| 
			
			 The Logan County Extension which administered the 
			4-H program, is part of a three-county district including Menard and 
			Sangamon Counties. This year the dog show which has in the past been 
			held in Logan County was conducted at another fair. There were also 
			no guinea pig entries by 4-H members in Logan County this year, so 
			that show was cancelled. 
 
  Laura 
			Tomlinson with Amanda Gray (right)
 
			
			 Carissa Davis
 
			
			 
			Extension staff on hand for the first show of the season included 
			Amanda Gray and Carissa Davis.
 
  Jayden 
			Lawrence and Ivy Cunningham
 
 In Logan County, the superintendent for the cat show is Jayden 
			Lawrence. On Saturday she joined Judge Ivy Cunningham at the table 
			during the judging process. Cunningham is from Logan County. She 
			works at Cha-Dai Pet Motel in Lincoln and has been a personal cat 
			owner for more than 40 years.
 
 Cunningham was charged with the task of examining the record books 
			each of the entries provided, then meeting with the individual 
			exhibitors and their cats for a brief conversation and an 
			examination of each of the kitties.
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
			
			 
			
			 
 The first person to the judging table was Lauren Beck with her kitty 
			Meow-meow. Lauren is a Sangamon County exhibitor. She was asked 
			about her kitty’s habits and favorite things to do. Beck responded 
			that Meow-meow’s favorite activity is sleeping, especially while 
			lying on her lap.
 
 Beck was then asked what her favorite thing about Meow-meow was. She 
			said that she loves his personality and that he is a super calm 
			laid-back kitty.
 
			
			 
			Cunningham asked questions about Meow-meow’s health and learned that 
			he has never been sick, and he’s never gotten away from Lauren and 
			been lost.
 She asked Beck what was challenging about having Meow-meow. Beck 
			answered that she struggled to keep the kitty’s weight down. She 
			said that she had placed him on a diet, but during that time he 
			gained even more weight.
 
            [to top of second column] | 
            
			
			 
            
			 
 
  
 The second person to show her cat was Jenna Beck, Lauren’s sister 
			and also a Sangamon County member.
 
            Jenna shared that her kitty’s name is Oliver and he 
			was adopted from an animal shelter. He likes to play and also he 
			likes to sleep.
 Beck was asked if she would consider owning another cat. She 
			responded that she loves Oliver and as long as she has him, he is 
			all she needs. However, she said that if something ever happened to 
			Oliver, she might at some time consider adopting another kitty.
 
 
  
 
  
            
			 
            
			 
 
  
 The final exhibitor for the Logan County 4-H Cat Show was Rose 
			Catterson and her kitty Marvin. Catterson is a Logan County 4-H 
			member belonging to a club in Atlanta.
 
 Cunningham asked Rose to tell her about Marvin. Catterson said that 
			she loves everything about her kitty. He’s super sweet, but she does 
			have an issue with his weight. She said that he currently weighs 
			just over 13 pounds, so in her behavioral training with Marvin she 
			does not use food as a motivator or reward for good behavior.
 
 Catterson’s kitty is also a rescue of sorts. She told Cunningham 
			that Marvin came to her from someone who had him but was no longer 
			able to take care of him, so Rose took Marvin, and she is very happy 
			that she did.
 
 
  
 All three of the exhibitors and their cats received blue ribbons.
 
 
  
 After conferring for a few minutes superintendent Lawrence and judge 
			Cunningham announced that the top cat award for the show was going 
			to go to Lauren and Meow-meow Beck.
 
 [Nila Smith]
 |