The Junior Foundation’s 3rd Annual Junior Gala was FABULOUS!

Imagine a beautifully decorated event, beyond glorious rosettes, custom frameable invitations, a stunning catalog, wonderful trophies, swag bags, and awards, and you’d probably think–Top 20! Well, the Junior Foundation’s Third Annual Best of the Best Junior Gala was all this... plus five Scholarships for the qualified area Juniors! (Not your typical weekend Best of the Best Junior event.)

The Gala was chaired by JoDee Putnins and hosted by the Laramie Kennel Club, in Laramie, Wyoming, but don’t let the prairie dog logo make you think too western or rustic. Yes, they are a small, down-to-earth, hard-working club, but they pulled out all the stops to help the Juniors shine, including three different delicious custom logo cookies!

Eighteen Juniors qualified for the Annual Junior Gala, based on an annual event calendar. Due to a few Juniors aging-out, and a few who were attending graduations, we had 13 in attendance.

There were three secret judges (again, very much like a Top 20). Debra Thornton, a very experienced AKC Judge of five Groups, enjoyed everything about the event, especially the extremely talented area Juniors. Cynthia Bennett, who is an AKC Junior Judge but also the mother of Lily Bennett (a former No. 1 Junior in the country), has been to many a Junior ring and appreciated each Junior team, from the younger Juniors, with maybe tougher dogs, to the older Juniors who were pretty darn flawless. The third judge was to be Cassandra Noe, a former area Junior, but she unfortunately broke her ankle; however, the foundation was able to call in Heather Lindberg who was more than qualified for this special assignment, as she is also a former Junior and a former Professional Handler who is now more focused on expanding her judging career.

Some of the Juniors have been to their breeds’ Nationals, but only a few have participated in a Top 20. So, for most, this was a very different experience and very special for them. They all rose to the occasion and presented their dogs to the judges while the crowd watched and cheered. And we don’t want to forget to mention the event was held center stage in Ring 1, right before Groups!

SHOWSIGHT was “in the house” and happy to present the five Scholarships they so generously sponsored. Other key sponsors were Everything Dog, Harmony Dog Sports, Chernaya Voda Borzoi, Buffalo Groves, Inc., Bloodhound Ranch, Niwot Samoyeds, Rightly So Kennels, Diana Wilson, the Hunning Family, the Kolise Family, Columbine Poodle Club, and the American Kennel Club Junior Task Force.

(pictured left to right) TJ Murfitt, Laramie KC President and Show Chair, Heather Lindberg, Debra Thornton, Cynthia Bennett, Kaylee Wagoner, Best Junior and Junior Sportsman and Juniors’ Choice Awards recipient, Marlene Groves, and Dan Sayers. photo by Tyler Crady, All Breed Photo

Of course, the Junior Foundation exists because of these forward-thinking clubs: Arapahoe KC, Colorado KC, Laramie KC, Greeley KC, Cheyenne KC, Colorado Springs KC, Plum Creek KC, Rocky Mountain Hound Club, and So. Colorado KC. These clubs work together and provide a structure to encourage, educate, and support Juniors, raise funds, and offer events with amazing scholarships to the youth of our sport!

After all the Juniors had their moment to shine, the judges’ scoresheets were tallied, and it was Miss Kaylee Wagoner as Best Junior, securing a $1,000 scholarship. Reserve Best Junior was Miss Demery Livingston who earned a $500 scholarship; plus, there were two additional Finalists, Miss Tatum Duvall and Mr. Casey Walker. Most in the crowd were not surprised to see these four rise to the top; they are each wonderful, polished handlers who often win because of their talent.

A side note to mention is that none of the judges would, or could, have known if these Juniors showed their own dogs; dogs and breeds they are very familiar with, show very regularly, and most have trained. This bears noting because it does contribute to the overall ease and polish of an accomplished Junior team.

Three other annual awards and scholarships were presented by the Junior Foundation. The Junior Sportsman Award, which is an application-based award that considers many things far beyond going around the ring in left-handed circles. It looks to see the involvement of Juniors in area dog clubs, their volunteer work, scholastic and other accomplishments, and, of course, someone who demonstrates the sportsmanship we need in the AKC dog show world. It comes with a $1500 scholarship and a trophy, and it was won (for the second year) by Miss Kaylee Wagoner.

The Foundation’s newest award is the Junior Achievement Award. Again, this is not based on just left-handed circles. It looks at Juniors who are doing other sports, putting on not just front-end titles but back-end titles too. Juniors who are breeding dogs and taking things to a different level. It provided a $1000 scholarship and a trophy, and the winner here was Miss Tatum Duvall who embodies this and much more as a young lady who has bred her own dogs and helped them achieve Best in Show, and who also mentors over a half-dozen Juniors in the sport of dogs with the puppies she has bred.

Last but not least is the Juniors’ Choice Award. It is the most unique Junior award, as it is where the Juniors actually vote on who among them they feel is the best. (Rather like a People’s Choice Award at a Top 20). This award hopefully helps Juniors to be able to recognize the talents of others. The Juniors voted Miss Kaylee Wagoner to be the best among them, and she racked up another $250 scholarship and another trophy.

Thirteen Juniors and their dogs pose for a group photo at this year’s Gala with the Best of the Best Judges.

The Finalists: Kaylee Wagoner (Best Junior), Demery Livingston (Reserve Best Junior), Tatum Duvall (Junior Achievement Award winner), and Casey Walker

(pictured standing) Marlene Groves, Junior Foundation President, and (seated) JoDee Putnins, Gala Chair, Junior Foundation Secretary, and Laramie Kennel Club Member

All the Juniors received a big beautiful rosette (so many compliments on these chocolate brown and gold ribbons) AND a swag bag, but maybe the biggest reward was that they had a day to feel special about what they do; a day to celebrate their achievements with their dogs.

Perhaps it’s the grandma (Mamaw) in me, but I truly loved watching each Junior in the ring, and I really loved reading each of their bios in the catalog, telling their story and sharing their passion and goals in the sport of dogs. There’s a phrase you all hear, Juniors Are the Future, and I truly think some of these Juniors will be!

Something else that I enjoyed was how the judges came from differing backgrounds, but ended up aligning on paper (they did not compare notes) and ranking the Top Juniors similarly. In addition, they had similar comments on some: one Junior being effortless and polished; a younger Junior who really tried to focus her distracted dog and was amazingly patient; and a young man who had such gentle, easy hands and motions. Face it, Juniors can be so subjective, and in some ways it can be the most fault-finding ring, because that is what sets apart those who look and present dogs rather flawlessly and fade into the background while helping their dog shine. It all adds up to the team’s total package, and what my former Junior granddaughter always said made it a “ta-da moment” with her dog!

The crowd of Junior supporters, mentors, and participants at the dog show were in awe of the event, but mostly they were in awe of our fabulous area Juniors! I am so proud of each of them and look forward to an even bigger and better Fourth Annual Junior Gala in 2027!