4-H dog show sees several new changes in 2016

[August 01, 2016]  On Saturday morning the 4-H Unit Dog show was held in Lincoln at the Logan County Fairgrounds. In 2015, the dog show became a unit show and was held in Sangamon County. This year the show, still a unit show, was held in Lincoln. According to Amy Hyde with the Logan County Extension Office and 4-H program, this rotation between Logan and Sangamon County will continue into the future.

In 2014, the University of Illinois Extension program merged multiple Extension offices into “units.” Logan County became a part of a unit made up of Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties. Because the 4-H program is under the umbrella of the University of Illinois Extension program, the local 4-H program also became part of a unit.

For the most part, this has no impact on local 4-Hers, as the local judging during the Logan County Fair goes on just as it has in the past. However, last year the dog show became a unit show, and this year the cat show, also held on Saturday became a unit show.

At the dog show this year, there were six classes in the dog show; Beginner Dog Care, Senior Dog Care, Pre-Novice Dog Obedience, Beginner Novice Dog Obedience, Dogs 101, and Jr. and Sr. Showmanship.

Three judges worked the show with Jessica Haberkorn of Lincoln judging the Dog Care category. Erin Sanders of Taylorville did the judging for the Obedience classes, and Tomi Patrick of Springfield judged Showmanship.

At the end of the day, all the entries earned blue ribbons, and several Championship plaques were awarded.

Plaques were awarded to Cheyenne Stout (3) of the Sangamon County 4-H program, Roux Starr (2), Katie Lynn, J.R. Lynn, and Stephen Starasta, all of Logan County.

The championship plaques were sponsored by various local businesses including Best Friends Animal Hospital. The Best Friends plaque was presented to winner Katie Lynn in the Pre-Novice Dog Obedience Class by the daughters of Best Friends Veterinarian Dr. Jason Wrage.

Another new component to the dog show this year was the venue. Typically the show has been held on the north side of the fairgrounds under a tent. This year, it was moved inside to the textiles building of the south end of the fairgrounds.

Hyde said that the new set-up, complete with a white picket fence outlining the show area is an addition made by the Sangamon County Dog Show Superintendent. She went on to explain the superintendent not only serves Sangamon County 4-H but works each year at the dog shows at the Illinois State Fair. Hyde said the arena this year was set up similar to what it will look like at the state fair. She explained this is a benefit to the youngsters of Logan County because it gives them a feel for what they will see when they do go to the State Fair later this month.

[Nila Smith]