Result: National Prairie Chicken Open Shooting Dog Championship

Location: Bankcroft, Wisconsin

Post Date: Jan 8, 2026

Submitted By: Ed Liermann

National Prairie Chicken Open Shooting Dog Championship: Ed Liermann, Mary Sue Schalk, Frank LaNasa with Confident Nation, Scott Jordan, and James Kleve.

The National Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship ran as scheduled, starting on Monday, September 22, following the running of the National Amateur Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship. The weather was a bit cooler than normal. Thirty-two dogs navigated the robust cover. Birds were moved on every course as we witnessed many fine performances.
Judges for this year's championship were Mary Sue Schalk of Dixon, Kentucky, and James Kleve of Paris, Kentucky. Both judges bring a wealth of experience to the judicial saddle. They have trained and handled dogs and have been active in running field trials for many field trial clubs and organizations.

The Winners
The winner of the 2025 National Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship was Confident Nation, owned and handled by Scott Jordan of Grant, Minnesota. The 7-year-old white and orange pointer male ran in the third brace on the first day of the running. He ran a very big, far-reaching forward race with a nice find at 42, where he swung out the front and worked back into the wind with a precise, intelligent piece of bird work with high style. Handler fired with all in order, and he finished strong to the front.

The runner-up was Erin's Southern Comfort, a 5-year-old white and orange pointer male owned by Sean Derrig and Sean Patrick Derrig of Chicago, Illinois. Southern Comfort ran in the sixth brace of the Championship. Handled by Sean Patrick Derrig, Southern Comfort was away fast with a strong forward race. He had an unproductive at 28 with Haney's Southern Angel backing and had a nice find at 48. He backed Angel at 50 with all in order and had a nice finish.

The temperature was a bit cooler than normal throughout the trial, making it more tolerable for the dogs. But it was still a challenge to run here because of the sections of heavy cover.
A core group of people makes this trial a success. Thanks to Gary Wolfe, a Wisconsin DNR biologist and our dog wagon driver. Gary is spot on with all his duties and is a key member in running this championship. He also provided the hard-boiled eggs that are a favorite and a trial tradition. Blocking road crossings is vital for safety during this trial and was attended to by Gary Wolfe, Terry Tryzyski, and Andy Lewandowski. Missing from our group this year were George and Ann Ihrke and Doug and Judy Reisner, who had scheduling conflicts. Many thanks to all who helped when needed, hauling horses, judges, and handlers to keep the trial moving: John Mathys, Frank LaNasa, Scott Jordan, Mark Johnson, Jared Bell, and Allison Bell; A great group always willing to help in any capacity.

We appreciate the support and our partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. For us, that starts with site manager Lesa Kardash. Lesa and her staff do a stellar job managing "The Grasslands" and are good friends who support this event. We moved a good number of birds this year and found birds on all courses.

As in past years, people traveled from all directions to get here. A great group of people, with some new faces, included Frank and Jean LaNasa, John Mathys, Scott Jordan, Sean Patrick Derrig, Todd Manns, Jared Bell, Allison Bell, Mark Johnson, Brian Gingrich, Jerry Moisson, and Tom Hennes.

Purina is a major sponsor of this Championship. On Tuesday evening, Purina sponsored our Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings. Thanks to Purina, Greg Blair, and Terry Tryzynski for supporting our trial and auction. SportDOG also sponsors our trial and auction by donating a Tek 1 tracking and training collar. Thanks to Jim Morehouse, a longtime friend and supporter of field trials, and to SportDOG, a major sponsor of this trial and auction. We thank them for their support.

The Running

We switch the morning and afternoon courses for the Open Championship. Breaking away on Monday at 8:00 a.m. on Course 1, we cross Griffith and swing east.

Notorious Southern Son (Mathys) and Southern Confidence (LaNasa). Both dogs were out fast and made some big moves, strong to the front throughout the hour, but had no bird contact.

Dezasterous Silver Bandit (Gingrich) and Cedar Creek Anthem (Liermann). Bandit had a classy forward application throughout the hour, but no bird contact. Anthem ran a wide forward race throughout the hour, but no birds.

Confident Nation (Jordan) and Cole Fusion (Hennes). Confident Nation was mentioned earlier. Cole Fusion started out fast with a forward race. Not pleasing the handler, he was up at 35.

