Event: Summer Meeting and Dog of the Year Awards (DOTY)
Result: Field Trial Clubs of Illinois

Post Date: Jul 20, 2026

The Field Trial Clubs of Illinois (FTCI) held their Summer Meeting and Dog of the Year Awards (DOTY) on July 11, 2026. The meeting, conducted by FTCI President Brad Hargis, proceeded with the usual business agenda. Thank you to Greg Blair of Purina and Bob Caveny from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for joining us and being guest speakers. The officers for this year included Vice-President John Hott, Secretary/Treasurer Donna Janulis, and Board of Directors members: Brian Sheehan, Ed Janulis, Sean Patrick Derrig, Jeff Wagoner, Mike Vicari, Aaron McAfee, Kay Morrison, Mark Johnson, and Lori Rezzardi. Associate Directors are Ed Liermann, Mike Duvall, and Ashley McCuan.

The banquet was once again held at Hamilton's in Jacksonville, Illinois, starting with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Brad Hargis, President of the FTCI, was the host for the evening.

The awards program began with the Honor Roll Award, presented to Jeff Wagoner by Mark Johnson on behalf of Terry Trzcinski. Jeff far exceeds the qualifications for this award. He hosted the FTCI Jr. Handler trials at his family farm on numerous occasions, chaired the Mid-State Bird Dog Club and the Southwestern Field Trial Club, and conducted Spring and Fall trials at Jim Edgar Panther Creek for decades. He was instrumental in bringing back the Illinois Shooting Dog Championship, making it a quality event. Jeff was also heavily involved in developing the field trial grounds, barn, and clubhouse at the Jim Edgar field trial site. He serves as the DOTY Banquet raffle chair and, along with his wife, Kelly, has raised funds for the FTCI annually. Thank you, Jeff, for your devotion and commitment to our organization. Congratulations.

This year, the FTCI honored John and Christy Hott and Bill and Ann Ziesset with the Distinguished Senior Service Award for their long careers in field trialing.
John and Christy Hott have been involved in field trials since the mid-1960s, starting when John was a teenager and competed in local trials with his English pointers. John has judged major championships around the United States for all the major pointing breeds. He spent many years developing the Middle Fork Fish and Wildlife area into quality Class A field trial grounds in Illinois until his retirement from the IDNR. He has also been the guiding force in the Western Pointer Field Trial Club, hosting numerous weekend trials and the Indiana Shooting Dog Championship. John has displayed loyalty to the sport of field trialing for many years and is an excellent example of sportsmanship, always willing to assist whenever possible. Congratulations on this deserving award.

This year's other recipient of the Distinguished Senior Service Award is Bill and Ann Ziessett. Bill was introduced to quail hunting in 1963 and grew to admire the skills of the bird dogs he hunted with. While attending the State Police Academy in 1968, he was introduced to Herb Holmes of Gunsmoke Kennels and, two years later, purchased a female pointer. Bill soon entered his first field trial in Southern Illinois. He organized the Kaskaskia Quail Club and began running field trials at Rend Lake. This began a lifelong journey to meet wonderful people from the field trial world across the United States. He later became president of the Region 5 Championship Association and served as its secretary/treasurer for years. Bill has judged and reported at major field trials across the country and has consistently demonstrated sportsmanship, dedication, and loyalty to field trials.

Our evening would not be possible without the generous support of multiple individuals and companies that sponsor the FTCI. Special thanks to Purina, Greg Blair, and Terry Trzcinski for their continued support of field trials and the FTCI DOTY program. Also, the FTCI would like to thank the many advertisers and supporters who placed advertisements in our DOTY catalog and supported our program, including SportDOG, The River Bank Lodge, Landers Iron Saddle Ranch, Safe Sheds Sales, Gun Dog Supply, Erin Kennels and Stables, Stellar Kennels (Mike and Suanne DuVall), Piasa Pointer and Setter Club, Crouse Kennels (Mike Crouse and Mary Sue Schalk), Saginaw Bird Dogs (Mark Johnson), the Western Pointer Club, Illinois Open Shooting Dog Championship, Region 5 Championships, Central Prairie Field Trial Club, Mid-South Bird Hunters, Cates Kennels, Mr. Chuck Leonard, Plumb Branch Kennels, Hargis Pointers (Brad and Sherry Hargis), NGSPA Region 5, Fort Dearborn GSP Club Inc., Vizsla Club of Illinois, the National Red Setter Field Trial Club, Hawknest Kennels (Chad and Nancy Chadwell), and the Western Irish Setter Club.

