James Pfarr

              Growing up in a farming family, was both a way of life and an education that shaped much of the world James lives in today. From the daily chores of rural living, the ability to roam the woods, hunting/fishing, FFA, many of the avenues stemming from country life and his generation. One such being aviculture, with several in his circle cultivating, nurturing, encouraging this natural gravitation he had for all things winged.

James Grandfather, Richard Pfarr was the beacon that he set his compass on. Seeing his grandfather beyond what the title of inheritance issued, Richard was his idol. Dick was a meticulous man, never forgoing detail (something that he reverberated endlessly with James), this resonated in Richards passion(s), Electric cars, Poultry breeding (he was an APA judge and a geneticist), Gamecock breeder, author and a man that loved his family.

            One saying he would religiously harp to his young grandson – “The difference between good and excellent is the level of detail”. This became a mantra for the always inquisitive young Pfarr, as this idea would be a stamp for his endeavors in life.

Jo Ann Watson, a shining star in the museum worlds departments of vertebrate zoology and up until her retirement was the lead

taxidermist for the San Bernardino County Museum. In addition, having first-hand experience as an aviculturist managing her father’s breeding farm of Canaries, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Rosellas and Grasskeets, and being James Godmother, she treated him with regular visits to the museum, constantly promoting his interest in avian and the ability for rearing them. It was these outings, Jo Ann’s understanding, attention to detail (a given when you are breathing things back to life), that instilled into her young protégé the passion for museums, while furthering the mantra that was becoming a habit of the young Pfarr.

             Warren A. Myers, was a legend in the world of aviculture with notation of excellence in the world of Columbidae. He was part of an elite pack of men, all whom were friends, with comradery being a staple in their success, sharing “The What works and Shortcoming’s”, never keeping these held to the vest, but shared each experienced (Jean Delacour, Carl Naether, Lynn Hall, Warren Myer). These men cared, they were passionate and found a refreshing peace in nurturing avian. They changed the face in many ways for much of how we understand, breed, propagate this taxon. Warren was a veteran of Pearl Harbor with a deep embedment of commitment, one of the many qualities shared by Warren and Richard Pfarr. They were good friends, Warren encouraged Richard to bring James to his farm, both knowing young Pfarr’s want list was growing well beyond the species kept at the farm of the patriarch Richard. Warren was a soft-spoken man who would spontaneously make the kid who was always on the move, stop and explain to him what he could see going on in the aviaries of Warrens collection. Warren was a Great mentor to James, teaching him many of the Golden rules of aviculture, with a vase majority of those being principles that are as relevant now as then.  His cardinal sin to stress was procrastination, “It’s a killer” within aviculture, while showing young Pfarr that no medication can save what the value of observation can. The bottom of a feed bucket being a common occurrence shared by the Three. one of the greatest tools ever invented.!

              Charles Sivelle, was an aviculturist icon, specifically within the Family of Galliformes. “Charlie” had imported by species account, more Galliformes over any other private breeder within its ranks in the last 50 + years to the United States. His skill, his success and passion made him a celebrity in the Pheasant world and rightfully so. He was the President of the “Game Bird Federation” for many years, perpetuating the rarest collection in the states, all while running a business empire. His collaborations and successes with fellow aviculturist run the gauntlet from Richard Olson, Mickey Olson, Estudio Lopez, Vern Denton, Mike and Mary Dam, Jean Delacour, just a few of the Platinum figures in his circle. It was out of being mesmerized by this incredible figure and what he had done with the “Pheasants of the World,” young Pfarr a 16-year-old kid reached out, penning a letter to this Hero. Charlie, as was his etiquette, always classy, always wanting others to feel important, started reciprocating these exchanges. This Millionaire of his time, regularly let a young farm kid bend his ear, (from Charlie’s position had to be torturous to say the least) but being who he was he truly encouraged young James. In June of 1987 James received a letter (That hangs in his office to this very day) and with it his very first magazine subscription to The American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society paid for by C. Sivelle.  

               James has never strayed from his devotion to aviculture and has pursued it fervently for over 40 years. He’s an Engineer by trade, author, a museum researcher, imported many Galliformes, with some being the first of their taxa to reach America ( Phasianus colchicus septentrionalis, P.c. chrysomelas, Lophura nythemera jonesi ), while others not being represented or last known to the 60s (P.c. karpowi, P.c.zarudnyi, P.c. zerafschanicus, L.n. berliozi)  with some becoming First Breeding’s in the United States.                                                                              

            Having a deep passion for Core representation, taxon purity, evolutionary biology, genetics, and conservation, provided a favorable backdrop to the Prelude of – “ARICC”

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Stan Ivanjesku

                As a young boy growing up in the path of his grandfather and father, sharing in their admiration for pigeons and the exploits associated with them, this was a fondness that would stand the test of time.

                As time marched on, as is the case with growing up, the rigors of life take there hold, intervening, demanding for each of us to make and place our stamp on the world. Stan eagerly embraced this requirement but with a requisite that it had to be done with the love of his life, Maya.

                 Maya is every bit part of this duo’s success. She has a Masters in chemistry, holding several patent’s, very literally developing the long-term shelf life for Probiotics used in food consumed products, along with developing several for the poultry industry. Being a savvy, successful business women, she extrapolated on this revolutionary process with developing multiple beauty regiment product carried in various upscale chain stores.

                This couples mutual ability for seeing the potential in the business worlds overlooked avenues, provided the impetus for Stan’s path to becoming a very successful proprietor, business developer in New York.

                 While it was common routine to have the morning work agenda, brokered and showing fruition in short order, Stan longed to return to a his quite passion, away from the rigid “Ant colony” life of NY’s big city. In 2004 Stan and Maya moved to Florida, purchasing “Fire back Ranch”, where he took full advantage of developing a Phone book of associates and friends within the world of Aviculture. This led Stan, not by choice, but sheer happenstance, becoming a “Go-To” for many in the community seeking to locate, procure species for their aviaries. While Stan Used this to make a firm name for himself, not intentionally, it provided him access and association with many new avicultural representatives. Stan had a vision, one that he was not sure would ever come to fruition, so he dreamed and dream big he did. This vision, a park of the sorts, being a “maybe someday”, was an endless and tantalizing tease. This thought was a constant poking, a manifesting that became more pronounced in its need with his realization that “Aviculture” seemed to be diminishing significantly in American culture. Stan was determined to make this idea come to fruition.  

                   Little did Stan know, this would all come to play a large part in an unanticipated alliance, endeavor, culminating into one of the largest, taxon diverse, private avian breeding centers in existence, - “ ARICC” !