09/27/2026
Even with the weather not cooperating, I believe everyone had a great weekend at the Little Run Sportsman Club in Tremont, PA for the first field trial on their property and the first field trial in PA in a couple years! The dogs ran this new track hard and fast! Holding a field trail gives you a great appreciation for anyone that has ever done this or continues to do this.This would not have been possible if it weren’t for the club allowing us to use the property and they did an amazing job hosting this event in every way possible! The first step was creating the track. This would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the help of the club members, Carl Shanley, Eric Schrader, Scott Schrader, Daniel Botsford, Makayla, Cooley, and Eric Turner.  As we all know the other aspect of trying to hold a field trial is the financial part. I have to give a big thank you to everyone who helped sponsor this field trial. This includes everyone who purchased the fundraiser tickets, everyone who sent in a donation, and everyone who participated at the field trial. This would not have been possible without all of you. I have two goals moving forward. First, is to meet with clubs that are willing to help like the Little Run Sportsman Club did and clubs who will help support us financially with holding fundraisers. Second, is to try and get a coonhound only class so we can grow the field trials with other dog trainers/owners so we keep the heritage alive. These would be graded classes and to keep the legacy alive, they will have to honor the tree and I’m thinking about shortening the circle to a maximum 20 foot diameter. I greatly appreciate everyone who helped in every way they could. Todd helping with my puppies! Sue Switzer and Eric Turner for supplying heat sheets and other bookkeeping items. Ben Timson helped with providing a starting light and armbands. Bengy Swanson helped with providing an extra drag and fencing. Scott Schrader helped with providing a rope for the cage, equipment to try and help with the track, and stakes and rope.  AJ, Sebastian, and Daniel helped lay drags. We ended up putting up almost 1300 feet of orange fence and almost 450 feet of black fence. A lot of different people helped judge tree. Botsford, Todd, Ben S, Mike, Ben T, Frank, Bill Dean, Bengy, Eric S, Scott S, Culver, Cooley, Victor Franzone, and Nixon. I hope I didn’t forget anyone, please message me if I did. Eric Turner and Crystal did an amazing job with the books and Eric also did the line judging(Chase did great filling in) and took pictures of final winners. The Turners are an amazing family and each one of them is always there to help and always shows great sportsmanship wherever they are at. Thank you to everyone who participated in the poker tournament, it was a great time! Thank you to everyone who helped tear down all the fencing and place it in my trailer. I think Chris & Stacy were in charge of this! Thank you to my mother who spent a decent amount of time laying out each and every one of the fundraising tickets and who was willing to help me with anything she could! It felt really nice to have family there helping and enjoying themselves! If anyone has any videos or pictures they can share with me please message me them. It was really hard to try and find time to do that. Thank you again and looking forward to growing the field trials in Pennsylvania in 2027!