The ceremonies turned to the DOTY awards, with Lori Rezzardi presenting the Continental Walking and Horseback awards, Ed and Donna Janulis presenting the Brittany Walking and Horseback award, and Mike Vicari presenting the Jr. Handler award to Grayson Fox. Brian Sheehan presented the Horseback Pointer and Setter awards, and Brad Hargis distributed the Walking Pointer and Setter Awards. A list of the winners and runners-up from each breed category will follow.

Finally, thank you to Jeff and Kelly Wagoner for chairing the Raffle and supplying the fantastic items that helped raise funds for the FTCI, and to Lori Rezzardi and Kay Morrison for selling raffle tickets during the event.

Thank you to Aaron McAfee, who once again produced the DOTY catalog, which holds trial results of each breed category, pictures, advertisements, FTCI member club information, and the winners and runners-up for each breed. Thank you to all who made the evening a success.
Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up in the 2025-2026 season. We look forward to seeing everyone at an FTCI member club in the 2026-2027 season.

Horseback Pointers & Setters
Amateur Shooting Dog
Wr, Redbud's Southern Boy
Aaron McAfee, Owner/Handler

Open All-Age Winner
Bandit's Hill Avenger
Ann Forrester, Owner
Korry Rinehart, Handler

Open Shooting Dog
Wr, Thunder's Wild Agin
Doug Swingley, Owner
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler
R-U, Touch's Shameless
Luke & Rita Topp, Owners
Harold Gearhart, Handler

Open Derby
Spoon River Allie
Jeff Hainline, Owner/Handler
R-U, Silver W Hot Pink
Debbie Ozner, Owner
Shawn Kinkelaar, Handler

Walking Pointers & Setters
Amateur Shooting Dog
Wr, Beaucoup Creek Buck
Don Heisner, Owner/Handler
R-U, Glover's Flintstone
Jack Glover, Owner/Handler

Amateur & Open Derby
Wr, PB John The Baptist
Brian Stockrahm, Owner/Handler
Amateur R-U, JD's Happy Jack
Dan Crunk, Owner/Handler

Amateur & Open Puppy
Wr, PB Jokers Wild
Brian Stockrahm, Owner/Handler
R-U, Huber's Gatling Girl
Aaron Patterson & Megan Greathouse, Owners
Megan Greathouse, Handler

Open Shooting Dog
Wr, Sky Hawk's Little Rascal
Rob Warner, Owner/Handler
R-U, Erin's Pancho Villa
Charles Leonard, Owner/Handler

Open Gun Dog
Wr, Dave's Miss Scout
David Cates, Owner/Handler

Continental Breed
Amateur Puppy
Wr, Westview's Oklahoma Storm by Sak's
Jordan Leon, Owner
Thomas Mathis, Handler
R-U, Sak's A Lot of Night Games
Paul Schoenecker, Owner
Thomas Mathis, Handler

Walking Pointers & Setters / Continental Breed
Amateur Gun Dog
Wr, No Limits Little Slick
John Landolina, Owner/Handler
R-U, PB Texas Tornado
Brian Stockrahm, Owner/Handler

Horseback Brittany
Amateur Gun Dog
Wr, Paul Du Hokum Poke
Tom & Barbara Cherry, Owners
Barbara Cherry, Handler
R-U, Sgt Stryker Locked & Loaded
Robert & Lori Harrellson, Owners
Robert Harrellson, Handler

Open Derby
Wr, Sunrise Whiskey Booze Cruise
Ryan Thayer, Owner
Bob Burchett, Handler
R-U, Sunrise Whiskey Bottle Rocket
Ryan Thayer, Owner
Bob Burchett, Handler

Open Puppy
Wr, Sunrise Whiskey Bottle Rocket
Ryan Thayer, Owner
Bob Burchett, Handler
R-U, Veinioivici De L'Erule DoWord
Mark Dinsmore, Owner/Handler

Walking Brittany
Amateur Puppy
Wr, Crosscreek Always A Chance for Bourbon
Jennifer & Gary Robbins, Owners
Gary Robbins, Handler

Amateur Gun Dog
Wr, K Del's Eagle Magnum Hotshot
Kenric DeLong, Owner/Handler

Brad Hargis presenting John Hott with the Distinguished Senior Service Award.

Kay Morrison presents Bill Zeisett with the Distinguished Senior Service Award.

Grayson Fox receiving the Jr. Handler Award from Mike Vicari along with Grayson's Grandfather, Mike Fox.

Jennifer and Gary Robbins received the Amateur Puppy Award from Ed Janulis.

Jeff Wagoner, FTCI Honor Roll Recipient.