The new Blankenship Event Center was unveiled with an unexpected honor during a ribbon-cutting at the M. Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area in Hale County. The 5,000-square-foot facility was named for Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship and his wife, Allyson—a surprise that left the couple visibly moved.

The center sits on ADCNR State Lands Division property within what has become one of the most respected sporting dog venues in the country. Once home to the State Cattle Ranch, the Field Trial Area now spans more than 4,300 acres, including 3,342 Forever Wild Land Trust acres and an additional 998 acres of adjacent state land.

Designed to serve both community and competition, the Blankenship Event Center can be converted into an open-air meeting space and includes restrooms and a limited kitchen. A new 4,000-square-foot pavilion stands nearby, and all facilities—including parking—are fully ADA accessible.

Each year, the Field Trial Area hosts a wide range of activities, from youth deer, duck, and dove hunts to physically disabled hunts, public fishing events, Campus Conservation Program activities, and major sporting dog competitions. In 2025, the property hosted more than 30 sporting dog events, including the Vizsla Club of America National Gun Dog Championship and the AKC National Gun Dog Championship. More than 2,700 dogs competed on the grounds alongside dozens of youth and disabled hunts.

A Premier Destination for Sporting Dogs

“This is a special place in Alabama’s Black Belt,” Commissioner Blankenship said, noting that nearly 4,000 visitors come through the property each year.

Though he once described the site as one of the premier field trial locations in the Southeast, Blankenship recalled being corrected by a veteran handler.

“He said this was the premier field trial area in the country,” Blankenship said. “Having our family name attached to this facility is an incredible honor.”

Funding for the project came through legislative allocations, support from Innovate Alabama, and ADCNR resources—allowing the department to build facilities that match the quality of the land itself.

“We wanted something first class,” Blankenship said. “Something that would draw regional and national events and bring people into these communities.”

State Representative Curtis Travis said the investment reaches beyond the Field Trial Area and into surrounding communities.

“Recreation and natural resources can drive real economic growth for rural areas,” Travis said. “This is a proud day for this part of the state.”

He described the event center as “a field of dreams,” where competition, camaraderie, and shared heritage come together, and recognized the planners, builders, donors, and supporters who helped bring the vision to life.

The project also included expanded horse barns, new restroom facilities, upgraded camping infrastructure with electrical hookups, fencing improvements, and road and paving upgrades throughout the property.

State Lands Division Director Patti McCurdy credited decades of leadership for shaping the Field Trial Area into what it is today, from its early vision under former Commissioner Barnett Lawley to continued growth under Commissioner Blankenship.

“This isn’t just about outdoor recreation,” McCurdy said. “It’s about economic impact for Black Belt communities—visitors staying local, eating local, and supporting local businesses.”

She also praised the staff and conservation officers who manage the property’s many demands.

“They treat every blade of grass like it’s their own,” McCurdy said.

State Lands Chief Enforcement Officer Jeremy Doss said recent upgrades—including a barn expansion that accommodates 48 horses, new fencing, and additional campsites—will enhance future events, especially horse-supported trials.

What sets the Field Trial Area apart, Doss said, is both its scale and its stewardship.

“From prescribed burns to habitat preparation across thousands of acres, we manage this land to meet the needs of every event,” he said. “Everybody wants to be here—and that tells us we’re doing something right.”

As demand continues to grow, the Field Trial Area is expanding its capacity while maintaining its commitment to youth hunts, accessibility, and public use. In the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt, the Blankenship Event Center now stands as a gathering place—and a testament to what’s possible when conservation, community, and vision align.

Courtesy of SoulGrown Alabama.