The Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club is an AKC Member Club for retriever enthusiats. It hosts AKC Hunt Tests and Field Trials on a yearly basis.
National Amateur Retriever Club, National Retriever Club, and Master National Retriever Club Member
The Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club was formed in the late 1930's by a group of outdoor sportsmen with a great interest in their hunting dogs. Their goal was the formation of a group to train hunting dogs, exchange ideas, and maintain and improve the breeds of Retrievers, Springers and Pointers. The Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club is a charter member of the American Kennel Club
On April 6, 1938, a group from Milwaukee and South Eastern Wisconsin area incorporated the club as Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club, Inc. The original members consisted of Retriever, Springer and Pointer enthusiasts. The club held field trials for these breeds for many years. The Pointer group eventually disbanded. The Retriever and Springer group continued to support the club and increase the membership. In 1990 the Springer group left the club and formed their own club. The original club continues today with Retrievers.
In 1942 the club started a newsletter to report the results of field trials to the membership with Jack Fraser, Jr. as editor. The newsletter became very popular with field trialers. With increased popularity and circulation it became the National publication for Retriever Field Trials. In 1965, the club assets were purchased by the National Retriever Club and National Amateur Retriever Club. The newsletter became Retriever Field Trial News located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with subscribers around the world.
In 1980 the club purchased 55 acres of land near Horicon, Wisconsin. This land was the remains of a worked out gravel pit. The club has transformed a depleted gravel pit with grading, bulldozing, and the sweat of many club members into the excellent facility that is the Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club Grounds. In 1985 an excellent clubhouse was constructed on the grounds. Club members have made and continue to make improvements on the grounds.
The club has held Retriever Field Trials since 1938, providing trials for enthusiasts from all parts of the United States and Canada. In 1988 Mr. Ken Andrews conducted the first AKC Hunting Test for Retrievers for the club. With the increased popularity of the AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers, the club expanded its involvement with the program.
The club is a member of the National Retriever Club, National Amateur Retriever Club and the Master National Retriever Club.The club logo of two rising mallards was designed for the club by Mr. Vern Weber and has become a highly recognized symbol of the Wisconsin Amateur Field Trial Club, Inc.
Each year in January the club holds its annual Awards Banquet and General Membership Meeting. Trophies and awards are presented to those members whose dogs have excelled in Field Trials and Hunting Tests during the year. Hundreds of club members have worked hard for the success of the club, from those who started the club in the late thirties to the present. They have made the club one of the most prominent Field Trial and Hunt Test clubs in America.