE PROVERB