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   Three 4-H youth from Cass County participated in the Minnesota 4-H State Dog show Sept. 23-24, 2023.  In total, 363 youth and 417 dogs from across the state participated in this annual event, held at the 4-H Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

   Over the two-day event, 4-H’ers demonstrate their skills and knowledge in agility, obedience, showmanship, and rally, competing against other youth in their age group and experience level.  

   Youth members of the Minnesota 4-H Dog Project learn to train and build a trusting relationship with their pet. Topics of study include canine behavior, breed characteristics, diseases, ethics, grooming, health, nutrition, responsible breeding, service dogs, therapy dogs, dog-related careers, and the wide array of dog sports. 

   “Youth learn so much responsibility from training their dog and competing in the 4-H State Dog Show,” said Kim Lambert, one of the many caring adults who volunteer with the 4-H Dog Project statewide. “These kids work all year long, building strong partnerships with their dogs. If they don’t work carefully with their dogs, the dogs won’t work for them. The responsibility kids learn here they can use forever.”

   The following youth were members of the Cass County delegation:

   Gertie Dice with dog Letty (Pequot Lakes, MN)

   Rally - Foundation - Blue Ribbon

   Kendall Hovde with dog Ollie (Brainerd, MN)

   Agility - Elementary - Blue Ribbon, Champion Award; Agility - Jumpers 1B - Blue Ribbon, Champion Award; Obedience – Graduate Beginner - Blue Ribbon, 1st Award of Excellence; Showmanship - Open - Blue Ribbon

   Dixie Rowell with dog Charlie (Pine River, MN)

   Obedience - Foundation - Blue Ribbon, Reserve Champion; Rally - Foundation - Blue Ribbon; Showmanship – Novice - Blue Ribbon

   To learn more about the 4-H Dog Project, contact 4-H Local Interim Extension Educator Jenna Claypool 218-587-8280 and visit the website, https://z.umn.edu/4Hdog 

   About Extension 4-H: 4-H is a youth development program of the University of Minnesota Extension.  Available for youth in kindergarten thru 1 year after high school, 4-H’ers participate in hands-on learning experiences in STEM, citizenship & leadership, animal science, creative arts and much more. In this learn-by-doing process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, coping and communicating that help them succeed in their school, college, community and career. Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H have better grades and are more emotionally engaged with school, are more than twice as likely to be civically active and contribute to their communities, and are 47% less likely to have risky or problem behaviors.

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