Eight 4-H youth from Becker County participated in the Minnesota 4-H State Dog show Sept. 20-21. In total, 366 youth from across the state who made up 1,291 entries participated in this annual event, held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Over the two-day event, 4-H’ers 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.

“Youth learn so much responsibility from training their dog and competing in the 4-H State Dog Show,” said Kim Lambert, one of the many 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.”

To learn more about the 4-H Dog Project, contact 4-H Local Extension Educator, Elliott Lawrence at (218) 846-7328 (Extension 3) and visit the website, www.z.umn.edu/4Hdog About Extension 4-H: 4-H is a youth development program of the University of Minnesota Extension. Available for youth in kindergarten through one year after high school, 4-H’ers participate in hands-on learning experiences in STEM, citizenship; leadership, animal science, creative arts and much more.

In this learn-by-doing process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, coping and communicating that help them succeed in their school, college, community and career. Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H have better grades and are more emotionally engaged with school, are more than twice as likely to be civically active and contribute to their communities, and are 47 percent less likely to have risky or problem behaviors.

The following youth were members of the Becker delegation:

• Lillian Hembre (eighth grade) Happy Hillside- Obedience – Foundation Red, Rally – Foundation Blue

• Melanie Honer (fifth grade) Happy Hillside- Agility – Jumpers 1A White, Obedience – Brace Red, Showmanship – Open Red, Rally – Novice Red, Rally – Graduate Novice White

• Stephanie Honer (sixth grade) Happy Hillside- Agility – Jumpers 1A Red, Obedience – Beginner Red, Showmanship – Open Blue, Rally – Beginner Red

• Eleanor Lage (sixth grade) Wild Things- Agility – Beginner White, Agility – Jumpers 1A Blue 1st Award of Excellence, Showmanship – Open Blue

• Carter Phillips (sixth grade) Height of Land 69’ers- Showmanship – Novice Red

• Matthew Phillips (eighth grade) Height of Land 69’ers- Obedience – Foundation Blue, Showmanship – Open Red

• Kiptin Schlauderaff (third grade) Happy Hillside- Obedience – Foundation Blue, Showmanship – Novice Blue, Rally – Foundation Red

• Samantha Skogen (seventh grade) Wild Things- Obedience – Beginner Blue, Showmanship – Open Blue