4-H Dog Members Did a Super Job at State Fair

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County 4-H Dog Advisory Committee and leaders are proud of the excellent representation of the 18 4-H Dog Program members and 21 dogs at the 2011 Great New York State Fair on August 31^st, and September 1^st.  Receiving the highest achievement of Grand Champion were Sarah Nomes with Cricket, her Mini-Dachshund, in Obedience Beginners A; and Hannah DeFries with Louis, her Jack Russell Terrier, in Rally Obedience Novice B.  An impressive Reserve Grand Champion went to Danyelle Harding with Winchester, her Weimaraner, for the second year in a row, this year in the Obedience Novice B Class.  

 

One of the most exciting moments came when the Chautauqua County Drill Team was awarded Reserve Grand Champion, after performing a seven minute choreographed routine to the “Superman” theme, complete with a variety of obedience elements.  Ten participants, two coaches, and three assistants from throughout Chautauqua County spent months planning and practicing for this event.

 

When they were not competing or performing in the show rings, several Dog Members participated in the Dog Knowledge Challenge, (including Catherine Oag, Mandy Swanson, Sarah Nomes, Megan Bridges, and Kayla Nefedov).

 

Members competed with the best in the State, some classes had over 40 competitors.  Handlers were awarded one of the following: a white ribbon for being worthy or fair, a red ribbon for doing good, a blue ribbon for excellence, or the most coveted purple ribbons for Reserve and Grand Champion.  The State Fair Dog Program results for Chautauqua County are as follows:

 

On Wednesday, August 31^st, it began with the Obedience Classes.  In Beginners A Obedience: Grand Champion Sarah Nomes of Frewsburg, w/ Cricket, a Mini-Dachshund; and Beginners B Obedience: Catherine Oag of Cassadaga Valley received 5^th place with Tye, a Sheltie; Rachel Nomes was awarded a Blue, and Megan Bridges a Red.  In the Graduate Beginners A Class, Nicole Schack, of Bemus Point, received 5^th place with Bella, a West Highland Terrier; and Kayla Nefedov and Megan Clark received Red Awards.  The Novice A Obedience members (coming from Sherman) were placed accordingly: Alexandria Anderson 6^th place w/ Toby, her Cocker Spaniel; and Adrienne Frew in 8^th place w/ Daisy, her Labradoodle; and Hewitt Meeder received a white.  In the Novice B Obedience Class Danyelle Harding of Fluvanna was awarded Reserve Grand Champion w/ Winchester; Adrienne Frew was awarded a white with Duke, a Labradoodle.  Our highest performing Obedience Class was Advanced Novice where Danyelle Harding received a 4^th place Blue, w/ Tessa, her Weimaraner.

 

Chautauqua County was represented by two Four Person Obedience Teams:  In 3^rd Place, receiving a Blue, was the team of Hewitt Meeder, Danyelle Harding, Bryan Tenpas, and Adrienne Frew; Red Ribbons were awarded to the team of Megan Clark, Chance Meeder, Cristen Lookenhouse, and Hannah DeFries.  Elise Schack received a White Award for her Obedience Brace Team of West Highland Terriers, Tucker and Bella.

 

All State Fair Agility Classes are Off-Lead.  In Pre-Novice Agility Hannah DeFries of Chautauqua received 8^th place with Louis, a Jack Russell Terrier; Adrienne Frew and Megan Clark received Red Awards. In Novice Agility, Elise Schack of Bemus Point and Hewitt Meeder of Sherman both received a Blue with a perfect score of 100, separated only by seconds, placing 3^rd and 5^th, respectively; and Mandy Swanson of Jamestown, received a Red Award in the Excellent Agility Class, with Josh, her Australian Shepherd.

 

On Thursday, September 1^st, all Chautauqua County members participating in Grooming and Handling received Blue Ribbons of Excellence.  In Open A Kayla Nefedov of Randolph placed 5^th with Lily, her Golden Retriever; Megan Clark of Clymer placed 6^th with Molly, her Lab/Samoyed Mix; and Megan Bridges, of St Mary’s PA, showed Bella, her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  In Open B Nicole Schack, Bryan Tenpas, Chance Meeder all performed well.  In Open C Hewitt Meeder showed alongside Danyelle Harding who placed 5^th w/ Winchester. 

 

In Rally Obedience Novice A (On-Lead): Kayla Nefedov received a Blue award; and two Blue Ribbons went to Cristen Lookenhouse, of South Ripley, and her dogs Buddy (a Yellow Lab), and Bruno (a German Short Hair Pointer).  In Rally-O Novice B (On-Lead), the Grand Champion Award went to Hannah DeFries of Chautauqua, with her Jack Russell Terrier, Louis; while Rebekah Anderson of Sherman received 3^rd place w/ Katie, her Cocker Spaniel, and Chance Meeder of Sherman, received a Blue with Bailey, his Australian Shepherd.  In the Advanced Class (Off-Lead), Elise Schack of Bemus Point came in 5^th place, with

 

 Tucker; Megan Clark placed 7^th with Molly, and Bryan Tenpas of Sherman received a Red Award with Snowball, a Golden Retriever.  The most difficult class is the Excellent Rally-O Class (Off-Lead); where Hewitt Meeder and Alexandria Anderson, both of Sherman, received Blue Ribbons with a score of 97 out of 100, placing 5^th and 6^th respectively; Boe, the Border Collie Mix, and Toby, the Cocker Spaniel, were only separated by time.