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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2018)
A10 WEDNESDAY August 15, 2018 WALLOWA COUNTY’S NEWEST SPORT K9 ‘nose work’ training planned T he Wallowa County Humane Society will introduce the new sport of K9 Nose Work to Wallowa County with an affordable two-day workshop in Joseph Sept. 15-16. “We want to help dog own- ers engage with their dogs,” said Carol Vencill, president of the society. “Whether it’s young dogs or old dogs, big or N. River Street, Enterprise. The sport challenges dogs to find hidden scents. It is sim- ilar to, but less demanding than, search and rescue work or detection of explosives or contraband. The sport of Nose Work was founded in the late ‘90s by three trainers expe- rienced in these fields, who saw an opportunity for every dog and owner to seek a closer relationship. confidence in dogs,” Beithan said. “It’s really the easiest dog sport for the human end of the leash. People learn to under- stand their dogs better, and to read their body language, and then just stay out of the way. The most important thing is to keep it easy. Dogs never get tired of being successful.” The two-day workshop is divided into four three-hour sessions each of the two days. ‘Whether it’s young dogs or old dogs, big or little, it’s a fun sport that owners and dogs can do together, and dogs can use that wonderful sense of smell…’ Carol Vencill president of the Wallowa County Humane Society Ellen Bishop/For the Chieftain Lola Johnson rewards her dog, Zita, for locating the target scent during an outdoor Nose Work trial. little, it’s a fun sport that own- ers and dogs can do together, and dogs can use that wonder- ful sense of smell that nature gave them.” Workshop organizer Lola Johnson has more than seven years experience in Nose Work She has won multiple awards with her dog, Zita, and is start- ing a younger dog, Sissi, in Nose Work. She plans to develop a Nose Work club that will offer practice sessions and additional training. Johnson, Zita, and Sissi will be on hand to demonstrate and answer questions 7 p.m. Tues- day, Aug. 28, at the Wallowa County Humane Society, 104 Nose Work is a recog- nized canine sport governed by the National Association of Canine Scent Work, with certi- fied instructors and judges and contests across the U.S. and Canada, Australia, Japan and Sweden. Nose Work training begins with dogs finding treats hid- den in boxes and progresses to more difficult “finds,” includ- ing work indoors, outdoors and around vehicles. Certified K9 Nose Work trainer Joyce Beithan, of Ridgefield, Wash., will conduct the September workshop at Carol Vencill’s barn in Joseph. “Nose Work really builds The cost is $30 for the first session, and $20 for each addi- tional training session. These additional sessions will be designed to help build addi- tional skills in each participat- ing dog Information sheets and reg- istration forms are available at The Wallowa County Humane Society, 104 N. River St., Enterprise, as well as The Dog Spot in Joseph, The Bookloft and Wallowa County Grain Growers in Enterprise and Main Street Feed and Supplies in Wallowa. Info: Carol Vencill 541- 432-1630 or Joyce Beithan 206- 819-7297. ‘I like everything about it.’ — Claire Farwell, 15-year-old Enterprise High School sophomore who plays for the Wallowa Valley Cubs Softball is Farwell’s sport Summer season with Lightning team wraps By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Claire Farwell loves soft- ball, and she doesn’t care who knows it. Although a three-sport ath- lete who also competes in vol- leyball and basketball, softball is her favorite. The 15-year-old Enterprise High School soph- omore plays for the Wallowa Valley Cubs combined high school team as well as summer softball in La Grande. “I like everything about it,” she said. “I like the team aspect where I can contrib- ute –– and win,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve put more time into it than either basketball or volleyball.” Farwell played summer softball with La Grande’s Union County Lightning team, getting plenty of practi- cal experience under her belt. She’s been playing summer ball in Union County for sev- eral years and is also the only returning high school softball player who played summer ball. “We didn’t have a Juniors team here when I was in junior high, and I really wanted to play softball,” she said. “Jeff Edison (Cubs assistant coach) got me a tryout with the 14-year-olds (La Grande team) when I was 12. I knew I wasn’t going to make the team, but the coach from the U-12 team called me that spring and said, “Hey, do you want to play?” I was like –– yeah.” She noted the difference between high school and sum- mer ball. “I think summer ball is more competitive,” she said. “You see teams that aren’t that good, but you also see teams than can beat our high school team or stand with them pretty easily.” The Union team, which recently ended its season, trav- eled extensively. Its last tour- nament was in Selah, Wash., near Yakima, and they played as far south as Boise and Fruit- land, Idaho. The Lightning team did well, placing second in several high-profile tournaments. She doesn’t have a prefer- ence for either of the two teams for which she plays. “I like my teammates on both teams,” she said. “They’re different age groups, and the coaches on my teams are both really good.” Farwell credits her parents, Lisa and Troy Farwell, for sup- porting her success, including driving her to practice. “My parents are very com- mitted to me,” she said. “Since I’m only 15, I only have my driver’s permit, so I usu- ally drive home from prac- tice, because I don’t want to be stressed about getting there late.” She practices with the team in La Grande once or twice a week depending on tourna- ment schedules. On top of that, she also works at Wallowa Lake clean- ing vacation cabins. “I stay pretty busy,” she said with a laugh. Farwell plays multiple posi- tions but generally is at second base or shortstop, and she even pitches on the Cubs JV team, although she’s particularly fond of the catcher’s position. “I really enjoy catching; I can be in on every play,” she said. “I don’t like pitching that much because it’s pretty stressful.” She added she was most comfortable at second base because she spends the major- ity of her time at the slot. The summer season ended, but Farwell is looking ahead and has already tried out to play for next year’s team. “I’m thinking I made it because it’s the same coach, and he’s probably going to want the same team,” she said. Farwell plans to play the sport through her high school years but isn’t yet sure about playing at the college level. “I feel like college sports are just stressful from peo- ple I’ve talked to,” she said. “You don’t have a college life. I might look into it, though, because I really enjoy it.” She hasn’t decided on a career yet, but is considering teaching or orthodontics. “My mom’s a teacher, and I like kids, but I haven’t looked at colleges yet,” she said. Farwell said that the next season with the Cubs may pro- vide some opportunities for her to branch out. “I think we lost seven seniors, and that was about half our team,” she said. “It’s leav- ing a lot of slots open.” Submitted photo Enterprise High School sophomore Claire Farwell at her fa- vorite softball position, catcher. The three-sport EHS athlete also plays summer softball for the Union County Lightning team because of her love for the game. www.communitybanknet.com Member FDIC