Leela Bridgewater and Corgi Freya Win Routt County Fair 4-H Dog Show

Steamboat Springs —Routt County Fair’s 4-H Dog Show wrapped up Tuesday morning with Leela Bridgewater and her corgi Freya claiming the top honors in a competition that ranged from miniature poodles to large yellow labs.

The event drew eight competitors across Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Novice categories. Coral Whitaker stood alone as the sole Senior member, competing against Intermediate members Leela Bridgewater and Audrey Caughey. Caughey brought her corgi Roxy, while Bridgewater entered with Freya.

The competition wasn’t just about who could walk a dog in a circle. It was a three-part test: showmanship, obedience, and rally. Judges evaluated the handlers’ knowledge and their dogs’ performance separately, contributing to a “herdsman” score. One contestant would ultimately be named Overall Herdsman, an award distinct from the dog’s own title.

Bridgewater and Freya took home the Grand Champion title for Overall Top Dog and Handler. They also secured Grand Champion for Overall Rally. Whitaker earned the Sportsmanship Award and placed as Reserve Champion for Overall Rally.

To hear Cathy Shryock, the 4-H Dog Project Leader and Animal Superintendent for Steamboat Springs, it’s about more than ribbons. It’s about the bond between the kid and the canine.

“I think it helps the kids develop their relationships with their dog,” Shryock said.

Shryock has been leading the dog project with 4-H for about 15 years. Her process starts in winter with book training. The kids study diseases, vaccinations, and canine anatomy. By spring and summer, the training moves outdoors. The kids commit to once-a-week field training.

The showmanship round tested those fundamentals. Competitors lined up with their dogs and faced individual questions about breed specifics and body parts. Then came the route around the ring.

A key skill here is the “stack.” The dog must stand evenly on all four legs while remaining still. It sounds simple until you realize each breed requires a unique approach. A poodle stacks differently than a corgi.

Preparation didn’t end when the sun went down on Monday. Shryock met with the kids the night before to review questions and drill weak spots. Some stayed until 8 p.m. practicing. After that, they had to go home, bathe their dogs, and get ready for the early morning start.

The obedience round featured an obstacle course that tested the dog’s heeling pattern. It required precision and timing.

Whitaker posed in a gray shirt to match her miniature poodle, Mochi. She took home the Sportsmanship Award. Bridgewater smiled with Freya as they celebrated their Grand Champion titles for Overall Top Dog and Handler and Overall Rally.

The results reflect the hard work Shryock described. The project runs year-round, with winter study leading to summer execution. The kids don’t just show up on Tuesday; they’ve been working since January.

Shryock noted that the training helps the kids understand their animals on a deeper level. It’s not just about winning a blue ribbon. It’s about learning the anatomy, the health, and the behavior of the dogs they care for.

The competition closed with Bridgewater and Freya as the clear winners. They took the top spots in both the overall handler and rally categories. Whitaker’s Reserve Champion placement in rally and her Sportsmanship Award showed she was in the mix, even without a dog of her own in the running for the top dog title.

The event highlighted the depth of the 4-H program in Routt County. It’s a structured path from book learning to field application. And for the kids involved, it’s a lesson in responsibility that extends far beyond the fairgrounds.