As described by the song, Home on the Range, officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947, the 43,000 acre Z Bar Ranch owned by Ted Turner is home to roaming buffalo, deer, antelope, curious prairie dogs and a large assortment of other wildlife.

On November 18, 2011, the number of animals on the ranch increased as the newly formed Gyp Hills Field Trial Club sponsored a field trial on the beautiful, well cared for land.

Ranch bird dog manager Mike Mader purchased a puppy from local resident, Don Gerstner. Gerstner has been involved in raising and training bird dogs and running them in field trials for many years. The idea of having a field trial on the Z Bar Ranch took off from that transaction. After discussing the idea with ranch manager Keith Yearout and his wife Eva and receiving permission from Ted Turner, the event was scheduled.

Field Trials are a sporting event where individuals compete with trained bird dogs. The dogs are handled from foot in some classes while other classes the handlers ride horseback. Field trials are proving grounds of dog breeding and blood lines as well as individual judging on qualities such as speed, range, bird-finding ability, trainability, desire to hunt, stamina and obedience. There are field trials which are breed specific and others which do not limit the dogs to one specific breed.

Included breeds in the forty-three dogs that participated in the three day field trial held on the Z Bar Ranch were Pointers, Setters and Irish Setters. Handlers on their horses followed their dogs through the courses which had been developed and laid out in the weeks previous with the help of Mader and Yearout.

Multiple shades of browns were prevalent on the mid November prairie. The variety of grasses and plum thickets provide ample cover for native quail and pheasants. What nature did not provide for the field trials, the Yearouts did. Yearout moved the large herds of buffalo around to best accommodate the field trials. He also placed water tanks throughout the courses so both dogs and horses would have available water. Eva readied the bunk house which gave those participating access to a headquarters with all of the amenities.

The near perfect conditions for a field trial on the Z Bar Ranch were made possible by good stewardship of the land. The working ranch includes both cattle and buffalo. The ranch is divided into 12 primary grazing areas through which the bison are rotated enabling the re-growth of grass. Food plots are planted which are used strictly for the wildlife. Deer feeders have been installed and water is made available and used by a large variety of animals and birds. The ranch promotes the growth of several prairie dog towns as well as providing a natural habitat for other species including antelope, coyotes, badgers, bob cats, rattle snakes and a wide variety of prairie birds.

Other issues addressed with a conscience effort towards maintaining and conserving the large ranch is the removal of invasive trees and noxious weeds and managing the water supply when faced with times of drought.

The near-perfect conditions on the ranch provided the participants with a wild bird only field trial. Areas where the population of quail and pheasants have diminished over the years, birds are brought in and turned loose for the field trial.

The dogs are run by their handlers in one hour heats. Holler Point Outlaw took first place in the Open All-Age Class. He is owned by Rodney and Karlie Shoemaker and was handled by Rodney Shoemaker. Worsham’s Silver Spur, owned and handled by Joe Worsham took second. Third place went to Du’More Gigolo Cruz, owned by Sean Snyder and handled by Drew Zink.

The Open All-Age Derby Class was won by Worsham’s Silver Strike, owned and handled by Joe Worsham. Bocomo Sir Albert took second. He is owned and handled by Richard Lewis.

The Open Shooting Dog Class was won by Certified Sam, owned and handled by Don Gerstner. Quik Fairway Bob, owned and handled by D. C. Kimble, took second place. Bocomo Joy came in third place in that class. She is owned and handled by Richard Lewis.

In the Open Shooting Dog Derby class, Prairie Double Shot took first place and Prairie High Danner took second. They are both owned by Roger and Glenda Duncan and handled by Roger Duncan. Worsham’s Silver Strike, owned and handled by Joe Worsham, took third.

These dogs have to be strong, fast and tough which comes through good breeding and thorough training. They are judged on how steady they are to wing and shot. When a bird takes flight, the dog cannot move. When a shot is fired into the air, the dog must stay steady. As there are no birds killed during field trials, retrieving is not part of the field trial dog’s training. Gerstner explained with a smile, "Although it is not a sport which a lot of people are involved in, it is a sport that gets in your blood."

The horses rode by the handlers must also be fast to stay up with the dogs. Tennessee Walking Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters are two breeds most commonly used in field trials.

Professional photographer Kyle Gerstner, son of club member Don Gerstner, was present with his camera. Forty-nine pictures of this event can be viewed at http://gerstner.zenfolio.com/p500002052. These photos show men and their animals enjoying their sport under the sparsely clouded skies out on the Kansas prairie with buffalo grazing nearby.

Gerstner commented, "We appreciate Mr. Turner and the Yearouts for giving us the opportunity to hold the field trials on the Z Bar Ranch. It was perfect land for the field trials and the Yearouts couldn’t have been more cooperative. They did everything possible to make the event successful."