Buckeyes Return to Birthplace in Warren, Ohio

On June 13, 2013 the “Buckeye Reds” made their way back home to Warren, Ohio.  More importantly, a small flock of Buckeyes returned to the very place their ancestors were created, the actual Metcalf "Red Feather Farm" in Trumbull County!  From 1878 thru 1909 a small farm belonging to Frank & Nettie Metcalf could be found along an old country road that connected Lordstown, Ohio with the City of Warren.  Their humble farm was split into two tracts, 54.50 acres in Warren Twp and 47.50 acres in Lordstown Twp, with a combined total acreage of 102 acres.  The Metcalf’s lived in a rather modest 2 story farm house (pictured below), typical of the era, and possibly built by Frank himself prior to asking Nettie Williams hand in marriage. Unfortunately, the old homestead didn’t survive a fire and burnt to the ground in the late 1960’s.  According to locals living in the area an old home that looked like the house pictured was destroyed by fire.

 RED FEATHER FARM - Warren, OHIO (circa 1900)

 

Today, the Metcalf farm is broken into many smaller parcels with the largest residential tract being 15 acres and it is owned by Mrs. Mary Smith.  The Smith home was built in the 1940’s and was purchased in the 1970’s by Mrs. Smith and her husband who ran a gold driving range from the property for a number of years. Interestingly enough the existing house has similar looking pine trees growing nearby, just as the Metcalf home did in the 1890’s.

Jeff Lay, owner of Crains Run Ranch and Co-Founder of the American Buckeye Club, met with Mrs. Smith in mid April of this year. They discussed the farms history, the Buckeye breed and the Metcalf’s who originally lived on the farm site. The current owner of “Red Feather Farm”, as Nettie called the place in her day, was no stranger to poultry and had a small chicken coop and run already in place!  Mrs. Smith said she had heard of the Buckeye but had no clue she actually lived on the former Metcalf property.  Below is a picture of the old coop and “chicken tractor” built many years ago for the poultry Mrs. Smith raised to provide eggs and meat for the family.

 

Finally, approximately 16 Buckeye chicks found their way home.....back to Warren, Ohio and the site of the "Original" Nettie Metcalf RED FEATHER FARM! After nearly 105 years absence from the farm, the new Buckeye owner, Mary (below right) and her sister Wilma (below left), were very pleased with the young Buckeye flock. They simply couldn’t believe how friendly these little red beauties actually are and will give them a great home!

If you are a history buff or interested in supporting documentation, we have included maps from 1899 that provide actual proof of the Metcalf Farm and its original location.  The American Buckeye Club is pleased to share this information from the past with everyone in addition we are pleased to be making history o June 13, 2013 by bringing the Buckeye back to Warren Twp in Trumbull County Ohio! An old map created in 1899 shows the location of the Metcalf farm and where the actual home site was located on the property. This link shows Trumbull County and its Townships in 1899;
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohtrumbu/maps/1899map/1899outline.jpg

1899 Map of Trumbull County

This link is a map of Warren Twp (photo below);

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohtrumbu/maps/1899map/1899map0016.jpg

 

 

This link is a map of Lordstown Twp (photo below);

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohtrumbu/maps/1899map/1899map0017.jpg

 

You can see the two tracts labeled “F.C. & N. Metcalf” in the two pictures above, this reflects “Frank C. & Nettie Metcalf” were the owners of this property when the maps were made or revised in 1899.  In 2013, the area has changed considerably, a blacktop road (SR 45) now replaces the old dirt road between Warren & Lordstown and some slight roadway changes bisect the former Metcalf property a little differently.  However the "Google Map" image below shows some of the property boundary's remain unchanged today.

The American Buckeye Club would like to thank Mrs. Smith and the Trumbull County Historical Society for helping make this home coming complete!

Southern Ohio Poultry Association Spring 2013 Show

Lucasville, OH - The American Buckeye Clubs 2^nd Annual show at Lucasville, Ohio came to a close today (Sunday, May 26^th) and we congratulate all the participants and the winners!  As far as Buckeyes are concerned their respective classes in both the Open and Junior divisions were well represented.  There were more Buckeye Large Fowl than any other bred in the American Class this spring! 

