Result: Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship

Location: Mora, Minnesota

Post Date: Nov 4, 2026

Submitted By: Kyle Peterson

Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship (l-r). Scott Anderson with Planet Queen, Ed Graddy with Northern Slopes Bell.

The Minnesota Grouse Dog Association's Fall Championship took place the first week of October on classic Minnesota State Forest land that provided great habitat and birds to make for an eventful Championship Stake. We would like to thank all of our club members that put in so much work to make these trials successful! From making sure our courses are clear and well maintained, to planning, to managing all the logistics of putting on a Championship caliber stake, our strong membership came together and put in countless hours! We would not be here if it were not for all of you. A big thank you goes out to them!

MGDA would also like to thank our two main sponsors, Purina and OnX. Both of these partners provide much-needed support not only for our trials, but for the Cover Dog Community as a whole.

This year's Championship stake covered 4 days and included 41 shooting dogs! With such a competitive field, anticipation was high from the first brace all the way through the last. We experienced cool mornings to very warm dry afternoons which made the dogs work hard to find their quarry. Birds proved to be challenging and pushed all dogs' stamina and fortitude this year.

Overall, 30 grouse and 29 woodcock were moved throughout the trial. All courses held several birds and gave dogs opportunities to put on a strong show for the judges. The dry conditions made the dogs have to dig deep to produce birds for their handlers. But with over 13 dogs providing clean bird work, our two judges, Doug McMillen from Pennsylvania and Joe Landoski from Minnesota were proudly able to name a Champion and Runner-up Champion.

The MGDA Grouse Championship is unique in that to be named Champion, clean grouse work must be displayed. With that said, our Champion, Planet Queen, Rhonda, and Runner Up Champion Norther Slopes Bell did not disappoint!

Championship Brace
On the third day of running, Rhonda along with owner/handler, Scott Anderson, came to the line on Course 7 for the third brace of the day. Course 7 begins in a young 12-year-old cut that winds though several swampy edges. It continues from cut to cut for the first 40 minutes before opening up a bit providing dogs with several objectives and plenty of birds.
Conditions were warming quickly and the wind was picking up as the brace broke away. Rhonda was not phased! Rhonda navigated the thick cover with speed and intensity. Her application was impressive, as she moved boldly from objective to objective, maintaining a strong forward race through the demanding cover.
Early in the brace, Rhonda's bell silent ahead and to the right of the handler and judges. After a lengthy search by handler, judge and scout, Rhonda was found standing staunchly with intensity and style. With handler Scott flushing a grouse was produced. With all in order, Rhonda continued to push hard for the remainder of the hour showing her determination, style and stamina.
Planet Queen was declared the 2026 Minnesota Grouse Dog Champion, a well-earned distinction for the stylish setter and her owner/handler, Scott Anderson.

Runner-Up Champion Brace
The first brace of day 3, brace number 13, Ed Graddy brought his setter, Bell to the line on Course 5. This course again starts in a young cut and moves across a swamp. On the other side, the course winds along a swamp edge with several pockets of likely grouse and woodcock cover. With the cool morning and quiet wind, Bell navigated the course with a focused and determined run.
Handler Ed and Bell worked together as a team to cover ground efficiently and confidently. At 28 minutes, Bell was found standing forward intensely. As the handler and judge approached, a grouse erupted just off her left flank. Bell showed great control and steadiness as the excitement of a grouse flush echoed through the morning air. Bell finished her hour just as she began, determined and searching. This strong run and clean find earned Bell the title of 2026 Minnesota Grouse Dog Runner-Up Champion.

MGDA would like to extend a huge thank you to judges, Doug McMillen and Joe Landowski for their commitment to each and every brace. Again, conditions ranged from very cool mornings to very warm afternoons. Both were attentive and fair throughout as they sorted through several notable performances. We thank them for taking time off from work to spend four days and several miles of walking to find our well-deserved Champion and Runner-Up Champion.

