Dayton Koi Club shares koi joy

Combined show and auction is June 11.

Contact this contributing writer at Erica.Harrah@woh.rr.com.


How to go

What: Dayton Koi Club Koi Show and Auction

When: June 11. Show begins at 10 a.m.; Bidder registration starts at 11 a.m., and auction begins at 2 p.m.

Where: Bern’s Garden Center, 3776 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek

Cost: Free

More info: Email Linda Kinney at lgkinney@att.net or visit the Associated Koi Clubs of America website at www.akca.org.

The Dayton Koi Club will be holding its first combined Koi Show and Auction on June 11, at Bern’s Garden Center, 3776 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek. The show will begin at 10 a.m. with bidder registration at 11 a.m., and the auction will begin at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Dayton Koi Club vice president Linda Kinney of Yellow Springs said that in the past they held the show and auction separately. The show will be in its third year, and the auction is in its 15th. Kinney said that both members of the Dayton and Louisville Koi Clubs will be showing their fish, which will be judged by a koi judge from Michigan. Members will also bring fish for the auction later in the day.

Kinney said she has been involved in the club since its inception 19 years ago and says that the goal of the club is mainly education. She said that her interest in koi stemmed from her love of gardening.

“I am an avid gardener. I had a water garden and learned fairly quickly that there is lot more to it (caring for koi) and that they are not just flowers swimming in the water,” said Kinney.

She said that koi are not necessarily easy fish to take care of and many people don’t realize they can grow to be up to 3 feet long.

Kinney said that those who might benefit from the club are people who are considering a water garden with koi or those that might want to raise them to show.

It was through joining the club that she met Scott Kendall of Beavercreek, who is the club’s current president and one of the founding members. Kinney said that Kendall helped her fill in the gaps between gardening and caring for her koi.

Kendall said that he has been interested in fish since he was 5 years old when he got his first tropical fish aquarium. Later in life he developed and interest in koi. He said people tend to get more attached to koi than other fish.

“No two koi are exactly alike. They are bigger and friendlier than most fish and will eat out of your hand. They recognize their owners and anticipate you coming to feed them. It’s like a dog. They’re always happy to see you,” said Kendall.

The Dayton Koi Club is the only club of its kind in the state of Ohio and has members are as far away as Columbus and Cincinnati.

The Dayton Koi Club meets the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. usually in a member’s home

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