                                 Reserve American Buckeye Cock - Shumaker Farms


Once again Shumaker Farms does very well and manages to take a Buckeye Cock to Champion row winning Reserve American.  Like last year, a special trophy was presented called “Nettie’s Vision” and it was awarded to the Buckeye with the best, DARKEST and most even color as Nettie often described in her writings. This year the Nettie’s Vision trophy was awarded to Sydney Shumaker of Shumaker Farms. Again congratulations to ALL of those who put forth the effort and are dedicated to the Buckeye breed! Below are the ABC’s official results;
 

Jr Buckeye Large Fowl

Best of Breed – Sydney Shumaker (Cock)

Reserve – Evan Edingfield (Hen)

 

Jr Buckeye Bantam

Best of Breed & Reserve – Brandi Powell (Cockerel & Pullet)

 

Open Buckeye Large Fowl

Best of Breed & Reserve – Shumaker Farm (Cock & Hen)

 

Open Buckeye Bantam

Best of Breed & Reserve – Sharon Fields (Cockerel & Pullet)

 

Nettie’s Vision Trophy – Sydney Shumaker (Cock)

Greetings "Buckeye Nation".....the ABC wants to remind everyone of the upcoming "American Buckeye Club 2nd Annual Meet" to be held on Memorial Day weekend, May 25-26, 2013 in Lucasville, Ohio. Hosted by the Southern Ohio Poultry Association and held at the Scioto County Fairgrounds (see map link below) this is a great venue for Buckeye owners to come out and show their fowl, talk with other Buckeye owners and breeders plus enjoy some GREAT food!

For info visit http://www.sohiopa.com/ or contact;

Southern Ohio Poultry Assn 
312 O'Connor Rd
Lucasville, OH 45648

The American Buckeye Club will provide club trophies to the Open & Junior Champions and a "SPECIAL" trophy to honor "Nettie Metcalf's Vision" of this DARK RED fowl. All ABC trophies will be awarded regardless of club affiliation, in other words you don't have to be an ABC member in order to receive a trophy!

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=193+Fairground+Rd%2C+Lucasville%2C+OH&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&channel=rcs&hnear=193+Fairground+Rd%2C+Lucasville%2C+Scioto%2C+Ohio+45648&gl=us&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A

If you have any questions feel free to PM me or post them here! Looking forward to seeing many ABC members and a few new faces in Lucasville in May, too!

Columbus, Indiana – On May 4, 2013 at the APA sanctioned “Feathered Friends Poultry Show” history was made when a Buckeye cock was awarded “BEST of SHOW”!  Owner’s Sydney & Joe Shumaker of Shumaker Poultry Farm, near Wilmington, Ohio walked away with Champion American & Champion Large Fowl in addition to taking home the BIG trophy.  According to Jeff Lay, spokeman for the American Buckeye Club, “this is of historical significance for the Buckeye breed because there are no records indicating a Buckeye winning BEST of SHOW during modern times.” Mr. Lay added, “There have been many Buckeyes win Reserve Champion, Champion American and even Champion Large Fowl in the past decade but none have been awarded the TOP HONOR until the Shumaker Buckeye this year.  Historical records and documentation dating back to 1905 are unclear as well so it is possible the Shumaker Buckeye cock is the FIRST Buckeye to achieve this distinction.”

Joe Shumaker, father of Sydney Shumaker who has shown this Buckeye cock for 2 years now, reports this Buckeye cock has 6 APA sanctioned Champion American, 4 Reserve Champion Large Fowl, and 1 Best of Show Junior 4H victories to his credit.  Equally important, is the fact that most of these wins took place at shows with 1200-1800 fowl entered and the American classes consisting of more than 100 birds total.  “Being a Show Champion is something we felt this Buckeye cock was capable of becoming and with any luck he will have a few more years of competitive exhibition left in him”, said Mr. Shumaker.