Mora, Minn., October 5
Judges: Joe Landowski and Doug McMillen
MINNESOTA GROUSE DOG CHAMPIONSHIP [One-Hour Heats] - 13 Pointers and 28 Setters
Winner-PLANET QUEEN, F1702708, setter female, by Rufus Del Fuego-Stumbo's Scarlet. Scott Anderson, owner and handler.
Runner-Up-NORTHERN SLOPES BELL, F1682006, setter female, by Ponderosa Mac-Out of the Shadows. Ed Graddy, owner and handler.

Reuel Henry Pietz Open Derby Classic
Accompanying the Fall Shooting Dog Championship each year is the Reuel Henry Pietz Derby.
As one of the founding members of the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association, Reuel Henry Pietz is a fitting person to name our derby trophy after. A lifelong Minnesotan, Pietz dedicated his life to others. He was a combat fighter pilot with the USMC in WW2 and the Korean War. He then went on to become a professor of Geology at State Cloud State University. Pietz is remembered as being a bright spot of positivity and had a genuineness about him that had a profound effect on those who knew him. His love of dogs and the sport of field trialing helped turn the MGDA into what it is today. In that spirit, we honor the new and upcoming derbies.
This year, there were 10 young dogs vying for the coveted Reuel Henry Pietz trophy. Annually, this trophy is awarded to the young derby prospect showing a glimpse of their potential as they move toward the shooting dog ranks.

Derby Judge's, Greg Johnson and Bill Frahm, both from Wisconsin oversaw the nearly dozen contenders for this year's running.

Each brace ran on their own course and birds were plentiful for dogs that dug into the cover and used the favorable conditions of the final days weather.
Coming in first place and taking home the Reuel Henry Pietz trophy this year was Northern Slopes Samantha. A young setter, Sam handled easily for owner/handler Ed Graddy. Staying to the front, Sam hit all the likely covers. Her race was strong and consistent from beginning to end. The icing on the cake was the grouse she pointed in the last minute of the stake.

Second place was awarded to Clover Valleys Pure Grace. Owned by Jordan Pharris and handled by Jerry Furnish, Gracie set the bar high as she ran in the first brace of the stake. She ran to the edge of bell range throughout the half hour and tackled all the appropriate covers with style. Her strong race and fanciful style were more than enough to take home the red ribbon.

Northwoods Wild Turkey RR Mace, owned by Marc Austhof and handled by Jordan Pharris earned 3rd place by getting stronger and stronger as the brace moved along. Starting out, Mace worked close to his handler, then being in the right cover at the right moment, Mace pointed and produced a grouse at the ten-minute mark. That was all it took for the young setter to find his legs and stretch out into the cover for the rest of the brace and seal his position in third.

The 2026 renewal of the Minnesota Grouse Dog Championship and Reuel Henry Pietz Open Derby will be remembered for its challenging conditions, abundant opportunities for game, and the quality of the competing field. Above all, it was another fine demonstration of the sporting tradition that continues to bring dedicated handlers and their dogs into the autumn grouse woods.

To the winners, the judges, the competitors, and the many individuals whose efforts made the event possible, the Minnesota Grouse Dog Association extends its sincere congratulations and appreciation.

Judges: Bill Frahm and Greg Johnson
REUEL HENRY PIETZ OPEN DERBY CLASSIC - 10 Setters
1st-NORTHERN SLOPES SAMANTHA, F1723453, setter female, by Snyder's Fireside Ed-Snyder's Centerfold Peach. Ed Graddy, owner and handler.
2d-CLOVER VALLEYS PURE GRACE, F1724092, setter female, by Northwoods Sir Gordon-Clover Valley's Millie. Jordan Pharris, owners; Jerry Furnish, handler.
3d-NORTHWOODS WILD TURKEY RR MACE, F1723764, setter male, by Cold Creek Hawk-Northwoods Stardust. Marc Austhof, owner; Jordan Pharris, handler.

Reuel Henry Pietz Open Derby Classic (l-r). Judge Greg Johnson, Ed Graddy with Northern Slopes Samantha, Jerry Furnish with Clover Valleys Pure Grace, Jordan Pharris with Northwoods Turkey RR Mace.