Dog show kicks off fair week
Staff writer
Kids and dogs from around the county competed Saturday at the 4-H dog show that kicked off Marion County fair-week at the Hillsboro Fair Grounds.
Participants competed in three events, agility, showmanship, and obedience.
Debi Hughbanks, obedience trainer and show helper, said she was excited to see new competitors.
One of them, Ella Suderman 8, from South Cottonwood 4-H Club, won the junior novice division in showmanship with her family dog, Willie.
“We rescued him from the pound in September,” Ella said.
She said she had been working with Willie every day leading up to the show.
“He did so good,” she said.
Ruger, a Jack Russell/Corgi mix, won the pre-novice on-lead agility competition. His owner, Lauren McLinden of Happy Hustler’s, has competed for six years.
“Ruger likes to show off, so he competes really well,” she said.
Ruger also won reserve champion in his showmanship class.
Another corgi, Cheyenne, owned by Cassidy Hill of Tampa Triple T’s, won the showmanship senior class. Hill is training another corgi puppy for future shows.
“Corgis are dogs that just want to be in the spotlight,” she said.
Other winners included Larry Zieammerman of Happy Hustlers, junior showmanship; Morgan Gaines of Peabody Achievers, pre-novice off-lead agility; Eleanor Silhan of Lincolnville Wide Awake and Morgan Gaines of Peabody Achievers, pre-novice obedience; and Lisa Geis of Tampa Triple T’s novice obedience.