ST. PAUL —Three 4-H youth from Mower County participated in the Minnesota 4-H State Dog show Sept. 23-24, at the Minnesota State Fair. Mower County 4-Her Elizabeth Benson showed the top dog in senior agility in the contest.

In total, 406 youth and 486 dogs from across the state participated in this annual event.

Over the two-day event, 4-Hers show dogs that 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. Last year, 2,916 youth from every part of the state participated in the 4-H Dog Project.

“Youth learn so much responsibility from training their dog and competing in the 4-H State Dog Show,” said Kim Lambert, one of the 678 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 Minnesota 4-H Dog Show was featured on WCCO-TV.

Awards:

Elizabeth Benson —

•Agility, senior, 4, 8 and 12 inches, champion

• Showmanship, open, grades 12-13, blue ribbon

•Rally, excellent, blue ribbon

• Agility, jumpers 3, 4, 8 and 12 inches, red ribbon

• Obedience, graduate open, blue ribbon

Seanna Kubas —

•Agility, jumpers 1 – 4 and 8 inches, grades 3-8, blue ribbon

• Rally, novice, grades 3-5, blue ribbon

• Agility, beginner, 4, 8 and 12 inches, grades 3-8, red ribbon

Chloe Whipple —

• Rally, novice, grades 6-8, blue ribbon

• Showmanship, open, grade 6, blue ribbon

• Obedience, graduate beginner, grade 6, red ribbon

To learn more about the 4-H Dog Project, contact 4-H Program Coordinator April Johnson, at 507-437-9552 and visit the website, https://z.umn.edu/4Hdog.