Judges – NAHRA Invitational 2025

Kody Bull (Alaska Region)

What an honor it is to be selected to judge the 2025 NAHRA Invitational hosted by the Four Points Retriever Club! Congratulations to all of this year’s participants. NAHRA represents the best hunting retrievers around, and the NAHRA Invitational represents and celebrates the very best Master Hunting Retrievers. I look forward to visiting with old friends, meeting new friends and enjoying the time watching your dogs work. June can’t come quick enough, thanks again for the opportunity!

Travis Lund (Central Region)

Greetings from Sauk Rapids, MN, my family’s hometown and the host location for the 2025 NAHRA Invitational. I’m excited for everyone to experience central MN, the amazing Four Points Retriever Club members, and the outstanding dog training/testing playground that the Central MN Retriever Club provides us all. I’m equally as excited for this awesome opportunity to once again have one of the best 3 seats in the field – and alongside my longtime friends and esteemed co-judges, Dave and Kody. I am truly honored to have been selected as a judge for this prestigious dog event, an event that has been near and dear to my heart for many years. I have co-chaired one (2008), was on the test committee for another (2011), co-judged one (2016), and qualified dogs at three (2008, 2011, and 2021). All of them have been very memorable experiences and I hope to help make this one for all of you. I have participated in many retriever venues but none come close to what NAHRA offers. The program, the dogs, and the people are all top shelf. As someone who has always been passionate about retrievers, their well-being, and their remarkable abilities, it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to evaluate and celebrate these incredible dogs and the dedication of their owners. I look forward to seeing the amazing talents on display and am incredibly proud to be a part of this special occasion! Welcome, have fun, and enjoy every moment!

Dave Mellender (East Region)

I am very humbled and honored to be selected to Judge the 2025 Invitational in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. As most know from playing in these dog games, you cannot do it all by yourself. Many thanks to my wife Ann for enduring the many hours away from home for training and running events and the frustration I vented. Also thanks to the many judges and fellow dog handlers for the subtle hints and guidance over the years as an upcoming handler. Good luck and hope to see you there. Both my father and grandfather were avid outdoorsmen and passed that heritage on to me, I have been blessed to pass the love of the outdoors to my children and grandchildren.

I have had the privilege to own and train two dogs that achieved NAHRA’s highest honor, GMHRCH! We have had many great adventures and many great hunts that will never be forgotten. I look forward to working with the other judges during this event and know that we will provide challenging, but fair and fun tests. Those that have the opportunity to attend remember to have fun and I want you dog to pass as much as you do.

Follow along on the Facebook event page for updates as the event approaches!