What did you think of NADeFA

[Logan's Legacy Ranch]

I went to NADeFA to attend the new deer farmer seminar. I had a great time, learned alot, and meet alot of neat people. It was a little hard on my liver.
The convention center was awesome almost a little too much for me I am not that fancy.
Jenni Cherek
Logan's Legacy Ranch

[Littlejohn]

had a great time! Quiet an experience for a Alabama boy! Accomadations were excellent, food yummy, people we met, super.

[Rick]

One of the best industry events I have attended to date..........Great meeting you Bart....

[Greg M]

We had a great time, loved it.

[Whitetail Sanctuary]

We had a "GREAT" time at the event! Those who hung around and went on the "BOAT RIDE" had a trip filled with good music and fine food! Good to see everyone and meeting a lot of you for the first time. My biggest complaint was.............Way to much SILVER WEAR!:rolleyes: for this ol' farm boy! Here in Mo. we just need one knife,one fork,one spoon and one plate! I wonder how much all the extra will bring for scrap at the junk yard!!!:rolleyes::D

[Four Seasons Whitetails]

I guess i am the only dipstick that got turned around 3 times in that maze!!!!Great place to go to but mabey overkill for that event.Either way spent time with some great people,met some new friends and thanks to the applecreek gang we have our website in the works..Wayne you got any good deer i can put on that site!!!

[Whitetail Sanctuary]

Mike,I'll see what I can do for ya!

[Four Seasons Whitetails]

Well i heard yur name and the score of yur buckover the LOUD SPEAKER so i just knew you must have a little something that would fit on there...Had a great time with you guys!!!!!

[WICKED WHITETAILS]

The convention was great I was totally over whelmed with every thing there. I learned alot and I am going to start working on a few ideas that I came up with while down there. Once again the seminar put on by Dr. Donely was just great. That man knows deer. That was the second time I was at the hotel and I have to say I still got lost so dont feel bad guys. Also wayne your were right way too much silverware. For all of those who didnt stay for the general jackson you missed out big time.

[Wild Rivers Whitetails]

We weren't at NADEFA but have been at the hotel before - several times - and I was still getting lost. It is very upscale and very nice. One thing that bugs me about higher end hotels is when you are unloading your luggage and want to use one of those luggage carts - then they insist that an attendant has to push it to your room - and of course they want a tip. Hey - I just want to push it myself thank you. They absolutely refuse to let you take one on your own! Geez!

So I guess I would ask folks that attended this year and last - which they preferred? The older hotel with everything closer or the grand hotel?????

[Four Seasons Whitetails]

Jane i myself am with you.I am by far not the upper class kinda guy.I mean it was huge and all and very,very nice with the water falls and boat ect,ect but i thought it was kinda overkill for the job that was at hand.We went to ohio last year and i thought that was just great.Close to the rooms,you could find the seminars very easy and the service and food was good.I guess the question to shawn and the board would be did they spend more then they had to.They are kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place to try and make the stay nice to keep folks happy and to raise funds to keep the fight going for deer farming.Im sure its not easy.I would say the hotel was ok and all but besides being with some old friends and meeting some new ones the paddle boat trip was the best for us.Had a really great time!!!

[Wild Rivers Whitetails]

I think NADEFA got a really good deal there - especially since the rooms were only $100. We've always paid more when we stayed there -even on group rates. You know the Opryland resort was flooded last year and closed for months while they renovated. We were there earlier this year and everything looked the same as it did a year ago - you couldn't tell there was any flooding. I think they lost a lot of revenue then - I'm sure they had to cancel a bunch of stuff - so they were probably offering some very good deals to get folks back.

Even though it is high end I didn't feel they were "stuffy" when we stayed there. I know NADEFA is always looking for good places to have the convention and it is hard to find places that can accomodate a group like that. They need to have parking for trailers etc. and easy access to the hall. I would guess they would welcome suggestions from anyone who is familiar with a good place - just let them know.

[redwood_river_whitetails]

I thought it was great! But, it was my first one so have no other to compare to. I'm not a high class girl by any means, but I sure enjoy the lifestyle once in awhile. All I have to say, the map was given for a reason at check in :) Randy and I were still getting lost and finding new things after several days! Food was excellent and after organizing the MDBA annual meeting and fundraiser 2 weekends ago....I appreciate all the hard work that goes into organizing such a large function! I am happy to have met alot of new people and see some of my friends from various other functions that I have attended. A+++ NADeFA.

[Pokeweed]

No complaints!...thought it was great! Well, one complaint, wish some of the events didn't overlap with the times. Meet some great people too! Seemed most that I meet had the same genetics and goals that I have. Good to see more going for the typical lines.

[Arrowhead Whitetails]

We loved the conference. Comparing the last two conferences: Columbus = cold, nasty weather. Nashville = great weather, awesome facilities, easy and shorter drive ( 9 hours instead of 14.5) and a MUCH BIGGER CROWD. Nashville gets my vote hands down. Great job to Shawn, Carolyn and the entire NADeFA staff.

