17th Annual Rohde Ranch Insulator Roundup & Deep Pit BBQ Banquet

Hello fellow insulator enthusiasts and welcome collectors of all ages and disciplines. This is a new chapter in the seventeen year history of a fantastic back yard insulator collecting hobby swap meet and deep pit BBQ called the Rohde Insulator Roundup. The event, co-hosted by Don Rohde and his son Bill, was held on Saturday, April 20th, 2013 at the Rohde Ranch in the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, California, USA.

Saturday morning was as cool and clear as any perfect California spring
morning should be. The mid-April weather was perfect and the Rohde’s tree shaded backyard was a familiar, comfortable, festive venue for the hundred plus hobbyists and visitors who enjoyed the fellowship, the collecting opportunities and, of course, the fantastic BBQ at this year's event. A feeling of sadness and loss was deeply shared by family and friends as we mourned the recent passing of our hostess and friend of many years Camille Rohde. I am neither qualified nor equipped to
comment further as there are so many who knew her much more closely than I. These words by Kat Mcclanahan captured, as well as any, the feelings of so many at the day's event:

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I would like to pay tribute to a wonderful woman in my life who passed away this week. Her name is Camille Rohde. I’ve only known her for the past 6 years, but in that time she has given me a life time of motherly love that was missing in my life. She was a very loving and generous woman. She always made me feel like I was a special person for every little thing that I did. She constantly praised me for the smallest of things. In her life time she worked hard on her family farm working in the fields along with her husband and son. She also held different jobs to supplement the family farm. She was a very talented artist, her specialty was painting barns, so she was known as “Barney”.

She passed away peacefully in her sleep last Monday [March 25th] after a battle with cancer.
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Matt Grayson who is the Eastern Region VP for the NIA was visiting from Queens, New York. Matt’s a ‘Mud Collector’ which means that his hobby interests are in porcelain and pottery insulators rather than glass or other materials. This show is traditionally exciting for mud collectors because the Rohde Ranch hosts one of the most important (not to mention incredible) North American porcelain insulator collections known to exist in the world. Begun by Mike Guthrie decades ago, Bill acquired the collection and has continued to expand and develop the awe inspiring assortment of electrical hardware, signage, and related material such that it now occupies about a thousand square feet of vertically displayed awesomeness stacked nearly 20 feet high!

Matt & I arrived during breakfast and the morning crowd was finishing their first cup of coffee. Friday is setup day and a number of long time Rohde family friends including Lou ‘Pin-Man’ Hall, Bill Heitkotter, Bob McLaughlin, Dave LeForge, Dwayne Anthony, and many others arrive a day or two early to assist with the extensive setup process that helps make this such a wonderful event. This year's setup included a ceremonial pole-standing in the rose bed fronting the ranch house for which more than a few willing post-hole diggers were gathered. As we arrived we had to appreciate the wonderful street machines parked out by ‘The Shop’ which shone brightly in the morning sun. The hot rods were displayed by Rick Morgan, Mike Doyle, and Don & Bill Rohde.

This event seems to get better and better as time goes on due to the friendship and hard work of many folks. Friendships shared at this event go back to the ‘60s and ‘70s. Family, friends and hobbyists from all over make this great show possible and they are a very important part of the behind the scenes support staff that works hard for days to make this event a continuing success. As with many families, when a member is unable to attend a traditional event the others offer their prayers and share their feelings of concern for those missed.

Last year we noted the absence of our favorite Union Pacific Railroad specialty collectors Norma and John Giudici. Longer than many of us have been active in our various hobbies Norma and John have been attending shows across the west. They are both very entertaining in conversation and they’ll take time to share some of the best stories you’ll ever hear told at any show. At one point they had one of the greatest collections of UP hardware and go-withs ever assembled in a private setting. Last year, we signed an insulator and wrote a card which we sent their way and the good Lord brought Norma & John up to
the show this year to share in the celebration and memorial for Camille. It sure was good to see them again!

No Rohde Roundup report would complete without sharing a look at the unparalleled deep pit BBQ banquet featured at this event. This year's 'Long Distance' visitor was England's James Bancroft who rang the chow bell calling over 100 people to take their turn in the fast moving serving line where they were treated to shredded, deep pit BBQed, sirloin tip steak (YUM!!) extraordinary ranch beans, fresh toasted garlic bread, tossed salad, fresh shelled shrimp, nuts, chips and dips (served in porcelain and glass insulators!) deserts, ice-cream sandwiches, milk (white, chocolate, and strawberry), water, soda, OJ, and much more.

No one goes hungry at the Roundup! During the meal, Don and the crew literally walk from table to table offering hot seconds and making sure that everyone has exactly what they need to make their lunch extra special. Our hats are off to Don, Bill and their many helpers for another fantastic show!

With seventeen years of the Rohde Roundup in the books we turn our attention to the next shows that are right around the corner. Watch http://GSIC.INFO for Cayucos show dates and the possible announcement of a new Placerville show.

Remember that the Spokanistan show in Washington is in late May. Tommy Bolack will be hosting his annual swap meet in Farmington, New Mexico this summer and your 2013 National will be just north of Nashville, Tennessee. Jim Sinasek hosts the Bend, Oregon show in July and The Merzoian’s vineyard swap meet is in August at Hummingbird Hollow in Porterville, CA. Big Sky at Helena, MT is also in August. The D&D swap meet at Grand Terrace, CA is in early October and Springfield, Ohio is on the same weekend as the Tulare show in early November. Shoot! Before you know it we’ll be planning to go to Auburn again in December. Lord, grant me the wisdom! ….. An insulator junkie has to take life 'one show at a time,' right?

All you thread-heads, Listen Up: Getcher glass and mud traders into a good, sturdy box. Getcher swap lists and price guides updated. Flip open yer Crown Jewels to Coming Events and click in the Show Finder for details on the next swap meet or tailgater in your area. Dig that dusty wad of cash out-o-the Fred Locke pinhole and get all yer friends together for an insulator road trip because......

IT'S SHOWTIME!