Erika Froeming
UKC Forum Member
Registered: May 2006
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Posts: 112 |
Bench Show Judges Announced
We are very excited to announce our bench show judges for the Heartland Classic. This show just keeps on growing, and seems to bring some fine looking Midwest hounds out of hiding. We hope to see you there!
Please joins us in welcoming:
Friday, May 13th: Pat Quaintance
Pat Quaintance lives in Bayfield, WI, about as far North as one can go. There, he enjoys running his hounds during every hunting season available. Pat hunts not only raccoon, but bear, bobcat and coyote too. His Blueticks have been constant companions for more decades he cares to admit, and he has been competing in UKC coonhound events for just as long. His lifelong interest in big game hounds gives him a unique and valuable perspective on the conformation of hunting dogs.
In his spare time, Pat serves as President for the Wisconsin Association of Sporting Dog Clubs, and is actively involved in all hound-related legislation. Pat was previously a game warden for the WI DNR, and recently retired after a full career of service.
Saturday, May 14th: Chris Waller
(Bio borrowed from UKC homepage)
Chris Waller and his wife Melanie live in Southern Illinois on what most would define as a hobby-farm, with coonhounds, chickens, guineas, and (hair sheep, coming soon), along with a prairie and wetland restoration. They have 3 grown daughters and 1 grandson.
Chris grew up on a grain and livestock farm in East-Central Illinois. Animals of all types, and their care, was an everyday part of life. Chris' father was an avid bird hunter who always had a good dog. He would allow Chris and his brothers to tag along as soon as they were big enough to keep up. It was at this early age at the knee of his father that Chris began to learn how to bird hunt, train a dog, as well as learn the real meaning of gun safety. By the age of twelve he was hunting by himself in the mornings with his dad's English Setter, Lil, hoping to get back home and have his game cleaned in time to catch the school bus. Chris was to enjoy pheasant hunting like this for several more years. Then, in the late 1970's the pheasant population began to dwindle, mostly due to changes in farming practices sweeping across the Midwest.
It was just about this time that a man offered to take Chris coonhunting. It was right up his alley; it involved a dog and you could run them all year around. Like most, Chris started with a pup. The first few years, going through the learning curve was tough, until he met a man from Clinton, Indiana by the name of John Morgan. It was under John's tutelage that he learned how to train a coonhound. It was also John, who urged Chris to begin showing the dogs he was hunting. And later it was John again, who encouraged Chris to obtain his Bench Show License in order to assist numerous clubs.
In the early years Chris competed at Autumn Oaks, Walker Days, the UKC World Championship, State Championships, and various Sectionals. He kept judging through the years and eventually began judging shows at the National level...... “I have been honored through the years with the opportunity to judge some great dogs at the highest levels. I have judged the UKC World Championship twice, Autumn Oaks, Walker Days, the Lee Crawford Invitational, Purina Nationals, Bluetick Fall Round-Up, various Breed Days, State Championships, and Sectionals in UKC."
Chris retired from the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2006, with 32 years of service. He finished his tenure a year later in 2007, from the Board of Teamster's Local #26 where he had served 6 years as Trustee and Political Coordinator. Chris is a past Vice-President of the TWBF&A, a past President of the Illinois State Coon Hunters. He currently serves as a Director for the Illinois State Coon Hunters.
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Erika Froeming
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03-23-2016 02:56 PM
Bring everyone out to this fabulous family event in the Heartland . It is always a great weekend full of events and great vendors. Who is going to win that 4 wheeler ?
I am already looking forward to an excellent breakfast served up by the Sugar River Coonhunters Club after a long night in the woods as well as all of the dinner specials they will have for sale all weekend .Lunch and beverages will also be for sale at the pond during the water race and field trial events by Miss Vicky of the Blackhawk Coonhunters Club. I will see our awesome team of volunteers for this event on Thursday night for set up . If anyone has any questions or concerns or would like to help in any way please let one of the Heartland Board members know .
