Pictured above: The winners of the inaugural Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial (Photos by Chris Mathan)
First Place: Rose, Harper King; Second Place: Buzz, Kira Jenkins Third Place: May, Griffin Long
Livingston Place will host the 130th the Continental Field Trial next month, but in November, it was home to the inaugural Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial.
The Continental Field Trial Club and the Youth Field Trial Alliance organized this new Tall Timbers sponsored youth field trial. The event drew 14 youth dog handlers between the ages of 8 and 16 with 16 dogs. The trial ran in conjunction with the Continental Amateur Field Trial.
More than 10 coveys of wild bobwhite quail were located in the 2 hours and 40-minute running. On the morning of the trial, 50 horses and riders were in the gallery, and six buggies were packed with spectators.
Emaria Parker handling her dog, Bill
For John Michael McCormick, Land Manager at Tall Timbers’ Livingston Place, the opportunity to host youngsters interested in the world of dog handling and field trials was memorable.
“It is hard to encapsulate the emotions that were running high all throughout the morning,” he said. “There were lots of smiles and hollering from our young handlers and cheering from the supporting family and friends. This was a meaningful experience for the youth handlers and for us at Livingston Place.”
Tall Timbers President and CEO Bill Palmer said given the long history of field trials at the Livingston property, backing the inaugural youth field trial was a natural choice.
“It was important for us as an organization to support the Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial,” Palmer said. “These kinds of investments ensure field trials continue to attract the next generation of dog handlers, conservationists and good stewards of the land.”
The event is right in line with the mission of the Youth Field Trial Alliance (YFTA), a nonprofit started in 2019 to foster the next generation of dog handlers’ interest in bird dogs, wildlife, sportsmanship, conservation and the outdoors.
In that time, the YFTA has been involved with dozens of youth field trials across the country, but most of its focus is in the Southeast, where field trials are popular.
Founder Chris Mathan said events like the one at Livingston not only help develop a love of bird dogs but can serve as a connection for some kids to the broader outdoor community.
“Not every one of these kids is going to grow up and be a field trailer,” she said. “What we really want is for it to be more expansive than that involving them in the sporting life. They may develop an interest in conservation or to become a quail biologist. Youth field trials help develop that love of the dogs and birds and fellowship.”
Claudia McNamee directs the YFTA along with Mathan and Patty Ewer.
Events like the Tall Timbers Youth Field Trial continue to draw youngsters to the sport to keep the traditions from being lost.
“Those of us who are passionate about the sport of field trialing are always looking for ways to keep it going and get more people involved,” McNamee said. “The youth events are a lot of fun. Everybody is always so excited. I’ve always come away going, OK this is why we do this.”