Due Respect (Tande) and Erin's Mighty Quinn (Derrig). Both dogs were out fast and forward with some nice casts. Due Respect was under birds at 7 and was up. Quinn had a nice find at 9 with all in order and another at 13, and finished the hour with some nice casts.

B G K's Luke (Bell) and Saginaw Luke Skywalker (Johnson). Both dogs were off to a nice forward race. Luke was strong on the ground with a bird at 22 with all in order. He was lost at 38. Skywalker hunted through heavy cover, but was not pleasing the handler, and was picked up at 32.

Haney's Southern Angel (Mathys) and Erin's Southern Comfort (Derrig). Angel had a strong forward race, backing Southern Comfort at 28. He had a nice find at 50 with Southern Comfort backing, with all in order. Southern Comfort was mentioned earlier.

Ramblin Rivers Double Dot (Gingrich) and Wiggins Pree Dawn Reward (Hennes). Dot started out nicely with some big moves. He was picked up at 28, not pleasing the handler. Pree Dawn Reward hunted hard through heavy cover throughout the hour.

Erin's Redemption (Mathys) and Warbird (LaNasa). Both dogs were out fast and forward. Redemption had a nice forward race with some big casts, but had no birds. Warbird had a nice start but wasn't pleasing the handler and was picked up at 31.

Just Call Me Mo (Hennes) and Erin's Tin Lizzie (Johnson). Both dogs were out forward through heavy cover. Mo, not pleasing the handler, was up at 25. Lizzy hunted hard through heavy cover and finished the hour without bird contact.

Notorious Sweet Ginger (Mathys) and Hotdish (LaNasa). Both dogs were off to a nice start. Ginger had a nice forward race, backing Hotdish at 15 and scoring a find at 50 with all in order, and had a nice finish.

Pearl Jam Nation (Jordan) and Erin's Doc Holliday (Bell). Pearl Jam had a nice forward race going. Handler elected to pick up after a stop-to-flush at 49. Doc Holliday had a strong forward race with a stop to flush at 47 and finished the hour forward.

Cross Country Ryan (Hennes) and Cedar Creek Sixgun (Liermann). Ryan hunted the hour with a snappy application and an unproductive at 43. Sixgun had a nice forward with a nice find at 58, with all in order to finish the hour.

Notorious Dominator's Reserve (Mathys) and Ramblin Rivers Unplugged (Gingrich). Dominator's Reserve had a strong forward race with a stop-to-flush at 21 and a nice find at 40. Unplugged had a far forward race with some big casts. Handler asked for the tracker at 17.

Rip Nation (Jordan) and Erin's Ikon (Gingrich). Both dogs moved out quickly, fast and forward. Ikon pointed a skunk at 3 with Rip backing. Ikon had an unproductive at 22 with Rip backing. Ikon had a stop-to-flush at 35 and at 48.

Notorious Propane Jane (Mathys) and Cottonwood Bud (Hennes). Both dogs moved out fast and forward. Bud had an unproductive at 7. Divided find at 22 with all in order, and both dogs finished the hour.

Ramblin Rivers Natural (Gingrich) and Northern Confidence (LaNasa). Both dogs out fast, covering ground and making some nice casts throughout the hour.

Bancroft, Wis., September 22
Judges: James Kleve and Mary Sue Schalk
NATIONAL PRAIRIE CHICKEN OPEN SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 27 Pointers, 3 Setters, and 2 Irish Setters
Winner-CONFIDENT NATION, F1684546, pointer male, by True Confidence-Southern Songbird. Scott Jordan, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-ERIN'S SOUTHERN COMFORT, F1693833, pointer male, by Erin's Lone Star Law-Erin's Irresistible Jane. Sean & Sean Patrick Derrig, owners; Sean Patrick Derrig, handler.

OPEN DERBY - 5 Pointers and 1 Setter
1st-RAMBLIN RIVERS DOUBLE DOT, F1709252, pointer female, by Miller's Blindsider-True Grace. Bill Stapleton, owner; Brian Gingrich, handler.
2d-PRAIRIEWOOD'S LONE SURVIVOR, F1721613, pointer male, by Confident Nation-Upfront's Piper. Todd Manns, owner; Brian Gingrich, handler.
3d-ERIN'S HIGH OCTANE, F1712754, pointer male, by Erin's Grey Ghost-Erin's Sweet Justice. Jared & Allison Bell, owners; Jared Bell, handler.