 

Above is a picture of the Show Champion Buckeye cock and the photo is courtesy of Jennifer Wulff of the Poultry Press.  To learn more about Shumaker Farms & their Buckeyes visit this website link;

http://www.shumakerfarmpoultry.com/

If you would like to see this beautiful buckeye cock in person, consider attending the “Southern Ohio Poultry Association Show”, May 25-26, 2013 in Lucasville, Ohio.  The Shumaker’s will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about Buckeyes plus the American Buckeye Club will be hosting their 2^nd Annual Club meet at this show.  Trophies will be issued by the American Buckeye Club and all are welcome to stop by and visit the ABC crew!

Buckeyes win BIG @ the West Central Ohio Poultry Club Show March 9-10, 2013

The American Buckeye Club would like to congratulate Shumaker Farm’s owner Joe Shumaker and his daughter Sydney for their BIG WIN last weekend in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  Their Buckeye Cock took BEST of Breed and their Buckeye pullet was Reserve of Breed!  In addition, the Cock won CHAMPION AMERICAN and that Buckeye beat out approximately 60 other American Class Large Fowl to end up on Champion row.  The American Class was the biggest class in the Open large fowl group and this adds to the Shumaker Buckeye’s overall victory because there was some very strong competition in West Central Ohio!  Below are some pictures of the winning Buckeyes and the trophies Shumaker Farm’s brought home.

 

Champion American / Best of Breed - Shumaker Farms

                                                 Reserve Breed - Shumaker Farms

The BUCKEYE hits Europe!!!

Several weeks ago the American Buckeye Club began talking with some nice poultry folks in Europe. This in turn led us to a writer in the Netherlands named Elly Vogelaar of “Aviculture Europe”, a Digital magazine about poultry!  After exchanging information about the Buckeye breed and some photos the folks at Aviculture Europe did an excellent spread simply called “The Buckeye”.  Special thanks goes out to Joe Shumaker of Shumaker Farm Poultry, too!
( http://www.shumakerfarmpoultry.com ) Joe provided a number of photos and also contributed to the article which has already gotten the attention of many European poultry enthusiasts.  The ABC has already signed up new members from the UK and Ireland with interest in the Buckeye spreading across the pond we hope to help establish more flocks in Europe very soon.

Here is a link to the “Aviculture Europe” website and a link to the PDF version of the article;

http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/indexUK.html

http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/nummers/13E01A10.pdf

February UPDATES and the Breeders Directory

Greetings to everyone from SW Ohio!  We are starting to warm up a little, the snow here is gone (for now) and even the small ponds and lakes have thawed!  Each year we make an effort to UPDATE our "Buckeye Breeder Directory" page and provide some NEWS to our American Buckeye Club members about new happenings.

Well the BIG news for 2013 has been the addition of a couple NEW websites and or Facebook pages;

Shumaker Farm's Poultry, Ohio - www.shumakerfarmpoultry.com

Southwestern Ohio Backyard Poultry - http://www.facebook.com/pages/SOUTHWESTERN-OHIO-BACKYARDPOULTRY/112502925429144

Eastern Ohio Poultry Association - http://www.facebook.com/EasternOhioPoultryAssociation?fref=ts

Please visit ALL of these sites as they are supporters of The American Buckeye Club and provide unique services to ABC members as well.  If you know of other regional poultry clubs please contact the ABC and we will be happy to provide them with a link here at our website/blog!

Finally, we are currently updating the ABC "Buckeye Breeder Directory" and asking ALL Buckeye breeders who offer hatching eggs, chicks or adult birds to consider adding their contact information to the page.  As ALWAYS being part of the ABC "Buckeye Breeder Directory" is FREE and it doesn't matter if you are a member of another breed club or not we accept anyone with a solid reputation for breeding Buckeyes or new breeders who are trying to get established!  There are several ways to get your contact information listed but the fastest and easiest is to join the Buckeye Facebook group and ask to be added!  Here is a link to help you get started;

http://www.facebook.com/groups/buckeyechickens/

We generally add and/or UPDATE the "Buckeye Breeder Directory" on a monthly basis so if you are NOT up and running with your NPIP or website don't worry we can add that info at any time.  Our goal is to help ALL folks interested in buying and selling Buckeyes have a reliable resource and thru this promote the Buckeye breed.  Enjoy what's left of February, spring is just around the corner!!!