Alan Kalal Coon Hunting Veteran... - Huntinghoundsmen.com

“Having a healthy family is important. My parents are both
departed, and I have a brother, Gary, married to Lori, has one
daughter named Jackie and two sons, Jeremy and Adam.
Gary and his sons are pheasant hunters and they also love ice
fishing. Jeremy is married to Angela and they have a one-year
old son named Cooper. I have a sister named Karen that’s
married to Cary Havlicek, and they have two daughters,
Cassie and Callie, both of whom are married, and there is
one grandson. Another sister, Darlene, is divorced and has
two sons, Calvin and Colon, and two daughters, Kalyn and
Kylee, with one grandson. And my family with Kristi has
already been mentioned and means everything to me.
“It’s important to recognize always having safe travels to
and from work and the hunts, and having a hound that can
run and tree me a coon every now and then. But the greatest
highlight of all to me is the friendships life has brought to me
in this coonhound world. Yes, sometimes we can agree to
disagree, but in the end we are still friends. Being asked to
judge the 2000 Autumn Oaks Show, 2005 UKC World Show,
2009 UKC Winter Classic Show and being hired by UKC in
2008 to be one of their Field Reps ... these are all highlights.
“I’ve held office at local clubs like the Minnesota Coon and
Fox Club and at the Crane Creek Coon Hunters Club. I’ve
held several different offices or been a director of the
Minnesota State Coon Hunters Association since the start of
the association.
“In 1981, I received a call about being put on the Board of
Directors of the Treeing Walker Breeders and Fanciers
Association. I did accept and have been either a board member
or an officer of this fine association ever since. That
amounts to 32 years and it’s been filled with some ups and
downs, but mostly ups and that is a good thing for the membership
and the breed.
“I’ve been involved with the TWBFA under Presidents Lee
Crawford, George Yazel, Alan Snedegar, Duane Clark and
Tony Martin. Working under these men was quite beneficial
and a great learning experience and now that I’m President, I
would say that I’ve had big shoes to fill following these past
presidents.
“Being involved with a large association takes lots of work
and dedication from the Board of Directors. I couldn’t ask for
a better Board. Changes have come with new ideas and
everyone works in harmony to make sure that the membership
is treated fairly and with respect.
“We have two directors that brought up the Youth
Extravaganza, including Mike Carmack and Tom Lechlitner.
These two men are very influential to putting this hunt on
every year. The youth winning the bench show and the
youth winning the night hunt each win a $1000 scholarship.
At Walker Days, we give back to the hunters an estimated
$15,000 in prizes. There’s also the new pup hunt on
Thursday night which is UKC licensed; it’s for two-year old
pups and younger. We give away cash for a cast win, plus
point cast winners get championship points, and if they are
performance pups they will receive performance points. The
final four go out and hunt off for an hour to determine the
cash prizes for the top four places, so it’s a win-win situation
for all that enter.
“Being involved in the TWBFA is something that is very
humbling. I cannot even begin to name all the great friends
that I have met over the past 30+ years. I know that you all
know who you are, and I appreciate each and every one of
you.
“And I want to close this by once more giving thanks for
my family and my friends. Good luck to all newcomers, for
this is a great sport and one I hope continues. See you at the
hunts!”