JUNE 3, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
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KEIZERTIMES.COM
Keizer girl has the world on a leash
Sarah Stong shines in
largest dog show yet
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Sarah Stong and the words
“Best Junior Handler” are
rapidly becoming inseparable.
Stong, a McNary High
School freshman, recently re-
turned from St. Louis, Mo.,
where she, and her Australian
shepherd, Bentley, won the
title at her largest dog show
competition yet, the United
States Australian Shepherd
Association Nationals.
“We compete almost ev-
ery weekend, but this was the
farthest we’ve ever gone for a
show,” Sarah said.
She won the best junior
handler title in the showman-
ship portion of the contest,
but the duo also competed in
obedience and rally competi-
tions.
“We scored a 95 out of
100 in the rally, but obedi-
ence didn’t go as planned,”
Sarah said.
While the obedience com-
petition focused primarily on
how well Bentley listened to
commands, the rally tests a
variety of skills ranging from
obedience to how well the
dogs travel in specifi c pat-
terns, i.e. shapes or any letter
of the alphabet. The show-
manship competition was
judged based on Bentley’s
physical traits and Sarah’s
highly-specifi c knowledge of
the breed.
“There weren’t a lot of
juniors at the competition,
but the ones who were there
were really good,” Sarah said.
Sarah was bitten by the dog
show bug while attending
similar shows at the Marion
County Fair when she was 9
years old. She and her mother,
Sharon, started conversations
with some of the contestants
about what it would take to
get started. The next year, she
entered her border collie in
the show.
“He didn’t like it too
much, but I started work-
ing with a trainer in my 4-H
Club and looking for an Aus-
tralian shepherd at the shel-
ters,” Sarah said.
She eventually adopted
one, Mac. While he was more
suited to being a show dog,
he didn’t have the necessary
attitude.
“Once he gets in the ring,
it’s like everything goes in
one ear and out the other, af-
ter doing it perfectly at home.
Bentley is the complete op-
posite, he’s all business when
we get to a show,” Sarah said.
While Mac allowed Sarah
to work through some of her
own learning curves, things
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Sarah Stong and her show dog, Bentley, atop the winners’ podium at the United States Australian Shepherd Association Nationals
held in late April in Gray Summit, Mo.
changed for the better when
she took ownership of Bent-
ley two years ago. Bentley has
more of the conformation
judges look for in the breed
whereas Mac “is too short
and has funny-looking legs.”
In 2015, Sarah racked up
enough best junior handler
awards to qualify for the Eu-
kanuba Nationals, but school
commitments kept her from
going. This year, she already
has two to her name. The
tally resets annually. Bentley
has also become a champion
of his breed.
In addition to week-
ly training sessions with a
professional handler, Sarah
spends time each day working
on the skills she and Bentley
are called upon to perform at
shows. She has her sights set
on becoming a professional
handler herself, which will
allow her to show her own
dogs as well as others – and
accept payment for doing so.
Thus far, she said, the big-
gest lesson has been patience.
“They’re not going to
learn something the fi rst time,
you have to work on it over
and over. I also had to learn
to trust them because it’s a
totally different atmosphere
once they are in the ring,”
Sarah said.
Sharon said she’s seen oth-
er changes in Sarah, too.
“She has a lot more confi -
dence. She speaks openly with
the judges now, and that’s not
something she did when she
was younger. She also is a lot
better about her own respon-
sibilities. Taking care of the
dogs and their grooming is a
big part of them doing well in
the shows,” Sharon said.
Bike-A-Thon Helping hands sought
Saturday at K-9 facility June 4
Truth Tabernacle Church
is holding its 18th Annual 30
kilometer Bike-A-Thon on
Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m.
The route goes through the
City of Keizer. This is to help
raise money for the Chris-
tian School, Truth Tabernacle
Christian Academy, and for
Community Enrichment.
The route begins at the
church, 3795 Pleasant View
Drive N.E.
FOLLOW THE
KEIZERTIMES ON:
The Salem Police Foundation (SPF) is looking for volunteers
to help improve and rebuild portions of the K-9 training facility
in Keizer.
Work will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at 5915 Windsor
Island Rd N. – across from the golf course and turn left at the
fork past the gates for parking.
Police dogs will be interacting with volunteers as they paint
and work on small construction projects at the facility.
SPF is currently raising $3,000 to add lighting to the course
for evening training. For more information on the Salem Police
Foundation, visit salempolicefoundation.org.
WMS celebrates
50 years June 6
Whiteaker Middle School is celebrating its 50th anniversary
and the entire community is invited.
The gathering will take place on Monday from 4 to 5 p.m.
at the school.
Former staff members and students will have opportunities
for group photos and to share their memories for Whiteaker’s
time capsule. Memorabilia will also be on display.
RSVP at the event’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
events/1003410946375522/.
Former Whiteaker staff are asked to arrive at 3 p.m. and
RSVP at www.facebook.com/events/973483599431690/.
For more information, call the school offi ce at 503-399-3224.
WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit.
Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
PEOPLESCHURCH
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
Celebration
Services
Saturday Evening
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
www.dayspringfellowship.com
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 9:15 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org
Jason Lee UMC
820 Jeff erson St. NE
Salem OR 97301
9:00 am
Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor
The church with the purple doors
10:45 am
Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available
6:00 pm
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
Sunday Morning
and
503-364-2844
Faith Lutheran Church
4505 River Rd N • 393-4507
Sunday Schedule:
9:00 a.m. Children’s Church
9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study
9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities
Pastor
Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion