Purebred Pigeon Sept/October 2025

GIANT HOMER – Page 16 – Purebred PIGEON Breed of the Issue - AMERICAN GIANT HOMER My Pigeon Experience AmericanGiant Homers 35+Years andCounting By Clifton Padgett I have been a member of the Giant Homer Association since June of 1990 when I joined under our new start plan at the time named after Hap Beattie. I’ve had the privilege of knowing people from all over the country by getting into this breed. I attended my first Giant Homer Futurity in December of 1991 with my daughter Andrea who had just turned 11. Roger Kleier (Trumbull Nebraska) and I had children about the same age, and we brought the crew with us for many years. We are both the same age yet would not have met unless we were both in the Giant Homer pigeon hobby. I can say we have been close friends ever since. Our Giant Homer Futurity show is still the first weekend in December in Oklahoma. For over 40 years it was in El Reno (Canadian county), but we moved it in 2024 to Norman, Oklahoma for our 50 th Futurity show and sale due to losing the old venue site. We have had up to 1,156 young birds at one show in the past and many years entries of 600-800. Typically, we still have between 250-300 birds, year end and year out. We are adding a Yearling Bird Derby to the show this year and bringing in other breeds to fill the facility. Over the years I was fortunate enough to meet some outstanding breeders that showed me the way to go and were willing to share top quality birds. Our Futurity sale allows top quality birds to change hands giving us a parity with many different individuals having a chance to win the shows that are held. The top 5 birds in each of our 18 color classes goes up for sale. The owner can buy it back for the commission or let it go at a market Price and this distribution of birds has created the parity I speak of. When attending my first show in 1991 I met two mas- ter breeders Ray Cottier (Gurley, Nebraska) and George Lechner (Palatine, Illinois). They took time and walked around the show room pointing out quality birds to bid on and the two men gave Andrea her first pair of birds. The following year I met Darvin Jenner (Camp Verde, Arizo- na) and Stu Austin (Pheonix Arizona) and we have been close friends ever since. Darvin and I talk weekly to this day, and he has been one of the most consistent breeders, raising the right type of Giant Homers. Darvin Jenner is a master breeder in Giant Homers and in Show Kings. I be- lieve he is the only person that has mastered breeder status in both of those breeds. His long time pigeon buddy, Stu Austin passed away in 2024. Darvin, at age 93, won the NPA National Giant Homer Show in 2024. Due to health issues he fi- nally gave up his Giant Homers and I picked up some excellent Ash reds from his house this spring. The original Futurity auction crew I met was “Dandy “Randy Spahr from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, John Jones (Colby, Kansas), Bob English (Mustang, Oklahoma) Jim Orton (Oologah, Oklahoma) and leading the sale was Mr. Jack An- derson from Broken Arrow Oklaho- ma. Mike Jones joined that auction group around the year 2000 taking Jim Orton or Bob English’s spot. After I was in the club around 10 years Jack Anderson – the great- est promoter of the breed – asked me to take his place upfront han- dling the birds that went up for sale. I’ve been on the auction team since that point in time so probably around 24 years going into this year’s sale. When John Jones – our top notch auctioneer for so many years – stepped down, I took on that role as well. I am not the typical auctioneer type as I go slower but it’s working so far. I have been immersed as an officer or some position in the club 22 of the 35 years I’ve been a member due to Jack Anderson asking me to be more involved in the promo- tion of our breed. I can say these men and this association helped me value competition in a friendly atmosphere. I Darvin Jenner our 93 year old AGHA member This photo was taken at my visit to Camp Verde Arizona. Due to problems with his ankles he has had to give up his Giant Homers. I picked them up this spring. He is the only man I know that is a master breeder in Giant Homers and Show Kings. At one time he raised Budgies and became a master breeder in that group as well. – Clifton