Greetings Fellow Border Batchers ,
According to Double T our newsletter editor , it ’ s time once again for a column from your President . And I enjoy nothing better than adding the “ Spring “ heading to the top of this column . This has to so far go down as one of the strangest Winters we ’ ve ever had here in the frozen tundra . As I ’ m typing this column right now , the temps outside are right around 70 degrees and that ’ s above zero for a change . With this nice warm weather thoughts of this year ’ s upcoming beer shows are dancing in my head , and we have some great ones coming up for ya this year . We ’ ve already had a couple that yours truly has attended . The Freeze Your Can show that the North Star chapter has yearly was the first so far this year being held on Super Bowl Sunday . The Big Bird and I headed up to that one on a much warmer day than last year when it was -10 below zero . Because of the nice weather the turnout was pretty good considering it was an outdoor show in the middle of February . Great to see some people that I hadn ’ t seen in several months . We both managed to score some items and had a great snack at the Buffalo Tap in Shakopee before heading home to watch the football game . Last weekend was the much-anticipated Hamm ’ s Beer show in Medina . This year I didn ’ t have to work any hockey games since they were out of town and another member graciously gave up his hotel rooms to me at the Medina Inn which is right next to the Medina Ballroom where the show was being held on Sunday . My buddy Barry Travis was going to be out of town until Sunday , so I loaded the Bear van with a bunch of his items , signs and parts to be delivered and way too many clothes as my wife packed for me . I headed up Thursday morning , pulled in the hotel about 10 : 00 AM and was literally met at the door by collectors who had already arrived . Of course , everyone wanted to help me unload so to see what goodies I brought along . Got everything into my room and managed to get the door shut to unpack and get things priced and organized all the while of hearing people outside my door and knocking to get in . Unbelievable . Once the door opened it was a feeding frenzy and I literally did not leave the hotel once until Sunday morning . Great room to room trading all three days and found some incredible stuff , had a lot of laughs and reconnected with both old and new friends . Saturday night several members put on a BBQ supper for all attendees which was incredible . Sunday morning came way too early but headed over to the Ballroom to help set up tables for the show . My friend from Seattle Taylor Miller flew in early and met me at the show . This was her first major show and to say she was overwhelmed was an understatement . The walk-in count was close to 1300 people with close to two hundred tables of stuff . Barry did arrive with reinforcements as I had sold just about everything prior at the room to room . I know it ’ s advertised as a Hamm ’ s show but if you ’ re a beer collector you owe it to yourself to attend this one . What show . The group headed out about 2:00 for lunch at the Lucky 7 in Plymouth and then headed for home . Luckily Big Bird had his truck as I had that full of the overflow from the Bear van . Of course , everyone just had to stop into the Buzz Stop for a recap and pizza and beer .
Upcoming shows are the North Star chapters Spring Fest March 9th in Bloomington at the Everett McClay VFW which is always a great show . Then shows for our chapter in April , we have Spring Ding in New Ulm the last weekend in April at Schell ’ s Brewery . Again , we will be able to utilize the downstairs former tap room in case of bad weather . Maybe this year since the weather has been so nice , we can spread out to the great outdoors with tables and collectors . I signed up a new food truck for this show and also Bago Bash . Schmoe ’ s BBQ will be serving us delicious BBQ this year so looking forward to that . Then of course we are fortunate to have two major national shows in the area-ABA in Omaha in June and NABA in St . Louis in August which are both shaping up to be very well attended . Then we have the 5th annual Bago Bash at the world-famous Bird ’ s Nest in beautiful rural Winnebago . The Bird and I have some special treats for attendees this year celebrating our 5th year anniversary . The second weekend in September is the date for the social event of the year . Mark your calendar for that one . You won ’ t be disappointed . Details coming up later . Until then , keep your stick on the ice and if you ’ re happening to be traveling through my fair city stop into the Hamm It Up shop on Main Street and I ’ ll buy you a beer next door at the Buzz Stop .
Steve
04