Winter Classic Moving Forward as Planned

February 3, 2026

Source: Allen Gingerich, Director of Hunting Ops
Email: agingerich@ukcdogs.com

Winter Classic Moving Forward as Planned

The Batesville, MS area, host of the upcoming UKC Winter Classic, was struck by a severe ice storm last weekend that left thousands without power. In response, hundreds of emergency crews from across the country were deployed to assist with restoration efforts.

UKC has been in correspondence with Civic Center Director, Rodney Holley regarding social media posts claiming the venue was being used to house emergency personnel and equipment during the recovery period. And as such, the facility may not be available for the Winter Classic.

Mr. Holley confirmed that the majority of power outages in the region have already been resolved, and crews continue working to restore service throughout the rural areas. Regarding concerns about hotel reservations being canceled for Winter Classic participants, local authorities are actively working to address any issues, and at this time, no problems are expected.

Long range weather forecasts are also encouraging, with temperatures projected to reach the upper 60s to low 70s leading up to Winter Classic weekend. The facilities manager also noted that the Monster Truck Day of Destruction event scheduled for this coming weekend, February 7, remains on track as planned.

With all this in mind, the UKC Winter Classic will proceed as scheduled on February 13 and 14. The same applies to the Warm Up Hunts and the Pro Slam on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Fingers crossed for great weather next week!

Guided by the belief that dogs make a difference by being the best partner a human can have in the field, on the job, or in a competition event, UKC is a community for people and dogs to pursue excellence together. Founded in 1898, UKC has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of Dogs That Do More, and their owners, by providing essential resources to help owners and breeders make informed decisions. The dog-human bond is celebrated through family-friendly programs highlighting the instincts and heritage of purebred and mixed-breed dogs alike at over 18,000 licensed events annually.