[Traci Carnell]

Had a great time! Lots of good seminars & meetings! It was a huge hotel so I got lost every time I ventured from one place to another hahaha. We had our spring break the same week so it was nice to be able to extend the visit in a city full of places to visit.

[Shelly]

All I can say is "WOW" The highlight to me was the baseball fundraiser. Got to dig my bare feet in Grass. Got lost several times, but it was awesome! For those Tim Condict fans, here is a a important "Nator" video, Go to "Utube", look up "nader chasing" with Timmy Edwin. Tim Condict and friends are very informative.

[Tim Condict]

Thanks for the plug Shelly. I am sure my credibility will rise after they watch that. It was by far the best conference we have ever had. Thanks Carolyn, Shawn and of course the staff that helped pull this all together. -----Just for reference-----It was no more expensive than anywhere else we have been. The only difference is, we allow folks to bring their family for $50.00 each. Bring their familys they did. It actually costs us $300.00 per person for them. We have to figure how to make those ends meet a little better and make a few adjustments, but hey, isn't that what we want? I for one was so happy to see all the familys that were there. We are a family based organization and we will continue to try to figure the best way possible to make sure those kids are there and can carry the future of this industry on forever. -----Thanks to all the donors and bidders. We very much appreciate what you guys do. I am very proud to watch as we continue to climb up the ladder. I have had at least 100 members ask me to vote to have it there next year. If we do, and washed up Washburn pitches again, I am gonna knock that steeple off that church over there across the interstate.---For the people that watch the nader chasin video and think I may be the dumbest deer farmer in the world, please take into account J Boy is a deer farmer as well.
Tim

[redwood_river_whitetails]

Well said Tim.....about people bringing their families. The children are our future! And thanks for the hug :) Made my day!!!

[Four Seasons Whitetails]

Sounds good to me..Mabey i wont get turned around so many times next year..Mabey a little less silver ware will make some guys happy....lol....wayne

[deerfarmer2011]

I wish we could have made it to the new deer farmer section.Has anyone else caught this flu?? Been on my back for about 2 weeks now..Sucks. what is all this silverware talk anyhow.

[Logan's Legacy Ranch]

I think it would be neat to have a theme night, or a band and dance in the dinner area as long as it is paid for already hanging out in the bars cost a fortune.

[Whitetail Sanctuary]

Maybe I'll bring me one of those sporks that knife,fork,spoon combo ? Hey Nader Boy.............Whats up................I didn't get no hug! LOL .......GREAT to see everybody there. I know my family would be all for going back!

[Venado Creek Whitetails]

I definitely had a great time and met some really good people.

I want to say Thank you!! to Randy Rainer from Parsons Whitetails and Jimmy Neckar from The Preserve for all yalls help with the Venado Creek's booth.

Michael

[drfavero]

I probably should keep quite, but I can't. Yes, it is a beutiful hotel. $100 plus $15 resort fee plus $10-28 parking, and badly overpriced restruants.

I think that in the future we will have 2 choices, a NADEFA subsidized holiday, or registration fees that cover convnention costs. If the registration fees do increase enough to cover the cost of the convnetion, then I would suggest a less expensive hotel, with less expensive conference and trade show rooms.

Ray

[Tim Condict]

The cost per night including the resort fee and parking was the same we have been paying. As for the resturants, NADeFA had a Thursday, Friday and Saturday dinner (lunch for yankees), A Friday and Saturday Breakfast, a Thursday, Friday and Saturday supper (dinner for yankee's) so the costs of the resturants should have been a non-issue. By the way the food was better than normal. I had to be there early because of our board meeting and ate across the street at the cracker barrel.

The conference and show rooms were free.
The only thing we have to deal with is to figure ways to do a slight amount of math to make the cost of additional family members not hurt us. Good points to get out in the open Ray
Tim Condict

[drfavero]

Thanks for the input Tim.

Meals were wonderful (and it is evident that I am an expert on that). I also was in a early and had to fly out late, so the resturants were visited, as well as the bars. Room rates were very fair for the location, my point was that $100 did have a few extras.

I will be in attendance where-ever it is next year. I want to see as many people as possible as well.

But my fear is that we may be hit with another situation like North Dakota again, or even two in a year, where major dollars are needed. With a little slump in animal prices, it may be more difficult to get contributions from the various states, and more financial stress placed on NADEFA.

If nobody else will say it, We are farmers, most of us live rather frugally. We go to the convention to see people, learn at seminars and do business. I am not suggesting that the registration fees are too high. While the flash is nice, and may impress some of the new people, I would prefer to see longevity for the association (and eat donuts and balony sandwiches).

Ray

[Wild Rivers Whitetails]

I remember when NADEFA was struggling and did not even have enough money to pay the executive director. She used her own money and reimbursed herself after the convention and fund raisers - certainly don't want to have to go back there.

I trust that the president and executive director are keeping these things in mind when they schedule the conferences. If they can get a really great place for basically the same as an average place - I say go for it.

The convention has evolved over the years as everything does - hopefully things stay as stable as they've been.