03/19/2026
Why Breeding to Standard & Club Membership Matters Beyond Showing.
One of the biggest misconceptions in our community is that you have to show birds to make an impact. The truth is, some of the most dedicated and influential breeders are working quietly behind the scenes - building, refining, and preserving this breed every single day.
We reached out to two long time Ayam Cemani breeders and ACBA members, Connie Kessler and AmyJo Labbe, to share their perspective on why breeding to the standard and being part of the club matters, regardless of how often you step into the show hall.
Connie Kessler, who has been working with Ayam Cemani since 2014, shared just how important community and purpose are in this breed:
“Being a member of the ACBA is important for so many reasons, but the most is to be a part of a group preserving this breed. Without great breeders working together, we have nothing, and these birds are far too important.”
She emphasizes that success doesn’t happen in isolation, and that support within the club has been a constant throughout her journey:
“The club members have always supported me in my highs and lows. I can message or call anyone when I need to, and that has stayed strong since the day I joined.”
Connie also highlights the importance of starting with the right foundation and staying focused on long term goals:
“Start with sound stock - mulberry free with decent fibro. It will save you from chasing circles. It doesn’t have to be black tongue birds, if the genetics are there, it will follow.”
AmyJo Labbe, also a breeder since around 2014, brings a perspective shaped by years of hands on experience and time within the club:
“Supporting your breed club matters. It’s where breeders build camaraderie, share genetics, compare notes, and discuss why a breeding doesn’t go quite the way we planned - without fear of judgment.”
She explains that without a shared direction, progress becomes difficult:
“With a developing breed especially, it’s important that people are rowing in roughly the same direction. Otherwise, we’re all just breeding our own versions of the bird and wondering why nothing lines up.”
For AmyJo, breeding to the standard is what keeps the breed grounded and moving forward:
“Having a standard is essential. Without it, breeding is basically a road trip with no map.”
And perhaps most importantly, she reminds us that no single breeder can do this alone:
“Community is everything. No single breeder is going to perfect a breed on their own. Progress happens when people share knowledge, exchange birds responsibly, and compare results.”
Both breeders, despite not always being active in the show scene, demonstrate that meaningful contributions to the Ayam Cemani breed happen far beyond the show cage.
Whether you show or not, breeding to the standard and being an active part of the club helps ensure we are all working toward the same goal: a stronger, more consistent, and well preserved Ayam Cemani for the future.
This breed doesn’t move forward by chance - it moves forward because of committed breeders who choose to work together.
