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“I hope that USASA juniors will take advantage of this opportunity as they decide on their further education,” said Godwin, who serves as secretary of the Foundation. “The Foundation believes that the scholarship is a ter- rific way to assist juniors and promote the future of our great, versatile breed.”
More than one way to benefit Aussies
The Junior Showmanship Scholarship is just one of several ways in which the Foundation works to benefit Australian Shepherds. The Foundation was established in 2005 by the United States Australian Shepherd Association. It is the charitable arm of the USASA, and has the overall mission of supporting the breed club and Australian Shepherds in general. The Foundation has its own Board of Trustees and operates under a strict set of guidelines governing registered nonprofit organiza- tions.
Besides its Junior Showmanship Scholarship Fund, the Foundation maintains three other funds, which support Health and Genetics, Rescue Assistance, and Breed Education. Financial support for all four funds is obtained through tax-deductible contributions.
“Although the Foundation realizes that many Australian Shepherd fanciers are aware of the Health and Genetics Fund, they may not know about the annu- al Scholarship Fund and that we need ongoing financial contributions to support juniors as they pursue their education,” Godwin said.
Indeed, the Foundation Board of Trustees wants to remind USASA members and Australian Shepherd fanci- ers that the Foundation needs contributions for all of its missions. Earlier this year, Leon Goetz, who was instru- mental in forming the Foundation and serves as its vice president, said: “It is important that USASA members realize the USASF is their Foundation and is in exis- tence to benefit the health and welfare of our dogs. The Foundation cannot grow and flourish and fund research
without the help of USASA members and Australian Shepherd fanciers in general. We need your support.”
It happens that Neff, both academically and via her involvement with Australian Shepherds, could not have been a better candidate to kick off the Foundation’s Junior Showmanship Scholarship Program.
Neff first became interested in Australian Shepherds when she was a member of a 4-H club and was seeking a highly driven and intelligent breed of dog. She got a pet puppy and gradually learned through local breeders about the AKC and local dog events.
“I got bitten by the dog show bug,” she recalled. “I got in touch with other breeders and got a couple of other dogs. I have been showing for 11 years now.”
As a junior, Neff has entered agility, obedience, and rally competitions, as well as many junior showman- ship events. She has qualified to go to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show six times, and competed at that prestigious event four of those times with her black tri Aussie, Ch. Manuscript’s Amazing Grace.
Nowadays, Neff studies hard all week and is out on weekends showing her own dogs or those of clients. “Dogs have been my whole life,” Neff said. “I’ve always had the goal of being an all-breed professional han- dler.”
Neff’s mother, meanwhile, is doing her part to ensure her daughter’s future. She cares for Neff’s 14 Aussies while her daughter is away.
Neff said she remains grateful for the support she received from the Foundation scholarship program, and she intends to apply again.
“To be able to win a scholarship from a great organiza- tion that is totally behind junior handling and that has a great juniors program was wonderful,” Neff said. “It was a prestigious win, and I was very honored.”
Donations to the United States Australian Shepherd Foundation may be made by visiting its Website, www.usasfoundation.org, and clicking on “Contribute.”
UNITED STATES AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD FOUNDATION, A 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION
A donation in the amount of $______________ (U.S. Funds) is being made in the name of: _________________________________________________________________________
Address to send honoree an acknowledgement: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
to be applied to the following Fund:
q Joseph Hartnagle Memorial Rescue Fund q Roger McKay Memorial Research Fund q Scholarship Fund q Educational Fund q General Fund (utilized where most needed)
Name ____________________________________________ Kennel _____________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ City/State/ZIP _______________________________ Phone _______________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________
Please mail with check made payable to USASF to Dianne Barrett, USASF Treasurer
336 E Putnam Road, Putnam, CT 06260
20 The Australian Shepherd Journal November/December 2009