Burton M Wice, PhD

Nominated by William Dierberg, DVM

It gives me great pleasure to nominate Burton Wice for election into the BFTHF. I got to know and befriend Burton and his family after they acquired a Brittany pup, the Far Side’s Kid Amee (Amee), from me 28 years ago after which the Wice family fell in love with Brittanys as both companions and field trial dogs. After acquiring Amee, Burton and his 10 year old daughter, Sarah, would attend field training sessions at my “Pond Fort” hunting preserve in St. Charles County, Missouri. In spite of work and school commitments, this duo successfully trained Amee and campaigned her in field trials throughout Missouri, Illinois and Iowa where they handled Amee to most of her 60 placements. As a result of these early years with Amee, Burton embarked on a 28-year commitment to the Brittany dog, Brittany community, and to other pointing breeds.

For almost three decades, Burton has been a strong advocate for and a successful breeder and campaigner of the 1-hour Brittany All-Age dog. He made major contributions to the Brittany community at both the local and national levels and is an ideal candidate for election into the BFTHF.

Burton has been President of the Greater St Louis Brittany Club (GSLBC) for the past 23 years. During his leadership, the club hosted many field trials at the premier Sportsmen’s Association Field Trial Grounds in Grovespring, MO. Importantly, he was Field Trial Secretary for more than 8 ABC Quail Classics/Championships, many GSLBC Regional Championships, and dozens of regional “weekend” trials. As field trial chairman or secretary, Burton not only made sure the field trials ran smoothly, but he usually prepared a gourmet meal on Saturday nights for all of the attendees. His reputation for grilled rack of lamb was always a helpful tool for recruiting judges. When not secretary or chairman, Burton has also been on the field trial committee for numerous National events. He has also been Dates Coordinator for the Central Region since 2019. One of his current goals is to increase participation by and between amateurs, without which he feels the future of field trialing is at risk.

In addition to hosting field trials, Burton is well-known for his write-ups of Championship events. He served as reporter for the ABC Open All-Age National Championships (2X), more than 10 ABC Gamebird Classics, the 2022 ABC Derby Invitational Championship, and for the 2022 National Vizsla Association National Amateur Championship, Derby Stake, and National Open Championship events. In his write-ups, Burton tried to ensure that the reader could visualize the entire performance of each dog. He was never afraid to be brutally honest, usually (but not always successfully) with a sense of humor, even with his own dogs.

Burton has judged more than 85 AKC Regional Field Trials for various breed clubs. Additionally, he has judged American Field Open All-Age and Shooting Dog Championships, and National Vizsla Association National Amateur Championship, Derby Stake, and National Open Championship events. When judging for small regional trials, Burton frequently declines to be reimbursed for his expenses in order to help support the host club and participants.

Burton has been a member of ABC Board of Directors for the past 6 years. Importantly, he has defended and promoted the importance of the Brittany as a 1-hour All-Age field trial dog. As a director, Burton has and will continue to advocate for fiscal responsibility and for the field trial dog.

Burton has owned, bred, partially or fully, trained, handled and campaigned dogs that are/were leading competitors and winners in numerous stakes. Most of these include:

Deceased:

Ø FC The Far Side’s Kid Amee (60 placements)

Ø FC WW’s Million Dollar Mollee (34 placements)

Ø GFC2, FC Driving Miss Daisy II (24 placements including 12 in one-hour AA stakes).

Active:

Ø GFC2, RFC2, FC, AFC WW’s Miss Wendy Peffercorn (DOB=7/12/17)

“Wendee” was bred by Burton and has 11 1-hour AA placements, 23 total. She was sired by NAFC GAFC FC AFC Glade Run Irish out of Burton’s GFC2, FC Driving Miss Daisy II. Wendee won the ABC Quail Championship 4 months after her second birthday, the GOLAA in Mingo in 2020, the ABC Pheasant Championship in 2024 and the Nebraska Championship in 2025.

Ø RFC, FC, AFC WW’s Gin and Tonic (DOB=7/12/17).

“Ginee” was bred and predominantly trained and campaigned by Burton. Ginee, a littermate of Wendee, has 10 1-hour AA placements, 25 total. She was RU Champion of the Victoire Nationale in 2019 and Winner of the Southern Open Brittany Open All-Age Championship in 2025.

Ø GFC, RFC2, RAFC, FC, AFC WW’s Miss Carona (DOB=3/27/21).

“Rona” was bred and exclusively trained, handled, and campaigned by Burton. Co-owned with wife Sharon, Rona is the result of Burton’s focused breeding program designed to produce the one-hour All-Age Brittany. Rona was sired by NFC 10x AFCH FC AFC CVK'S Spartan King out of Burton’s FC, AFC WW’s Miss Wendy Peffercorn (see above). Rona has 13 1-hour AA placement with 6 blue ribbons including third place in the 2024 ABC National Open All-Age Championship.

Rona was top qualifier and winner of the 1-hour 2022 ABC Derby Invitational with 3 broke covey finds. She became a Field Champion at 19 months of age by winning a 1-hour Open All-Age stake with 36 competitors and has 25 total placements. Her littermate won the 2023 Victoire Nationale but unfortunately was retired by her owner after winning this prestigious event.

Burton is deserving of election into the BFTHF due to his exemplary service to the sport of field trialing both locally and nationally for a long period of time.