Kristen Ingram of Miami, OK has been named the 2025 Bill T. Teague Handler of the Year by the MNRC Foundation.
As a 16 year old, Kristen began her retriever journey looking for a part-time job to earn gas money. She found that job at The Retriever Academy owned by Derek and Melinda Randle. Starting as kennel help and bird “boy”, Kristen quickly was inspired by the skills and capabilities of retrievers. This lead to an intense curiosity for the process, discipline, and standards required to bring out the full potential of retrievers.
Finishing her first year of college while still working part time at The Retriever Academy, Kristen realized that where she truly wanted to be was at TRA. From that point forward she has been fully committed to dog training. Fast forward 12 years, and the Kristen we now know has developed into the trainer worthy of this award.
Kristen credits the mentorship of Derek as she learned to train and handle dogs and how to carry a standard to the line larger than herself. She also acknowledges the encouragement from Melinda, the team environment, the trust and support from their clients, and her family’s backing for shaping the handler she is today.
Kristen ran her first AKC Hunt Test in 2017. Since that first hunt test, Kristen has had the privilege to learn from many talented handlers and respected judges. In her own words, Kristen says, “This sport has given me both hard lessons and proud moments, and both are valued equally.” Kristen has now attended 6 MNRC Hunt Tests and has handled dogs in four of them. She echoes the goal of the entire team at TRA to meet their professional standards and client objectives while upholding the AKC guidelines and the code of sportsmanship. She has worked alongside all the workers and handlers that share the task of putting on the annual MNRC Hunt Test.
Kristen acknowledges that her successes are shared with her mentors, teammates, and clients who believe in the process and have given her the opportunity to grow. Kristen says, “Receiving this award carries special meaning because it represents more than performance. It represents dedication to the dogs, respect for the process, and commitment to the people who make this sport possible. To be connected in any way to that legacy is a true honor, and I am deeply grateful to the Foundation Board, The Retriever Academy, and the clients and dogs who continue to shape this incredible journey.”