History of the Smith Family Loft
by Warren Smith, Owner/Breeder
It all began in 1965...I was on my summer vacation at my grandmother's house. There was a large shed in her back yard, and somehow over the kitchen table, I launched a plot to convert that garage into a pigeon loft. With the help of "Grand Ma", a humble beginning was made. But this marked a lifelong adventure and love, for this bird of peace.
I was eleven, and I would spend the rest of my summer vacation sitting inside this humble structure, marveling at the antics of the beautiful creatures we had acquired. In those days, I had a motley collection of "fancy" pigeons, some secured for .75 cents at a farmers market and whatever luck brought in from the nearby fields. Some of my fondest childhood memories are the times my "Grand Ma" and I would sit and watch our birds for hours. It was a pastime I have never out grown.
It wasn't long, before simply having pigeons at my grand mothers house was not going to work. I had the "Fever". Pretty soon I had my own loft at home and quickly graduated to racing homers. As luck would have it, there was a man right down the street who had a loft full of the most beautiful racing pigeons I had ever seen. His name was Earl Ressel, and he remained my mentor, guide and teacher in the fine art of racing pigeons till his death in 2003.
There was of course a considerably period of time, when the keeping of pigeons was not possible. But in 2002, I caught the fever again and got serious, I searched the world for a family of pigeons that would satisfy my eye for beauty, yet possess the strength, courage and intelligence to compete in any distance race, in any type of weather.
The family was Ludo Claessen and in particular, his "Vos" line, which he considered his best. The problem was, Ludo had sold the Crown Jewels from his world famous collection, in a 1995 auction. Many predicted the end of Ludo's racing career, as a lifetime of work was sold to the highest bidders. The god send here was one Mike Ganus, of Ganus Family Loft. He had the foresight to invest a bloody fortune to acquire the absolute creame of Ludo's Colony. It is from these birds that I acquired the best of their offspring in 2002. Direct from Late Rode 430, Vos 77, Silver Boy, De Juf, Olympia Queen, came the foundation breeders of Smith Family Loft.
There were other birds from this famous family which I acquired from the Ed Mineville of Siegel Pigeon Supply. He had purchased some direct offspring of Ludo's famous "Vos 54" directly from Ludo himself. This is how I obtained Red Barron II and the Mister Peanut.
The only other line I acquired, is commonly know as the "Super Champion" line. I acquired stock from Ganus Family Loft and Oostlander Loft. These birds are offspring from a true line of Olympic Champions. There are Gold Medals and Ace Pigeon awards throughout the family tree.
AN EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY OF PREMIERE RACING PIGEONS