Grants Available from the Junior Showmanship Committee

Leslie Miller

Greetings fellow Spinone enthusiasts!  I hope you and your families (two- and four-legged) are doing well despite the unusual challenges this year has brought.  As summer winds down and kids head back to school, the Junior Showmanship Committee is excited to bring some good news to our junior members and their parents. 

As approved by the Board this summer, the Spinone Club of America is pleased to offer grants for junior handlers to compete in national-level dog events with their Spinone.  Grants are in the amount of $250 each and are limited to one event per junior handler per calendar year.  The total amount of grant money available to junior handlers will be limited to $1000 per calendar year, with grants being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Junior handlers applying for the grant must meet several criteria.  They must have an AKC junior handler number, be a current member of the Spinone Club of America, and they must have earned at least 60% of their qualifying wins with a Spinone. 

Applications for the grant must be submitted to the junior showmanship committee at least 30 days prior to the event.  Events eligible for the grant include the AKC National Championship Dog Show, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the AKC National Agility Championship, the AKC National Rally Championship, the AKC National Obedience Championship, and the NAVHDA Invitational, with consideration given to other national-level, invitational events.  The application must include proof of qualification or invitation to the event. 

In order to receive the grant, the junior handler must compete in the event with a Spinone.  The junior handler is expected to submit a report for publication in the newsletter of at least 200 words about their experiences surrounding the event.  The grant money will be issued to the junior handler approximately 30 days following the event.