Southern Minnesota NAVHDA History:
The Southern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter was born in early spring of 1996 with a lunch meeting at John Hardy’s BBQ in Rochester, Minnesota. Mike Zimmer, then a breeder of Spinone Italiano’s, met with Kevin Watkins, then Store Manager of Burger Brothers outdoor supply store, and Gunnar Kruger, to develop a plan to start a NAVHDA chapter in Southern Minnesota. Kevin Watkins and Gunnar Kruger were brand new owners of a German Shorthair and a German Wirehair, respectively, and Mike Zimmer had a recent litter of Spinone pups, so all were devoted to starting a chapter. The initial meeting determined who would be the first chapter officers and who would submit the necessary paperwork to NAVHDA International to request club charter.
It was determined that Mike Zimmer would be the chapter's first president, since he was a breeder and had leased the land we hold some of the training on (now called Tammel Springs after a change in ownership of the land). Kevin Watkins would be treasurer due to his business acumen as an outdoors supply store manager. Gunnar Kruger would be secretary since he was the only one with a computer at the time; and therefore, he would draft a letter to NAVHDA.
On May 14, 1996, a letter was drafted and sent to NAVHDA requesting formal chapter sanctioning and was to be called the Southern Minnesota Chapter. Eleven days later on May 25, 1996, our chapter was officially chartered as we received a congratulatory letter and chapter Charter Certificate from Richard St. Amant, then secretary of NAVHDA international, now NAVHDA President.
Our first year saw us holding an informational seminar at Burger Brothers with Jeff Mochalski from the Tri-State chapter graciously driving over from La Crosse to conduct the seminar. We signed up 22 charter members that first year. Although Kevin and Mike are no longer active, both were instrumental in starting our chapter and both remain interested in its success.
In recent years the chapter membership continues to evolve in the support of the NAVHDA purpose to foster, promote, and improve the versatile hunting dog breeds in North America. Many members have come and gone. Many handlers and their hunting partners have benefited from the knowledge base the club and membership has attained over the years.
In 2010 another milestone was accomplished with Bill Schultz becoming the first Southern Minnesota NAVHDA hander to pass the Invitational test.
In 2011 Angie Haas Coenen apprenticed as a NAVHDA hunt test judge and is accepted for the 2012 test season. Angie also passed the Invitational in 2012 handling her GSP Izzy with a score of 200.
Terry Huebbe also passed the Armbruster in the German Test system in 2012.
In 2013 both Paul Coenen passed the Invitational handling his GSP Chloe (194 points) and Jeff House passed the Invitational handling his PP Liberty (191 points).
Angie Haas Coenen has moved on to become a Senior hunt test Judge with NAVHDA International.
David Hahn apprenticed as a NAVHDA hunt test judge and has since been accepted as a NAVHDA International hunt test Judge for the 2020 season.
In 2018 Dustin Whittington passed the Invitational handling his GSP Veda (197 points) earning her VC title.
Today the Sothern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter membership remains steady between 30-50 members each year with an astounding array of dog breeds represented. The club includes the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, German Shorthair Pointer, German Wirehair Pointer, Deutsch-Drahthaar, French Spaniel, Brittany Spaniel, Italian Spinone, Bracco Italiano, English Setter, Vizsla, Pudelpointer, Cesky-Fousek, Small Munsterlander, and Large Munsterlander. If you have one of the many versatile breeds we don't have it we would love to see you at training day!
The Southern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter was born in early spring of 1996 with a lunch meeting at John Hardy’s BBQ in Rochester, Minnesota. Mike Zimmer, then a breeder of Spinone Italiano’s, met with Kevin Watkins, then Store Manager of Burger Brothers outdoor supply store, and Gunnar Kruger, to develop a plan to start a NAVHDA chapter in Southern Minnesota. Kevin Watkins and Gunnar Kruger were brand new owners of a German Shorthair and a German Wirehair, respectively, and Mike Zimmer had a recent litter of Spinone pups, so all were devoted to starting a chapter. The initial meeting determined who would be the first chapter officers and who would submit the necessary paperwork to NAVHDA International to request club charter.
It was determined that Mike Zimmer would be the chapter's first president, since he was a breeder and had leased the land we hold some of the training on (now called Tammel Springs after a change in ownership of the land). Kevin Watkins would be treasurer due to his business acumen as an outdoors supply store manager. Gunnar Kruger would be secretary since he was the only one with a computer at the time; and therefore, he would draft a letter to NAVHDA.
On May 14, 1996, a letter was drafted and sent to NAVHDA requesting formal chapter sanctioning and was to be called the Southern Minnesota Chapter. Eleven days later on May 25, 1996, our chapter was officially chartered as we received a congratulatory letter and chapter Charter Certificate from Richard St. Amant, then secretary of NAVHDA international, now NAVHDA President.
Our first year saw us holding an informational seminar at Burger Brothers with Jeff Mochalski from the Tri-State chapter graciously driving over from La Crosse to conduct the seminar. We signed up 22 charter members that first year. Although Kevin and Mike are no longer active, both were instrumental in starting our chapter and both remain interested in its success.
In recent years the chapter membership continues to evolve in the support of the NAVHDA purpose to foster, promote, and improve the versatile hunting dog breeds in North America. Many members have come and gone. Many handlers and their hunting partners have benefited from the knowledge base the club and membership has attained over the years.
In 2010 another milestone was accomplished with Bill Schultz becoming the first Southern Minnesota NAVHDA hander to pass the Invitational test.
In 2011 Angie Haas Coenen apprenticed as a NAVHDA hunt test judge and is accepted for the 2012 test season. Angie also passed the Invitational in 2012 handling her GSP Izzy with a score of 200.
Terry Huebbe also passed the Armbruster in the German Test system in 2012.
In 2013 both Paul Coenen passed the Invitational handling his GSP Chloe (194 points) and Jeff House passed the Invitational handling his PP Liberty (191 points).
Angie Haas Coenen has moved on to become a Senior hunt test Judge with NAVHDA International.
David Hahn apprenticed as a NAVHDA hunt test judge and has since been accepted as a NAVHDA International hunt test Judge for the 2020 season.
In 2018 Dustin Whittington passed the Invitational handling his GSP Veda (197 points) earning her VC title.
Today the Sothern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter membership remains steady between 30-50 members each year with an astounding array of dog breeds represented. The club includes the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, German Shorthair Pointer, German Wirehair Pointer, Deutsch-Drahthaar, French Spaniel, Brittany Spaniel, Italian Spinone, Bracco Italiano, English Setter, Vizsla, Pudelpointer, Cesky-Fousek, Small Munsterlander, and Large Munsterlander. If you have one of the many versatile breeds we don't have it we would love to see you at training day!