June 18, 2019

News Release

For Immediate Release

EDITOR'S NOTE: Members of the media may contact Rutgers 4‑H Youth Development by phone at 848-932-3597 or by email at nj4h@njaes.rutgers.edu.

4-H Members Capture Top Awards at State 4-H Dog Show

4‑H Dog and Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Project Club Members from throughout New Jersey participated in the State 4‑H Dog Show held on April 27 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. One hundred six (106) youth and adults representing 10 counties (Burlington, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, and Sussex) exhibited 110 dogs and competed in the K–9 Art Show and Grooming, Agility, Obedience, Rally, Showmanship, and Seeing Eye Classes. The following individuals captured top awards in this year's show:

Best in Show Junior Novice: Cassie Burnett (Somerset) with Taylor (Shiba Inu)
Best in Show Junior Open: Kate McHale (Somerset) with Whitely (Poodle/Bichon)
Best in Show Junior Master: Kirsten Clerico (Somerset) with Max (Shiba Inu)
Best in Show Agility - Jumps, Tables, Tunnels: Keira Casey (Hunterdon) with Jet (Schipperke Mix)
Best in Show Agility - Standard: Emma Scheier (Hunterdon) with Piper (Irish Setter)
Best in Show Obedience Beginner Novice and Pre-Novice: Alexander Morgan (Hunterdon) with Taffy (Lab Mix)
Best in Show Obedience Intermediate Novice and up: Shannon Glynn (Middlesex) with Holly (Red Setter)
Best in Show Rally Novice: Keira Casey (Hunterdon) with Jet (Schipperke Mix)
Best in Show Rally Advanced: Kaitlyn Jones (Hunterdon) with Percy (Shetland Sheepdog)
Best in Show Youth 4‑H Seeing Eye: Tess Boland (Morris) with Granger (German Shepherd)
1st place Creative Writing: Gwendolyn Taffera (Hunterdon)
1st place Photography and Visual Arts: Jordan Paolello (Monmouth)

"The State 4‑H Dog Show is an annual event that offers 4‑H'ers an opportunity to compete at an advanced level and meet other 4‑H dog and Seeing Eye project members from around the state. This educational and competitive event promotes the 4‑H dog project and sportsmanship among the participants," says Kelly Dziak, State 4‑H Dog Show Coordinator and Morris County 4‑H Program Associate.

The State 4‑H Dog Show is sponsored in part by the New Jersey 4‑H Dog Project Advisory Council as well as by local AKC clubs and individuals from throughout the state.

The 4‑H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension. 4‑H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K–13 (one year out of high school), on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status and any other category protected by law.

For more information about the New Jersey 4‑H Program visit the website at: nj4h.rutgers.edu.

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Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Boards of County Commissioners. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an qual opportunity program provider and employer.

Rutgers New Jersey 4-H Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station