Who are you? How old are you? Are you married/single/kids? What is your job title?

Wendell Spisak - age 62- married with 2 sons - retired Postmaster

How long you been raising rollers? Explain your experience.

49 years with a break for military service and a span of about 5 years when my birds were all killed while on loan.

Who was most instrumental in progressing you with your rollers?

My first good family was Pensom and Plona birds. I kept them for over 30 years.  My restart was with good spinners from Dave Henderson and Rick Mee.

        (bird photos coming)  

How many pairs do you currently have? How many kits you flying?

16 stock pairs, but some are used sparingly, depending upon what traits I need in the kitbirds. I fly a comp kit, a B team, and usually 5 young kits.

Do you compete in any kit competitions? (WC and all others)

Mostly World Cup only, depending upon how bad the hawk migration is in the fall.  

How would you describe your passion for your rollers and your outlook for the future?

I love a great spinner, no matter who owns it, but really like big simultaneous breaks with high quality and good depth. I have some of the best spinners I've raised in years flying right now. If the falcons and hawks leave me alone, things look good.

How do you get your roller information fix? (NBRC mag etc… or on the internet?)

E-mails from friends in the sport. Roller lists, the internet, and the NBRC bulletin.

What kind of rollers are you working with? (family or strains) tell us about your favorite roller(s) and their qualities?

My two main families are from Dave Henderson and Rick Mee. Both families can produce the birds I need, tight kitting, good style, H or ( ), high velocity, and good depth. I also have a pair or two from friends who want me to try their families.

Do you regularly associate with any roller fanciers or local clubs?

I belong to the Mid-Michigan Roller Club, but live too far North to join in their young bird/old bird fly's. I get visitors from Michigan and the nearby states, but do allot of socializing via e-mails.

How did you become a part of the HFRF? Do you enjoy our website/news letter?

I was invited to join as an associate by Dave when the club was formed. I enjoy reading about the club and its fly's and functions.

If you could give one bit of advice on what you would tell a newer fancier to get going in the right direction what would this advice be?

Don't pound two boards together for a loft or kitbox until you visit as many roller fanciers as possible. Take all the best ideas, including ways to minimize dust in the loft, and then plan your loft. Buy the absolute best rollers you can find, even if it means starting with only one pair. Better to spend your money on one proven pair of high quality stockers than 10 pair of just decent rollers. Too many fanciers are in a hurry to fill their lofts with as many pair as possible. 90% of these birds will not be found in the loft within 3 years, as few will move the breeding program forward.

My second preference would be to buy a squeaker kit bred off good stockers, and fly them out. Keep the very best for you stock loft when mature, and use the others as fosters to increase production from the good ones.