CULLMAN, Ala. – The Tri-Green Arena at the Cullman County Fair was packed Sunday afternoon as dogs, along with their young handlers, took center stage for the much-anticipated Dog Show hosted by the Cullman County 4-H Club. This year’s show saw an increase in participation with the return of veteran handlers and the addition of a few rising stars.
Dr. Barbara Buettner returned to judge the event. Buettner is a former American Kennel Club (AKC) judge with more than 20 years’ experience judging dog shows. She carefully guided the young handlers, and her passion was evident as she took the time to give advice and praise to the participants.
Confirmation Division/ Herding Working Breeds
- 1st place- Savannah Bischoff with Skye
- 2nd place- Ashelynn McCluskey with Airis
Confirmation Division/Toy and Terrier Breeds
- 1st place- Lexie Smith with Skippy
- 2nd place- Emmaline Richter with Teddie
Confirmation Division/Non-Working Breeds
- 1st place- Elijah Miller with Henry
- 2nd place- Sara Bolte with Lexi
Confirmation Division/Mixed-Breeds
- 1st place- Amanda Miller-Suchey with Ella
- 2nd place- Jonathan Roberson with Libby
- 3rd place- Arianna Randall with July
Obedience Division Pre-Novice
- 1st place- Arianna Randall with July
- 2nd place- Amanda Miller-Suchey with Ella
- 3rd place- Jonathan Roberson with Libby
- 4th place- Elijah Miller with Henry
- 5th place- Sara Bolte with Lexi
- 6th place- Emmaline Richter with Teddie
Obedience Division Novice
- 1st place- Savannah Bischoff with Skye
- 2nd place- Ashelynn McCluskey with Airis
- 3rd place- Lexie Smith with Skippy
Best Trick
- 1st place- Savannah Bischoff with Skye
- 2nd place- Jonathan Roberson with Libby
- 3rd place- Elijah Miller with Henry
- 4th place- Amanda Miller-Suchey with Ella
- 5th place- Sara Bolte with Lexi
- 6th place- Ashelynn McCluskey with Airis
- 7th place- Lexie Smith with Skippy
- 8th place- Emmaline Richter with Teddie
The sportsmanship demonstrated by the kids participating in the dog show was superb. In the arena’s staging area, they congratulated each other and learned from their peers. There was a little nervousness among the group, but they definitely found comfort as they talked and laughed with one another behind the scenes.
Elijah Miller and his 2-year-old French Bulldog Henry were thrilled with their fourth-place finish in the Pre-Novice Division.
“This is his first dog show,” said Miller. “He never really sees any other dogs, so he did great.”
A few minutes later, Miller and Henry took first place in the Non-Working Breed Division.
Miller, a sixth grader from Haleyville, and Henry wowed in the talent portion. Henry showed off his dancing skills, which later won him a third-place trophy.
East Elementary fourth grader Jonathan Roberson stood with his black Labradoodle Libby after a third-place finish in the Novice Division.
Perhaps a bit biased, Granddaddy and Nana laughed, “We think he was robbed.”
Libby proudly wore her Auburn bandana and Roberson’s grandparents worried if that could have cost her.
Roberson and Libby’s day was just getting started as Libby shined. Libby took second place in both Best Trick and Mixed Breed, giving Roberson and Libby two awesome trophies and three impressive ribbons. Most proud were Granddaddy and Nana, Doyle and Carolyn Jones.
Amanda Miller-Suchey from Mt. Pleasant returned this year with Ella, a Golden Pyrenees. Ella is in training to become a therapy dog and to be able to visit hospitals and nursing homes. Ella was awarded first place in Mixed Breeds edging out Roberson and Libby, who finished in second.
Miller-Suchey explained, “I have band events on the weekend of the Blount County Fair, so Cullman invited me to come back again this year.”
Also returning after a first-place finish last year was Arianna Randall with July. They repeated this year with another first-place win in the Novice Division.
“It’s a really fun show,” said Randall. “July was a dump; we found her. We don’t have a trick this year, but we are going to compete in Mixed Breeds.”
July did a great job, as usual, and took home a third-place finish among the mixed breeds.
Last year’s crowd favorite, Skippy the Jack Russell Terrier, returned with his favorite human, Lexie Smith. His signature derriere wiggle was just as impressive this year, and his smile was infectious. Smith was happy to be back with Skippy and took first place in this year’s Toy Breed Division.
Smith, a ninth grader from Holly Pond, said, “This is my second year with my dog and my third year with my horse.”
Smith will be back Wednesday night with her racking horse.
Sara Bolte, a fourth grader from Good Hope, and her beautiful Boxer Lexi had a great time at their first dog show. Bolte was bit worried about how Lexi would do around the excitement and other dogs, but Lexi was fantastic. Bolte and Lexi took home several trophies and ribbons including a second-place finish in Non-Working Breeds.
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