If you know me, you know I love Juniors and kids overall. I love coordinating Junior activities and being ringside to try to drive some education, add some element of fun, and of course, to support each team at the show! Like many others, I do see how “Juniors Are the Future” for the sport.
That said, also like many others, I see a change in the culture within and around the Junior Showmanship ring, wins, prizes, etc. There is more ringside behavior which, I imagine, is like Toddlers & Tiaras, along with a lot more unprofessional and unsportsmanlike behavior on social media. Luckily, it is not the majority—but it is growing. For this article, I don’t want to focus on the decline in the culture around the Junior ring, but I would like to ask all dog clubs this question regarding Juniors: Do we reward what we want?
I am not talking about in the Junior Showmanship ring, when the judge pulls out their picks and then their Best and Reserve Junior. I am specifically wanting to call attention to how most clubs provide a Junior Scholarship—which is mainly for the “win” rather than having any other requirements or expectations.
All the chatter now is that we want Juniors (and their parents) to be members of dog clubs, volunteer at our dog clubs, learn more about the elements to put on a show (or any other dog event); and we want Juniors to learn their breeds, to learn basic dog anatomy, and to consider breeding their dog, etc. (Basically, we want and need much more than for them to just “win.”)
Meanwhile, we have removed the requirement for Juniors to own a dog, so now we are encouraging more Junior Jockeying (a term for Juniors who just go dog to dog, from specialty to specialty, for a “win”). I am lucky to be part of two wonderful all-breed clubs. And I want to use those clubs as two examples.
For one club (Club A), the club was early to step forward and create a Junior Scholarship Program where the Best Junior Winner earns a $500 scholarship. (Yay for the club’s wonderful support of Juniors!) For the other club (Club B), it came about only a few years ago, and the program was not designed to be a “given scholarship for a win.” It is an application process where the club can consider other factors, so the reward is not just for the “left-handed circles.”
Compare Club A to Club B’s requirement and it is night and day in what it is rewarded. So, back to my question: Do we reward what we want?
If Juniors are to be the future of the sport, and we want Juniors to do more, shouldn’t we reward those who do? I believe the answer is yes.
I wrote this article as I have recently requested a modification with my Club A in their Junior Scholarship Program, but I think it is worthy of consideration for any club that has a scholarship program. Why not make it a Scholarship Application Program (not just give a scholarship for a Best Junior win) and consider some appropriate questions on your club’s Junior Scholarship Application?
Thank you to all the clubs who have a current Junior Scholarship Program! Now let’s try to make Junior Scholarships a real reward system for those Juniors who are doing more and who are likely to be part of helping our clubs and the sport go forward.
If there are any clubs that do not have a Junior Scholarship Program and want some help creating one, please do feel free to reach out. I would be more than happy to assist you!
Marlene Groves
H 303.621.1111 / C 303.243.0440
