Yvonne DeFreitas

I am again honored and humbled to be considered as a judge at the 2024 National Show, thank you!  My judging focus remains on the breed standard. I pride myself on remaining consistent and non-partisan, regardless of color. My judging assignments today include both Shelties and Collies.  It is my goal to identify and reward the best entered in each category. I still find judging a thrill and as rewarding as my first time in the ring!  During my 40+ years in Shelties, I am proud to have bred numerous Specialty winners, however, my greatest accomplishments will always be, producing 3 ROM bitches and BOB 2008 National. THANK YOU again for your consideration.

 

Lisa Graser

I have been involved in this breed for 30 years. I started in Shelties in obedience in 1989 obtaining a CDX on my first two shelties. I bred my first litter in 1993 as Lisa Bush and started the kennel Blue Heaven. Along with my husband Lloyd Graser, Blue Heaven has bred/owned/finished 122 American Champions, over 100 of those being homebred.  We have finished Champions in every color.

In 2020 we were Awarded the ASSA 3 Top Breeder Awards.

Breeder of the Year, Top Producing Sire and Top Producing Dam

We have been privileged to have been the breeder/owner/handler of the 2018 ASSA National Specialty Best In Futurity, Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch.

3 National AOM winners, 25 Best in Specialty Show dogs, 9 Champion ROM’s , 4 Top Producing Dams and two Best In Show ( All Breed) dogs.

 I was born and raised on a very successful registered Holstein farm. I started showing and judging dairy cattle when I was 8 years old and continued through my college years, showing and judging at the State and National level. My senior year in H.S., I placed 1^st out of 800 contestants in the State Dairy Cattle Judging contest.  I showed registered Holsteins at the state l and National level and at World Dairy Expo

I am currently licensed to judge the Herding and Toy Group, BIS 21 Terrier breeds and 7 Sporting Breeds. Shelties are my TRUE passion, I would be honored to be selected by my peers as a judge for the 2024 ASSA National.  Thank you for the nomination.

 

Lloyd Graser

I have been a member of the American Shetland Sheepdog Club for 40 years.

Along with my wife Lisa Graser and we currently show and breed shelties under the kennel name Blue Heaven. We have bred/owned/finished 122 American Champions, over 100 of those being homebred.  We have finished Champions in every color.

In 2020 we were Awarded the ASSA 3 Top Breeder Awards: Breeder of the Year, Top Producing Sire and Top Producing Dam.

We have been privileged to have been the breeder/owner/handler of the 2018 ASSA National Specialty Best In Futurity, Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch.

3 National AOM winners, 25 Best in Specialty Show dogs,  9 Champion ROM’s , 4 Top Producing Dams and two Best In Show ( All Breed) dogs.

I bred and owned 21 Champions under my previous kennel name “Century Farms”.  In 1978  I started handling professionally. I have won 160 Group 1’s on Shelties and 22 Best In Shows. I handled the #1 Shetland Sheepdog in the US in both 1990 and 1995.

 I am currently licensed to judge the Herding and Working Groups,  BIS, Pomeranians, 25 Sporting breeds and 3 Non Sporting breeds.

Thank you for this nomination. It would be an honor to be chosen by my peers to judge the  2024 ASSA National Specialty.

 

Jennie Hynes

Born into the up-and-coming breeding program of my mother, Rose Tomlin, I attended my first National in 1977. At 11 years old, I remember the excitement of seeing some of the breed’s great dogs and influential people for the first time.

Always keeping our numbers small, my mom and I have finished 59 Rosmoor champions, and most are owner-handled specialty winners including 2019 NBISS GChS Rosmoor Mojave ROM and his grandson 2021 NBISS GChS Rosmoor Afterglow. We count 5 ROMs among our champions, and we are especially proud of Sheltie history’s fourth ranked sire, GChB Rosmoor Protocol ROM ROMC.

I judged the ASSA Futurity in 2018 and attained my regular judging status in the Summer of 2019. Since then, I have been privileged to judge numerous specialties and all breed assignments all over the country.

I am a Life Member of ASSA and it would be an honor and a privilege to be elected to judge the 2024 National specialty.

 

Jackie Parisek

I have owned Shelties since I was 4 years old and have never been without one.  I started out in performance showing in obedience, 4-H, and my passion grew an interest in showing in conformation.  Through my 4-H contacts, I started going to conformation shows and was introduced to several friends in other breeds.  After attending several all-breed shows, I just was absolutely infatuated with confirmation dog showing.  After meeting my husband, Jerry, we decided to seek out the confirmation world and purchase a show dog.  Through our first Champion, we made a connection to lifelong mentors who became family.  I remember my mentors stating that I should always listen and learn, now I am able to share my experiences with other Sheltie enthusiasts.  Since then, we bred and finished over 20 Champions under the prefix of “Two J’s”.  After we had children, the focus of our family was even more geared to Shelties, Junior Showmanship, and attending as many Specialties and National Specialties to learn as much as I could.  I started judging Shelties and Junior Showmanship in May 2014.  It is a great honor to even be asked to judge the National.  I am involved in several breed clubs, including board member for the Dekalb Kennel Club, board member for the Southeastern Miniature American Shepherd Club, lifetime member of the Fox Valley Dog Training Club, and a past member of Chicagoland Shetland Sheepdog Club.  Unfortunately, since we have moved to the Nashville area and there are no local Sheltie clubs.  Just last year I became a 25-year member of the ASSA.

