Lines From Linda: Trends vs The Standard

Pictured above – The Houston Clark Family Front row: Daughter Debbie Clark Cowan and Toddie Clark, Back row: Son-in-Law Ricky Cowan, Son-in Law Carson Combs, Daughter Sharon Clark Combs, Daughter-in-Law Trish Clark, Son Jay Clark, Houston Clark

From the monthly column "Lines from Linda". ShowSight Magazines, June 2018 Issue. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE.

New York’s fashion week introduces exciting trends and a new outlook on what’s to come. My own city Greenville’s week of fashion shows mirrored the activities of those taking place in the Big Apple. I loved being a part of all of the excitement.

Recently the dog world’s social media has been filled with discussions about dog grooming trends. Right or wrong the internet can drive us crazy with all of the “know it all” opinions on what is right and wrong.

Thankfully we have specific guidelines for what should and should not be.

Let’s just stick with the AKC Breed Standards! Trends have little meaning if we evaluate the whole dog in relationship to its breed standard.

As Christians, we study the Bible and pray for guidance in our interpretation of its written word. Perhaps we should pray that breeders, exhibitors and judges will consider our AKC Breed Standards as the Bible of our sport, that we will ignore the so-called trends and be blessed with our judgments of interpreting the standards correctly.

Speaking of fashion statements, Houston and Toddie Clark were recently gifted by their children with a long wished for a trip to Branson, Missouri. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, their kids decided to go too. Once there they had the great idea to commemorate the occasion by donning western attire for photographs. Know you will enjoy seeing one of this beautiful family’s memories captured on film.

The shotgun wedding photo shoot must have put the Clarks in the mood as Houston and Toddie are renewing their wedding vows this month at the Saint Terese Catholic Church in Tennessee. This special family could set the standard themselves of what we all wish to emulate.

While the world has focused on a recent Royal Wedding, AKC Executive Secretary Gina Dinardo and Pete Gwynne married in Greenwich, Connecticut. Gina and Pete are honeymooning in Paris and Barcelona, two places where fashion trends set the standard. Gina has promised to share wedding pictures and we can hardly wait! Congratulations Gina and Pete from the entire Showsight team! 

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  • At the age of four, Linda's love for TV's Lassie prompted her parents, Roy and Hazel Ayers to surprise her with a Collie. Her first times entering the confirmation ring began at age six. From showing her Conrad Collies in juniors, to judging, to becoming a part of an immediate family of three AKC judges, her life has evolved around the sport of purebred dogs. As a young professional just out of the University of Georgia, Linda served on the Executive Staffs of two Georgia Governors. She moved from serving at the State Capitol to assisting the Chairman of the Hyatt Hotel Corporation. As chairman and founder of a family owned Manufacturing Corporation and real estate holding company, Linda has overseen operations, acquisitions, and dispositions of considerable business holdings for over four decades. Her diverse companies have manufactured packaged goods for many household products you likely used in your homes, interior components for the automotive industry you enjoy in your cars, and industrial chemical products used in the electric utility industry. She partnered in commercial acquisitions in Washington, D.C. on a 250 million dollar level. Linda has developed significant properties delivering hundreds of home sites in Greenville, South Carolina in conjunction with NVR/Ryan Homes in addition to apartments, an IMAX theater, commercial tracts and much more. She is the proud mother of one son, Edward P. (Todd) Turner,III of Columbia, South Carolina. After retiring from many years as District Director of the Collie Club of America, Linda served for fourteen years as AKC Delegate for the Greenville Kennel Club. She is currently President of the Carolinas Judges Study Group, a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Collie Club of Georgia where she was their very first Junior Member, a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Greenville Kennel Club, and a Quarter Century Member of the Collie Club of America. Her Christian faith is exhibited in her belief that, “Time is the most important gift you can share to make someone happy or to make a difference.” Mentoring athletes from professional to high school levels has been a huge passion and blessing in Linda's life. At any given time you may find her in a locker room, on the playing field, or on the court inspiring winners. To quote her, "I would rather go to a ballgame than a ball." Linda has been on board since the inception of ShowSight

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