Get a behind-the-scenes look at the USARK Silent Raffles happening at the Pittsburgh Epic Reptile Expo. Discover what USARK does for reptile enthusiasts, how the raffles work, and why every bid supports the future of our reptile community.
Chapter 1
Amanda
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Pittsburgh Reptile Show & Sale podcast! Iâm Amanda, and Iâm here with Rick. Today, weâre shining a spotlight on something thatâs honestly very close to my heartâand, I think, to a lot of folks in our community: USARK ! Letâs talk about USARK itself. Rick, you wanna kick us off?
Rick
Yeah, absolutely. So, USARK stands for the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. Theyâre basically the frontline defenders for anyone who keeps, breeds, or just loves reptiles. Their whole mission is to protect our rightsâwhether youâre a hobbyist with a single gecko or a breeder with a whole room full of snakes. Theyâre out there fighting legislation that could make it harder, or even impossible, for people to keep reptiles responsibly.
Amanda
Exactly. And I think a lot of people donât realize how quickly things can change. I remember the first time I heard about USARKâit was actually at an expo, over 15 years ago. Someone handed me a flyer about a proposed law that wouldâve banned certain species, and I just thought, âWait, this could actually affect all of us?â It was a wake-up call. USARK was the group organizing people, getting the word out, and actually showing up at hearings to speak for our community.
Rick
Yeah, and theyâve had some big wins lately. Like, just last year, they helped stop a bill that wouldâve restricted interstate transport of a bunch of common reptile species. That wouldâve been a nightmare for breeders, vendors, and even just folks who move for work or school. USARKâs advocacy really does make a difference, but it takes resourcesâand thatâs why the Pittsburgh Epic Reptile Show is hosting a silent auction, 50/50 raffles and a membership drive to all raise funds for USARK this year during their two day event on September 6th & 7th.
Amanda
Right, and I mean, as we talked about in our last episode, the Expo is all about bringing people together. But itâs also about protecting what we love. USARK is the reason we can keep doing this, year after year. So, supporting them isnât just a nice thing to doâitâs kind of essential if we want to keep our community thriving.
Chapter 2
Rick
So letâs get into the fun partâthe silent raffles themselves. If youâve never done one, hereâs how it works: at the Expo, youâll see USARK tables set up with all kinds of donated items. Each item has a bid sheet next to it, and you just write down your name and your bid. Itâs âsilentâ because thereâs no auctioneer yelling out numbersâjust you, quietly upping the ante if you really want that prize.
Amanda
And the prizes, oh my gosh, theyâre always amazing. Vendors and artists from all over donate stuffâeverything from rare reptiles, to custom-built enclosures, to original artwork. I remember last year, someone walked away with a one-of-a-kind terrarium that had people buzzing all weekend. And thereâs always a few surprises, too. You never know whatâs gonna show up on those tables. This year we have over 75 vendors who have signed up to donate something!
Rick
Yeah, and I gotta share thisâlast year, I won a beautiful lilly white crested gecko baby that was donated by American Reptile. It is a now a year old and the sweatest little guy, after I won, a bunch of other folks came over to check out the little gecko, and suddenly Iâm in this whole new circle of friends. Itâs not just about the stuffâitâs about connecting with people who get why youâre excited about a certain snake, lizard, or a piece of art.
Amanda
Totally. And the process is super simple. You can check the bid sheets throughout the day, see if someoneâs outbid you, and decide if you wanna go higher. At the end of the raffle period, the highest bidder wins. Itâs a little bit of friendly competition, but all for a good cause. And every dollar goes straight to USARKâs advocacy work.
Rick
And honestly, even if you donât win, youâre still supporting the community. Plus, itâs just fun to see what everyoneâs excited about. Thereâs always a crowd around the tables, especially when the deadlineâs getting close. Itâs one of those Expo moments you donât wanna miss.
Chapter 3
Amanda
What I love most is how the silent auction and raffles is it bring everyone togetherâvendors, breeders, families, first-timers. The donations come from all over, and itâs a real team effort to organize everything. Behind the scenes, weâre coordinating with vendors, setting up the tables, making sure the bid sheets are ready, and just keeping the energy up. Itâs a lot of work, but itâs so worth it when you see people getting excited and knowing itâs all for a good cause.
Rick
Yeah, and the vendors really step up. Some of them donate their best stuffâlike, not just leftovers, but things theyâre genuinely proud of. And the attendees, too, they get into it. Iâve seen people pool their money to go after a big-ticket item, or kids saving up their allowance just to make a bid. Itâs a real community vibe, and it shows how much people care about keeping this hobby alive.
Amanda
And the impact is real. Last year, for example, the funds we raised helped USARK step in when there was talk of new restrictions here in Pennsylvania. They provided legal support, helped organize local voices, and honestly, I think their involvement made the difference. Thatâs the kind of thing your raffle ticket or bid is supportingâitâs not just abstract, itâs right here in our own backyard.
Rick
Yeah, and I mean, we talk a lot about community on this podcast, but this is where it really shows. Everyone pitching in, having fun, and making a difference together. If youâre coming to the Expo, definitely check out the USARK tablesâeven if youâre just curious. You might walk away with something cool, but youâll definitely be helping out.
Amanda
Alright, I think thatâs a good place to wrap up for today. Thanks for hanging out with us and letting us share why the USARK is such a big deal. We hope to see you at the Pittsburgh Epic Reptile Expo September 6th & 7th at the Pittsburgh Mills Mallâcome say hi, check out the raffles, and be part of something that really matters for our reptile community. Rick, always a pleasure chatting with you.
About the podcast
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Rick
Same here, Amanda. And thanks to everyone listeningâcanât wait to see you at the show. Until next time, take care and keep herping!
Amanda
Bye everyone!