CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Fair is in town and this year, brought a new competition along for the ride. The Cullman County Youth Pet Show was held on Oct. 8, and delighted patrons. Two categories were available for entry: Dogs and Other than Dogs. Although the contestant pool wasn’t large, the contestants themselves had talent and adorability that was larger than life.
The four contestants in the Dog category were Halie Evans with Dozer, Alyssa Sams with Nala and Grace Trevino and both of her pups, Oni and Dresden. Contestants were judged on three criteria: Best Costume, Best Trick and conformation, or the build of the dog, according to breed standards. Pets were paraded around the arena, demonstrating their skills and illustrating their captivating appeal.
In the Best Costume category, two of the adorable contestants donned cow-themed Halloween costumes and spooked the crowd. Nala and her human, Alyssa Sams, clinched first place, with Halie Evans and her pup, Dozer, coming in second.
In the Best Trick category, the furry contestants showed their skills in a trick session. Heading out into the arena, Sams demonstrated Nala’s countless talents and Nala cheekily waved, spun in a circle and rolled over like she had been doing tricks her whole life. Trevino and her dogs Oni and Dresden, respectively, showcased their impressive willpower by resisting treats and laying when commanded. Evans and Dozer were the last competitors in the Best Trick category; Dozer embodied the king he is as he struck a deal and shook Evans’ hand. Nala and Sims took first place, followed by Oni and Trevino in second, Dresden and Trevino in third and finally, Dozer and Evans in fourth.
Conformation was the third and final category of the Dog portion of the show; contestants were judged based on the build and temperament of the dogs based off of breed standards. Nala and Sams swept the board with yet another first place title; Oni and Dresden, both with Trevino, snatched second and third place respectively; and Dozer rounded out the competition with a fourth-place win.
The Other Than Dogs category was open to any domesticated pet, you guessed it, other than dogs. Contestants were also judged in three categories: Best Dressed, where contestants rocked and sashayed in an outfit of choice, Most Unusual and Best Trick.
Entrants included Halie Hight with Buttercup the guinea pig, Amelia Cameron-Morin with Ember the cat, Cynthia Nail with Effie Trinket the guinea pig, Elsi Folks with Dude Wellington the rabbit, Ellie Errett with Dandelion the rabbit, Katie Errett with Cream the guinea pig, Heidi Errett with Chicken Feathers the chicken and Anna Errett with Dragon the Rabbit.
Best Dressed saw eight contestants, and Ellie Errett and Dandelion the rabbit, who wore a Girl Scout uniform, secured the first-place ribbon. Heidi Errett and Chicken Feathers took home second, Anna Errett with Dragon the rabbit came in third, Katie Errett with Cream the guinea pig fourth, Folks with Dude Wellington the rabbit fifth, Nail with Effie Trinket the guinea pig sixth, Cameron-Morin with Ember the cat seventh and rounding out the category, Hight with Buttercup the guinea pig placed eighth.
All eight of the furry contestants also tried for first place in the Most Unusual category. Amelia Cameron-Morin and Ember won the blue ribbon, followed by Hight and Buttercup in second, Nail and Effie Trinket in third, Folks and Dude Wellington in fourth, Heidi Errett and Chicken Feathers in fifth, Anna Errett and Dragon in sixth, Katie Errett and Cream in seventh and finally Ellie Errett and Dandelion closed the category in eighth place.
Only five of the competing unconventional pets opted to compete in the Best Trick category and competition was fierce. Ellie Errett and Dandelion earned yet another first-place title with Dandelion’s trick of putting sticks on a campfire. Anna Errett and Dragon took home second, thanks to Dragon’s ability to stand and beg for treats. Katie Errett demonstrated how Cream knows what she likes, her talent of nodding yes to treats and no to baths ultimately locked in third place. Heidi Errett and Chicken Feathers took home fourth, with Chicken Feathers’ ability to stay, sit and stand. Folks and Dude Wellington with his magic tricks, making treats disappear, closed the competition in fifth place.
Copyright 2023 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
