BROWNSTOWN — The Jackson County 4-H Dog Show has been a part of the Jackson County Fair for more than 50 years.

In the early years, the event was held during the fair, but that hasn’t been the case since the the turn of the century.

For one thing, dogs aren’t allowed on the fairgrounds during the fair — or everyone would bring theirs — and for another, the show would be hard to hold with a fairgrounds full of people distracting the dogs from the task at hand.

So typically, the show has been held on the Saturday before the fair at the fairgrounds since about 2000.

This year’s show featured 12 4-H’ers — including four with two dogs — and first-year 4-H’er Kaylen Eddy of Seymour.

Eddy said she thought her 1-year-old Australian shepherd, Roxie, did a good job in the obedience part of the competition.

She said he has been working with Roxie and comes down to the fairgrounds every Tuesday night with other members of the Waggin’ Pals 4-H Club to work with Roxie.

Eddy said Roxie is sweet and pays attention but can get excitable at times.

“She gets rambunctious and runs around a lot,” she said.

Eddy’s mother, Abby, said Roxie is incredibly smart.

“She’s so smart she is annoying at times,” Kaylen said.

First,-year 4-H members can only compete in obedience.

Riley VonDielingen competed in her first 4-H dog show.

“I decided to do it because I’ve trained him myself, and I thought it would be good to get him into the arena,” VonDielingen said of Gus, her 2-year-old Australian cattle dog. The dogs also are known as blue heelers.

She said Gus does pretty good when it comes to following instructions.

“He’s a little distracted right now,” VonDielingen said. “He does really good in the arena. I think we will do pretty good, but knowing this is my first year, I know I might not do the best, but it’s OK.”

First-year 4-H dog club members have to wait until their second year before entering their dogs in the agility portion of the dog show.

Vivienne Siefker of Seymour said her black Lab, Willowdean, didn’t fare real well in the agility portion of the show.

“Agility is not really her thing,” the 17-year-old said.

Willowdean, who is 3, prefers the obedience and showmanship portions of the competition.

“She’s very smart,” Siefker said. “I started showing her when she was very little, maybe just a few months, and she did great.”

Siefker and Willowdean also come down on Tuesdays.

Josie Dotts of Bedford said her dog, Suki, did a pretty good job in the agility competition.

The Australian shepherd and Australian cattle dog mix typically fares well in obedience, as well.

“She’s very smart,” she said.

Ten of the 12 4-H’ers involved in the show were able to compete in the agility and obedience portions of the show. After those wrap up, all can compete for showmanship, club leader Carol Newberry said.

Dogs don’t have to be a purebred to be in 4-H, she said.

Newberry said the club meetings each Tuesday are designed to make the kids less nervous about working with their dogs, but sometimes, they still get a little nervous in front of the judge. This year’s judge was Trina Copeland of Madison.

Newberry said the dogs just have to learn to focus on their trainer and avoid distractions.

“… but you never know what you’re going to get on the day of the show,” she said.

Other club leaders are Bill Steltenpohl, Elizabeth Smith, Suzanne Steltenpohl and Brittany Vetter.

More than 150 people attended the first 4-H dog show during 1971 Jackson County Fair, according to the Aug. 16, 1971, edition of The Tribune. Audrey Neal with her German shepherd. Rex, won the championship in obedience, and Julie Ruddick with her Pomeranian, Missi, won showmanship.