Ames Names Top Dog for 2024

Touch’s Gallatin Fire, won the 125th National Field Trials.  Owner Alex Rickert, handler Mark McLean, and scout Mark Hayes were surrounded by family and friends on the steps of the Ames Plantation during the presentation ceremony.

The top dog is judged on times during the brace but conditions (rain, mud, etc) and other judged qualities go into picking a winner.

The Ames Plantation has been home to the National since 1915.  Mr. Hobart Ames judged the National for over 20 years and the standards he developed for judging the field trials, now known as the Amesian Standard, are still in use for the competition today.  Judges for this year's championship were Jadie Rayfield, Mount Pleasant, SC, Tom Shenker, Hurtsboro, AL and Dr. Stan Wint, Gardner, KS.   

To learn more about the National and the Ames Plantation, visit their website at www.amesplantation.org.

Story by Lisa Coleman. Photo courtesy Ames Plantation