Youth Field Trial Alliance Accomplishments & 2024/25 Goal

• Supporting Youth Field Trials

YFTA helps field trial clubs hosting youth events financially (cash donations, purchasing ribbons, trophies and other prizes; providing judges’ gifts, lunches and snacks; paying entry fees), through promotion (our Events and News pages, on location photography), as well as in our attendance helping, judging and reporting. This past season the following field trial clubs have received assistance from YFTA:

• Newly established field trial club, Pinewoods Bird Dog Club in Monticello, Florida with their first two youth trials (inaugural Nancy Abbott YFT (Pinewoods Plantation, Monticello, FL.) and John Abbott YFT (Pinion Point Plantation, Quitman, GA)

 • Inaugural Round Pond Youth Classic (Round Pond Plantation, Leesburg, GA)

 • Southern FTC YFT (Nilo Plantation, Albany, GA) Over 100 people were in attendance!

 • For the 5th time, the Butch Bennett Memorial YFT (Old Meridian Plantation, FL)

 • Minnesota Grouse Dog Association’s youth stake (Four Oaks WMA, Onamia, MN)

Trainer/Handlers are all keen to help in whatever way they can. Many have youngsters themselves. YFTA has conducted seminars and continues to organize youth training clinics conducted by some of the most accomplished trainer/handlers in the country. We also help clubs around the country conducting training clinics.

Awareness and support for youth field trials is growing every year. We have all seen how Alabama field trial clubs’ determination has kept youth trials an important part of their annual events for decades. They have been an inspiration to the southeastern field trial community and to YFTA in our mission to expand that success across the country. Progress does not always come easily or quickly but with this past youth field trial season’s enormous successes in Georgia and Florida, we feel ever motivated.