Spring Fest In Photos

As you all know, Spring Fest was held yesterday in the Des Monies State Fair Grounds, and it was a hell of a show! The turn out was fantastic!
    
I was very pleased to get some time to speak with Sanjay Joshi and Mark Vera, we had a number of thing's to share, and I was most interested in knowing, "Sanjay, do your student's in engineering know that you're a world famous reef aquarist?" Sanjay said that a few of them were privy to that notion, but few actually know and he never mentions it in his lectures.
I was surprised to see how many lady reefers attend the event this time, we were pleased to have ya, and I'm glad to see so many couples and families enjoying the hobby together!
The member booths were pretty remarkable this year, everybody had a lot of stuff to offer;
Potroast table, Jim had a boatload of frags that he brought, I think he needs to get a bigger show tank!

FishBrain's table. Bill brought nothing but his best!

JB's Table, I gotta give JB the cake for having some of the best sized+most consistent sized frags offered.

Sone (slovan) had this super nice custom by Marc Levenson, (and a nice selection of corals too):

Check out all the stuff there was to raffle!!!! I won 3 T-shirts!!! lol and I gave a couple away, I hope you guys enjoy them, I really didn't figure on winning 3 drawings for the same thing, I just really wanted one of those damn T shirts! lol
    
As usual, all the vendors had remarkable offerings and set ups!
   



Didn't get a good shot of the YZ Reef, but they're a great sponsor of our's and he had a bunch of excellent frags to offer. Here's a closer look at some of their stuff:

Now for some eye candy:
    
    
I'd like to make an special mention that Dirk brought a huge truckload of dry goods, he helped me fill out my Coral Magazine collection, and he's got great taste in music (Dream Theater rules!). Thanks a bunch Dirk! I can't imagine how you manage to load all that stuff and haul it all down here for us at each meet! Thanks again!
Special thanks again to Sanjay Joshi and Mark Vera, you guys were a joy to talk with!
And an extra special thanks to everybody who donated things for raffle, to Craig for all his organizing, and the Des Monies area trustees for putting things together, holding them together, and putting on a great show!
THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY!!!!!
-Andy Long

 

I'll do anything for a T shirt! Including taking mine off lol!
Thanks a bunch you guys, I hope you enjoy my reports when they come in. I sure had a good time yesterday! I wasn't totally on top of my photo game yesterday though, I had things set to manual for taking specimen pictures, I forgot to change my exposure settings or just set it to auto for some of the shots I took, so I had to toss a bunch out.
As a board member I felt a little guilty, like I should be doing something more to help out, but I was having too much fun, at least I was taking pictures I guess! I hope everybody will hollar at me if they feel like I need to be doing something throughout the day to contribute to these events, I'm still getting used to these things, and I haven't had much experience in organizing. Once class is over this semester I'll be all in for MACNA guys. Right now I gotta go review a 12 page study on hybrid histocompatibility antigens......ughhhh
cya,
ANdy

 

Thanks JB! Yeah I don't mind at all, please do....that way I don't have to and maybe I'll get through this paper tonight! lol
Cya guys,
ANdy