Hello chapter members,
Just a reminder about some things as the weather warms up and we get started with Training Season:
KELLEY FARMS
Kelley Farms Annual Pass sales dates time will be:
- Thursday April 20th 6-7pm-meet near barn next to bird pen area at Kelley. $375 checks made out to Kelley Land & Cattle Co.
- We may have some pigeons and/or ducks for sale by this date, so bring bird boxes. This will depend on suppliers/deliveries.
- Saturday April 29th 9-10am-as part of our large Training Clinic & Mock Test Day. Watch for Orange signs off of Manning Ave to get to our Headquarters/tent area.
We are asking that if you are planning on Training at Kelley this year that you make it to one of the above dates/times to buy your 2023 pass. The Grogans do not live on the property any longer and will not be as available to catch them on the grounds this season..
We are also asking everyone using Kelley to please stay off the grounds for awhile yet, as the rapid snowmelt has the roads a real mess out there.
For all Kelley Farms Training and small group inquiries, please send an email to: training@mnnavhda.org.
News on FUTURE of Kelley Farms dog training….. For those of you not aware, all of Kelley Farms is in the process of being sold to a public land trust, with a subsequent handoff to Washington County and the Minnesota DNR. We are told that things for the 2023 season will mostly be like they have been in years past, with some restrictions on certain areas depending on when the parcels start being funded and acquired. The full transfer of what parcels are slated to go to the DNR for the New Keystone Woods WMA is planned for around September 1st. We will keep you informed as things develop. We are doing our best to influence the powers that be about the importance of maintaining the dog training heritage long term on these grounds after 2023. As a member of the Minnesota Field Trial Federation (MFFTC), we are actively engaged in discussions with the DNR. The parcels that are slated to go to Washington County to add to Big Marine Park Reserve (all parcels east of Manning and north of 155th) will likely not happen until sometime in 2024. It is not expected that we will be able to maintain any dog training in Big Marine Park Reserve.
FOUR BROOKS
Four Brooks training will start as soon as the grounds are suitable.
Group training will be Thursday evenings. If you are interested in group training at Four Brooks, send an email to: fourbrooks@mnnavhda.org.
2023 Passes for Four Brooks can be purchased here:
VIRGINIA-IRRC
Please send all Training inquiries to: Wayne Darvell wkdarvell@hotmail.com
July 15th MOCK NA Test at Four Brooks
-Private Invitations for this event will be sent out in May for those members signed up for Natural Ability Tests July 22-23, Aug 13-14 and Sep 9-10.
Volunteers Still Needed for upcoming Tests:
Our first tests of the year are not too far away, and our Test Coordinators are still looking for a few more volunteers. If you can help, please reach out to the Test Coordinators.
May 13-14 at Four Brooks-Nate Hurliman wild.innovate@gmail.com
June 2-3-4 at Kelley Farms-Corey Hagerty hagertyweld@gmail.com