North Carolina Sport Promotion

By Deone Roberts, AU Sport Development

Pet Expos have proven to be a fruitful way for racing enthusiasts to educate the public about the sport. The Super Pet Expo in Raleigh, North Carolina was a great example. The Columbus County Pigeon Invitational Racing Club and the Research Triangle Racing Club represented the Northern Carolina Concourse hosting a display booth at the event. Joined by a representative from the national AU office, members shared information through the AU display and promotion materials, display videos, display birds, examples of equipment and feed samples. The AU also sent press releases to advise of the upcoming display.

The expo took place on the state fairgrounds, where several activities were happening simultaneously, allowing an excellent flow of traffic through the two-day event. The show typically pulls between 15,000 – 20,000 visitors through.

A great number of visitors were pleased to find out more about the sport. Many had been in racing or knew of someone who had homing pigeons. Some wanted to know more about the school racing pigeon programs and how they might initiate a youth project. Those who wanted additional information received packets from the AU. Area members will be benefiting from follow up with those people after the event.

Richard and Becky Clark traveled from Leland, North Carolina, to assist with the display. They strolled up and down the show aisles with pigeons in hand, prompting a multitude of questions and leading people back to the booth for more information. They also enticed the “Chicken Man of Raleigh.” The Chicken Man is an area motivational speaker who utilizes Silkie chickens in his presentations. His interest in incorporating pigeons into his presentations could develop into additional publicity for the hobby.

Vern Duntz displayed fancy pigeon breeds to help demonstrate the various breeds of pigeons. Ben Pleasant’s two-week old squeaker also drew a lot of attention, so people of all ages had something to enjoy at the booth.

Members did a great job promoting their sport and are making plans to repeat the event next year with more booth space, a bird release to open the event and seminar presentations.

Thanks to Ben Pleasant, Bud Paulk, Darryl Glover, and Vern Duntz of the Research Triangle Racing Pigeon Club, and Becky and Richard Clark of the Columbus County Pigeon Invitational Racing Club for their professional manner in making North Carolina a little more familiar with the racing sport. Good job!