Plott-tober Fest to draw national competitors
Two Plott hounds stick their heads out of travel crate. Donated photo
Plott hound enthusiasts and their pups from across the United States will assemble to compete in bear bay and coon treeing contests, as well as a sanctioned UKC bench show as part of Plott-tober Fest in Canton from Oct. 5-8.
Sponsored by the Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society, in partnership with the Canton Historical Museum and the Town of Canton, Plott-tober Fest is a four-day festival celebrating the Plott hound, North Carolina’s state dog, and the rich German heritage of Haywood County.
The festival events surrounding the Plott hound will be held at Canton’s Sorrells Park beginning Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with dog registration, and kick off at 9:30 a.m. with bear bay and coon treeing trials. A UKC sanctioned bench show will begin at 12:30 p.m.
A Plott hound roundtable, hosted by author and descendant of the original developers of the breed, Bob Plott, will discuss all things Plott hound from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Immediately following the roundtable, award presentations will be made including the coveted Methven Award. Named for Frank Methven, who wrote extensively about the Plott hound, this honor is one of the most prized big game hunting awards. A raffle follows the awards ceremony; prizes are a Garmin dog collar and a purebred Plott hound puppy.
“I’m especially looking forward to the roundtable,” said Plott. “You can expect some of the best storytelling ever heard — poignant and hilarious — from folks who have bred and owned Plott hounds collectively for centuries.”
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According to Plott, participants at previous competitions have come to the Smokies from as far away as California and Canada. This year, popular podcaster and renowned hunter and sled dog runner, Bear Siragusa, will be in attendance. A Maine native, Siragusa now lives in Norway where he produces the “Hunting Hound Podcast.”
Plott-tober Fest also features German cultural events, children’s activities, traditional German cuisine, and musical entertainment. All school children are admitted free. For more information visit nchchgs.org/plott-tober-fest/plott-tober-fest.
