Pigeon racers raise money for cancer victims

At left, racing pigeon enthusiast Brad Burger of Blue Springs, Mo., uses a jeweler's loupe to examine the muscle structure in the eye of a pigeon before the Twister Combine "Flight for the Fight" race and bird auction at the Vernon County fairgrounds, March 10. Burger said the pigeons' eye is their primary navigational tool and birds with certain structures make good breeding stock.

More than 100 pigeon racing fans gathered in Nevada on Saturday to talk pigeons, buy pigeons, sell pigeons, race pigeons and raise money for children stricken with cancer.

Pigeon fanciers from at least six states came to the Vernon County fairgrounds to participate in club auctions and a bird auction that raised $2,798.18 in funds for cancer patients. Each child chosen by the racers will receive $2,500.

The first recipient chosen for what will be an ongoing effort is McKenzie Peoples, 10, of Fort Scott, Kan., who is undergoing treatments for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a muscle tumor. Peoples and her parents will be presented with a check in the near future.

Organizer and Twister Combine racing club president Jerry Smith said he was very happy with the first-of-its-kind event. Club treasurer Rick McKay said, "this kind of event is groundbreaking in the pigeon racing world." McKay also said he "was extremely happy with the way it went; everybody was all smiles." They hope the idea will spread across the country.

Billy Gates of Springfield, Mo., didn't bring any birds to the event but came just for the fun and to be around other racers. Gates, 65, is a retired fireman and said he has been racing pigeons since he was 13. "It's a decent hobby," he said, "something interesting for a retired person."

People from as far away as Wisconsin attended the event and birds for the charity auction were sent to Smith from California, Florida and several states in between. One bird was sold for $210. The club auctions sold items like feed, cages, caps, a saddle rack and more.

Jonathan Hyder, 20, lives in Nevada and is studying wildlife management at Fort Scott Community College. Hyder said he went to the event because "it's something I'm interested in, so I wanted to come out and talk to some of the people who do this all the time."

A meeting was held in the morning and several members visited Kenny Davis' Nevada farm to take a look at his new loft. Davis has only been racing pigeons for a couple of years, and he has four or five pairs of breeders, though the loft could accommodate many more. Davis said "My goal is quality, not quantity."

Back at the fairgrounds, while examining the birds to be auctioned, Brad Burger of Blue Springs, Mo., was using a jeweler's loupe to examine the muscle structure of the birds' eyes. According to Burger, he was looking for "particular structures in the eye" because the eye is the primary navigational tool of the birds.

In the afternoon, about 100 birds were released for a timed flight back to their home lofts. The birds came out of the trailer in a whir of wings and flash of color. Some circled overhead, but a few of the birds immediately headed for home. Three red-tailed hawks also circled overhead, but all of the birds made it safely on their way. According to the American Racing Pigeon Union literature, thoroughbred racing pigeons are "able to fly up to 16 hours, at ground speeds often averaging in excess of 45 mph."

The auctions and drawings held later in the day were accompanied by a bake sale. There were grab bags and many other ways to buy or win a prize and all of the money went into the same bank account for the sick kids. "It's all about the kids," said Smith.

Future races also will feature banded birds that will be used for raising money for the children. Birds in these races will have a pink band on their leg and the band can be purchased for $10. The person who purchases the pink band on the winning bird or birds that place will have a check in their name made out to the cause, according to Smith.

Donations to the fund benefitting the children also may be made to the Twister Combine account at the St. Clair County State Bank, 680 N. 2nd St., P.O. Box 539, Osceola MO 64776.

Racing pigeon fanciers and organization officials examine the new pigeon loft on the Nevada farm of Kenny Davis during the meet and greet portion of the "Flight for the Fight" pigeon race, show and auction held at the Vernon County fairgrounds on March 10. Even though Davis only has "four or five pair," he wants his loft certified. Lofts can be certified if the owner is willing to do a little extra work and fill out the required forms.

To get involved in racing pigeons or for more information, contact Jerry Smith at (620) 743-3039.

The race begins.