Dixon, Ill. — It was a day filled with wet noses and wagging tails as a record-setting 175 dog owners competed for championship honors in the 2024 Illinois 4-H State Dog Show held Aug. 24 at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Dog facility in Dixon.
4-H members who excel in the 4-H Dog project are encouraged to compete at the local 4-H dog obedience contest for a chance to advance to the Illinois 4-H Dog Show. Competition in both obedience and showmanship are held.
“To get to this level of competition, 4-H members devote months of training,” said Dan Jennings, University of Illinois Extension state 4-H livestock specialist “Not only do the dogs have to perform the required tasks, but they must do so in a new environment surrounded by new noises and distractions, including several other dogs in the same arena.”
2024 results included:
State 4-H Champion Senior Showmanship went to Hansley Spitz of Champaign County, the State 4-H Champion Junior Showmanship went to Shianne Bensa of LaSalle County, State High Point Beginner went to Paige Burrs of Lee County, and the State High Point Advanced, went to Cheyenne Mech of Winnebago County.
The Deborah Orr Memorial Award for most points in a novice class went to Bristol Boster of Henry County The cash award honors the late Deborah Orr who was active in the Kane County dog obedience program.
In the Beginner Novice 1 Senior Class, Gracie Wilson from Edgar County took 1st place, followed by Alyssa Galloway of Whiteside County in 2nd, Ada Binns of Grundy County in 3rd, Cora Sims of Lee County in 4th, and Chloee Huttenlocher of Stephenson County in 5th. The Beginner Novice Junior Class saw Paige Burrs from Lee County securing 1st place, with Ava Janis from DuPage County in 2nd, Skylar Bensa from LaSalle County in 3rd, Addilyn Bell from Peoria County in 4th, and Penny Barth from McHenry County tied with Zoe Swank from Ogle County in 5th place.
In the Beginner Novice 2 Class, Kaleb Mohr from Hancock County claimed the top spot, Chloe Modaff from Kendall County placed 2nd, and Nora Shaw from McHenry County finished in 3rd place. The Preferred Novice Class had Claire Hartman from Champaign County taking 1st place, followed by Hadley Shaw from McHenry County in 2nd, Kayla Connelly from Grundy County in 3rd, Reese Connor from McHenry County in 4th, Lydia Clemons from McLean County in 5th, and Tiag Hertsberg from Will County in 6th place.
In the Novice 1 Class, Bristol Boster from Henry County placed 1st, Avery Edler from Will County took 2nd, and Rori Cotrell from Boone County finished in 3rd place. The Novice 2 Class saw Jason Cochane from McHenry County in 1st place, Hadley Shaw from McHenry County in 2nd, Jacey Smith from Wayne County in 3rd, and Rachel Marrone from Boone County in 4th. The Graduate Novice Class was topped by Cheyenne Mech from Winnebago County.
The Rally Novice Senior Class had Jorja Peach Redman from Piatt County in 1st place, Hansley Spitz from Champaign County in 2nd, Rori Hertsberg from Will County in 3rd, Cheyenne Mech from Winnebago County in 4th, Jonathon Wilcox from Sangamon County in 5th, and Dana Penner from McLean County in 6th place. In the Rally Novice Junior Class, Vanessa Elder from Will County took 1st, followed by Skylar Bensa from LaSalle County in 2nd, Natalie Hummel from Adams County in 3rd, Riley Reusch from Peoria County in 4th, Jarvis Gunderson from Champaign County in 5th, and Haddie Binns from Grundy County in 6th.
In the Rally Intermediate Class, Hansley Spitz from Champaign County placed 1st, Reese Connor from McHenry County took 2nd, Ava Janis from DuPage County finished in 3rd, Morgan Perez from Champaign County in 4th, Maddie Canada from McHenry County in 5th, and Ivan Wenger from Stephenson County in 6th place.
The Junior Showmanship Class was led by Shianne Bensa from LaSalle County in 1st place, followed by Roro Hertsberg from Will County in 2nd, Haddie Binns from Grundy County in 3rd, Ava Janis from DuPage County in 4th, Avelyn Sacco from McHenry County in 5th, and Jarvis Gunderson from Champaign County in 6th place. Finally, in the Senior Showmanship Class, Hansley Spitz from Champaign County took 1st, Cheyenne Mech from Winnebago County placed 2nd, Lillion Huber from Effingham County took 3rd, Rachel Gillingham from Stephenson County finished 4th, Piper Jensen from Lake County took 5th, and Maddie Canada from McHenry County placed 6th.
The Illinois State 4-H Dog Show uses the American Kennel Club regulations as a guideline.
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools, and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
Source: Dan Jennings, Illinois 4-H Livestock Specialist, djjennin2@illinois.edu
Writer: Carissa Nelson, Media Communications Manager, carissa7@illinois.edu
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.