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GRAND ISLAND – The Australian Shepherd Club of American National Specialty Show is in Grand Island for the first time, said Denise Creelman of Tulare, California.
The show meets annually in the fall in a different location every year, she said. She became aware of Fonner Park’s facilities, stopped in person to check them out, and recommended that the show occur in Grand Island. The show began Oct. 11 and continues through Oct. 19. There is no admission charge.
“There are almost 500 people (competing) here,” she said. “It’s an amazing facility.”
The dogs compete in a number of areas, including conformation, obedience, rally (obedience with a direction chart), agility, dock jumping, scent detection, stock dog trial (herding cattle, sheep, and ducks), an obstacle course, and junior showmanship.
She describes Australian shepherds as very versatile, very smart, great family pets, good travelers, beautiful personalities, and a variety of colors.
She said approximately 100 people are working to staff the show.
“The Australian Shepherd Club of American (ASCA) is the largest single breed registry in the world,” she said.
“The membership is about 10,000 people,” she said. “Anybody who is registered with ASCA can enter the show.”
There are 247,235 registered Australian shepherds, she said.
She has been showing Australian shepherds for 50 years. She has eight Australian shepherds, and her daughter has three Australian shepherds.
“We’re showing four dogs,” she said.
Brad Mellema is executive director of Grand Island Tourism.
He said that the Australian Shepherd Club of American National Specialty Show was one of five entities that received grants from the Convention and Visitors Bureau through the Grand Island Livestock Complex Authority to help bring livestock and animal events to Grand Island.
People who attend the shows also stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants and shop at local retail stores.
“When Fonner Park is busy, Grand Island is busy,” Mellema said.”
More information about the organization is available at its website, www.asca.org.