Sidelights
Saturday night, after the second day of running, we have our banquet on the grounds under the tent. Special guests included Cody Kamrowski, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, accompanied by partner Sophie Kube, Andy Lewandowski, Dog Committee Chairman of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and Sharon Schwab, President of the Dane County Conservation League. Dane County Conservation League is a major landowner in the Prairie Chicken management area. One of the highlights of the evening is our "Chicken Championships" auction. This is where we raise funds for grounds improvements, provide continuing education for DNR site staff, and award two $500 scholarships to UW-Stevens Point students who are part of the Adopt-A-Wildlife Program and work on the Buena Vista grounds. We partner with the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation on the scholarship program. Also, because of our annual contributions to the DNR gift account, the site manager at Buena Vista, Lesa Kardash, was able to attend the Prairie Grouse Technical Council Conference this year in Valentine, Nebraska. Based on her experiences at Buena Vista, Lesa was asked to deliver a presentation titled "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Public and Private Partnerships." We look forward to hearing from Lesa about her experience. We also took time to review the updates on the Vista Sands Solar Project.
As many of you know, we have been working on the Vista Sands Solar Farm Project, a $2.4 billion project encompassing approximately 7,000 acres. A substantial portion of it will be adjacent to some of the traditional Prairie Chicken management sites, possibly affecting some of the existing leks and nesting areas. Naturally, this raised some concerns about the long-term effect this would have on the Greater Prairie Chicken population. What we were officially asking for was a one-mile buffer from the Leks and a -mile buffer from the nesting areas. Our coalition, led by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF), the Dane County Conservation League, and the Central States Field Trial Club, has been engaged in a years-long struggle to protect the traditional Prairie Chicken grounds. The boundaries we are discussing have been established since Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologists Frances and Fred Hamerstrom worked and lived on the grounds. Former WWF Executive Director George Meyer, Current WWF Executive Director Cody Kamrowski, Dane County Conservation League past President Sharon Schwab, and the Central States Field Trial Club led this team effort. The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation spearheaded the legal effort. George Meyer led the legal team to address these concerns. After initial appearances before the Public Service Commission fell short, an appeal was filed in the Columbia County Circuit Court. In mid-2025, an agreement was reached, clearing the way and addressing the final concerns. The following is a brief overview of the settlement.

Key Elements of the Agreement
As part of the agreement, Vista Sands Solar developer, Doral Renewables, is building on its existing commitments to restoring nearly 7,000 acres of native grasslands in the region, providing a $2.1 million contribution to support the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Greater Prairie Chicken management plan, and funding for local university-led research to study how wildlife interacts with solar.
Seven hundred and fifty additional acres have been set aside specifically to address WWF's concerns for the Greater Prairie Chicken. This provision addresses the one-mile buffer from all leks and a -mile buffer from all established nesting areas. This component was essential to the settlement.
Vista Sands Solar has committed $1 million to the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, specifically designated for habitat restoration and land acquisition in the Greater Prairie chicken management priority areas.
This settlement is being discussed as a model for future collaboration between stakeholder groups and energy developers throughout the country. Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Executive Director Cody Kamrowski gave a speech documenting the process from beginning to end at the Prairie Grouse Council Conference in Valentine, Nebraska, this past fall. He will also give a presentation on this project at the National Wildlife Federation Executive Directors Conference this spring and at Pheasant Fest this year, outlining the project and tips for future projects.
We will provide more updates as the program is implemented.
George Meyer recently passed away after a battle with cancer. A former WDNR attorney and WDNR Secretary, George was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved the outdoors. Having worked with George on several projects, I can say he was a man committed to conservation and was an advocate for the sporting dog community. He was a friend to all who loved the outdoors. In the last two years of his life, George dedicated his extensive legal and conservation expertise to the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation's intervention in the Vista Sands renewable energy docket, helping to secure a landmark settlement.

Open Derby: Ed Liermann, Kristen Moisson, Jerry Moisson with Ramblin Rivers Double Dot, Brian Gingrich, Todd Manns with Prairiewood's Lone Survivor, James Kleve, and Mary Sue Schalk.