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For Immediate Release Grand Junction, Tennessee

January 26, 2005

At The Bird Dog Foundation

Field Trial Hall of Fame Gala Events set for Feb. 12, 2005

The small western Tennessee town of Grand Junction comes to life with a buzz of activity each year during February. The town is home to the only museum in America dedicated to bird dogs and field trials. In addition, it is the hallowed site of the Field Trial Hall of Fame, where the greatest of the greats are enshrined – both people and dogs, who, over the decades, have made their marks in the field trial sport. The annual highlight of the competitive sporting dog world, the induction ceremonies for the Field Trial Hall of Fame, will be hosted at the Bird Dog Foundation in Grand Junction on Saturday, February 12, 2005. This year’s coming events will honor eleven distinguished persons and nine deserving dogs. Honorees for this year have been elected representing Brittany, Pointing Dog, Retriever, and Spaniel field competition. There will be two Brittanys, two pointers, three retrievers, and two Spaniels inducted. Dale Bush of College Station, Texas, President of the Bird Dog Foundation, will preside over the ceremonies. Related activities at the Bird Dog Foundation continue over the weekend and into the following week. The American Field magazine, Purina, Eukanuba, and Anheuser-Busch have graciously agreed to host the events.

Concluding the Saturday afternoon activities this year will be special recognition honoring four stalwarts who combined efforts to found the Bird Dog Foundation in 1988. Life-sized bronze busts in likeness to the special honorees will be unveiled in the National Bird Dog Museum. They include: William F. Brown (deceased), Chicago, IL; Capt. Garette E. Lockee, USN Retired, La Grange, TN; Bernard J. Matthys, Chicago, IL; and John S. O’Neall, Jr., Hatchechubbee, AL (deceased).

Again this year, the gala events will coincide with the starting weekend of the pointing dog National Field Trial Championship at the nearby Ames Plantation. This marks the 106^th running of the “Super Bowl of Bird Dogs.” The historic grounds at Ames have seen many greats venture forth over the past century. Last year, 40 pointers and five setters qualified for the prestigious competition. A similar number are expected this year. Barring bad weather, the horse-back trial over two three-hour courses will take over two weeks to complete.

The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charity dedicated to preserving the past and protecting the future for over 40 breeds of bird dogs. These include pointing breeds, flushing breeds, and retrievers, most of which are also involved in competitive field trial sports across the continent. The foundation houses and operates the National Bird Dog Museum, Field Trial Hall of Fame, National Retriever Museum, & Wildlife Heritage Center, all under one roof at Grand Junction, TN. The exhibits, art, and extensive natural resources/sporting dog library are all free for the public’s enjoyment and education; open six days per week, Tuesday through Sunday. For more information on the museum’s programs or the upcoming February activities, call 731-764-2058, or email – sportdog@bellsouth.net. Or visit the BDF website – www.birddogfoundation.com.