Molly, a 16-year-old member of the Canine Connections 4-H Dog
Club, recently won Senior High Point at the Florida State Fair. This is the
first time that a Sarasota 4-H youth has achieved this exceptional award. Molly
accumulated the most points of all the senior 4-Hers by winning her agility
class with a perfect score of 200, winning her obedience class with a score of
197.5 out of 200 and earning a high score in advanced showmanship.
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Although surprised by winning this honor at the State
Fair, Molly is no stranger to earning high point awards. She has previously
earned multiple high point awards at such 4-H events as the Manatee County Fair
and the Manatee Invitational Show in addition to high point trophies at
regulation NADAC and UKC agility trials. |
This is Molly's fourth
year competing in 4-H with her bi-black Shetland Sheepdog, Brady. She also
competes with Brady in several agility venues including AKC, NADAC, UKC and
CPE. Brady has won many titles in all of these venues. In addition, Molly has
competed with Brady and her new Sheltie, Zar, in AKC Jr. Showmanship at the
Open Senior level. Brady currently needs one more qualifying leg in AKC Rally
obedience to earn his first title in this new sport. Molly has shown several
other breeds in the AKC conformation ring including terriers, sight hounds and
herding dogs.
She has received training in showing dogs both at the
local level and at nationwide seminars. Molly admits that she is bit of a
perfectionist and strives to gain knowledge to better |
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herself and her dog's performance in the show ring. Molly enjoys
sharing her knowledge with the other members of her 4-H club. She encourages
all 4-Hers to read everything they can about training their dog in addition to
attending shows and asking questions of others with more expertise. Molly
shares that showing dogs has helped her overcome her childhood shyness to be a
more confident person.
Molly's future plans include both dog goals and
scholastic goals. With her dogs, Molly hopes to achieve agility titles and an
AKC Breed Championship on her young sheltie, Zar. With Brady, she wants to
achieve an AKC Master Agility Championship which is the highest title one can
achieve in AKC agility. Currently, Molly is a home schooled tenth grader. In
addition, she tested into college level courses at Manatee Community College
last year at age 14 and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average since then in
her college courses. Molly's current hectic schedule includes taking three
classes at week at Sarasota Obedience Training club with her dogs, working on
her school work, maintaining her 4-H books including her secretary duties for
her club and helping teach the younger members of her 4-H club.
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