Suggestions please - hunt "trade" stand

[tractor]

Hello,

Our hounds are parading at a local agricultural show in September. I have asked if we can have a stand there too so we can introduce ourselves properly!

I really want this to be a success as there are a good few who think it will be a waste of time.

I'm a bit short on ideas though....this is where I hope you lovely people can help! I was thinking I might ask to take some hounds that people can meet properly - ie get in a run with them etc. There will be the usual lists of events and schedules, but beyond that I'm stuck.

Can anyone help? Any suggestions/advice gratefully received, homemade raspberry vodka all round!

Thank you x

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

are you fund raising as well? a raffle with the usual donated prizes. another raffle with prizes of kennel visits, hound exercise on foot, bicycle and mounted, a mornings cubbing, an escorted days hunting etc? a horn blowing competition (at a set time advertised in the schedule) good luck and have fun

 

[Rosie Round The Hills]

Take-away 'packs' for people who want to give it a go:-
- friendly explanation of what to wear
- telephone number of secretary
- friendly explanation of what to expect and what your horse is expected to behave like (allowing for horse and rider first time nerves)

Some stuff out of the Countryside Alliance Shop
- I'd rather be Hunting Mug
- umm badges / tea towels etc?!

- give people the opportunity to buy a day's ticket at a discount 'only if bought at the show' day

- raffle/auction a half day 'introduction to hunting' with one of your friendly members who can take a newbie plus friend across a farm one morning, explain what it's all about, and feed them some lunch

ummm that's all I've thought of for now.

But remember to all the nay-sayers - it's initiatives like this that will (if you keep at it) get the next generation joining in.

 

[tractor]

Oh thank you both, fab ideas......!

I am trying to beat the nay sayers, we desperately need newbies - I'm one of the youngest and I'm 28!

Thank you both, I will post again when it's a success!

Hm.....wonder if I could persuade the Masters to schedule a Newcomers Day near the show.....then the intro pack could lead them to that.....

*toddles off to pour raspberry vodka*......

xx

 

[L&M]

I ran a similiar stand at our local agricultural show. I sold:

Hunt mugs
Hunt ties
Hunt fleeces
Left over 'hound sponsorships' from the puppy show
Hunt xmas cards
Homemade cakes
Left over horsey paraphanalia for the hunt car boot sale

I also did a display of hunting photos as it was as much a 'pr' excercise as a profit making one. I met a lot of interested people, both horsey and non horsey and had a very good reception.

Good luck!

 

[combat_claire]

At Essex YFC Show on Sunday the Essex Foxhounds had invited 2 other packs to join them in the hound pens; they then had a marquee selling their merchandise, displaying photos and information boards on the pack and running a 'find the fox game'*. In addition they were also offering hunt staff and subscribers drinks during the day.

The hound pens were pretty much rammed all day with visitors wanting to know more about the hounds on display.

*Find a Fox Game is an OS map of your country, laminated and displayed on an easel. You get the master to pick a place where the fox is hiding. Each person then pays 50p a go to put a pin in the map. The person who gets nearest wins the prize at the end of the day.

 

[JanetGeorge]

I used to organise BFSS stands - and THE most important thing is to have a pen out front with a couple of hound pups in it! They draw kids like magnets - and parents HAVE to follow! You DO have to be prepared to buy replacement icecreams for the ones hound pups remove from small child's hand - but other than that .....