 

Jerry Parisek

Having grown up in a family with parents that were not particularly excited about animals, I made up for lost time and fell in love with every dog and horse possible.  My love for Shelties came when I met my wife, Jackie.  She introduced me to a little tri bitch, called “Elsie”.  It was love at first sight, not just Jackie but her tri bitch “Elsie”.  When Jackie bred her, I kept a blue merle female that ended up too small and I decided to show her in performance and got her CD.  That wasn’t enough for us as we wanted more so we ventured into the breed ring.  Since then, we bred and finished over 20 Champions under the prefix of “Two J’s”.  After we had children, the focus of our family was even more geared to Shelties, Junior Showmanship, and attending as many National Specialties to soak up as much knowledge as possible.  I started judging Shelties and Junior Showmanship in January 2014.  It is a great honor to even be asked to judge the National.  I am involved in several breed clubs, including board member and treasurer for the Dekalb Kennel Club, treasurer for the Southeastern Miniature American Shepherd Club, lifetime member of the Fox Valley Dog Training Club, and a past member of Chicagoland Shetland Sheepdog Club.  Unfortunately, since we have moved to the Nashville area and there are no local Sheltie clubs.  Last year was a monumental milestone as I became a 25-year member of the ASSA and yes, I can finally sit in the 25-year reserved seating at the National and not have to sneak to get a seat.

 

Johana Primeaux

Dear Fellow ASSA Members,

It is a great honor to be on the slate to judge the 2024’ ASSA National.  I have been an Honorary Member of ASSA since 1981’ & SSCNC since 1971’.  Joining the Shetland Sheepdog Club of Northern Calif. 50 years ago has lead thru many of my experiences of raising Shelties, and has taught me mostly enabling me to judge this breed equivently . The presumptuous Joan Surber of Wyncliff Shelties was my beginning mentor.  I have served as President of the Shetland Sheepdog Club of Northern California these past 5 years, and in multiple positions of the club.  I have been ASSA ringside Mentor at the Nationals many times.  It’s such a joy to allow me to teach first hand the sheltie breed.

Primo Shelties, (my #1 breed), boasting over 55+ Sheltie champions of all colors, and along with 30+ champions with Dachshunds, Poodles & Collies.  My experiences with judging shelties is over 21+ Specialties throughout the USA and also overseas has been an absolute joy.

My biggest thrill was the pleasure of owning, & showing history making, ASSA’s National 5x’s straight Award of Merit, ASSA’s National WB and then on to B.O.B., BIS, BISS, Ch. Victory’s Hidden Treasure, ASSA’s Century Club. Another pride & joy was ASSA’s RWD, Ch. Primo Grand Slam. I’ve bred and owed 2 ROM stud dogs. I am excited & honored to possibly be elected by my peers to judge ‘the big one’ for the first time.  Going over the dogs thoroughly, fair & equal in my judging is something I am most proud of.

Thank-you all for giving me this wonderful opportunity!

Sincerely yours, Johanna Primeaux – Primo Shelties

 

Lynette Stewart

My name is Lynette Stewart of Millennium Shelties.  I started out in Shelties and Collies in 1998 in California.  The reason I got into showing is because there was a dog show just behind our house, I ventured over to check it out and was immediately taken by the beauty and elegance of the Shelties and Collies.  Living in California, I was surrounded by beautiful show dogs and wonderful breeders, and I thank those who reached out and mentored me when I first began.  Since then, I have handled and finished 9 Collies to their Grand Championship and Got Best Brood Bitch at the Nationals in 2010.  My original Sheltie lines were sables only when I lived in California, once I moved to Louisiana in 2008 I added my AOAC lines.  I have finished over 48 Shelties since I started, 28 of them I bred myself.  I attend that Nationals when I can and have received several nice placements with my dogs.  As a breeder color or size does not matter to me.  I am looking for the whole package.  A nice head, eye, outline and of course structure and most important “movement”.  I have been a member of ASSA since 2010, along with being an approved ASSA Mentor.  I belong to two local Shelties Clubs SSCofGNO and SSC of Northern LA.  I am still very active in exhibiting and breeding my dogs and look forward to bettering the breed with the knowledge that I achieved.  Judging the Nationals would be an honor.  Thank you.

 

Debra Tessmann Van Leaven

Forty years in Shelties…I started in obedience most notably taking AM Ch Woodbridge Main Event to her AM and Can UD titles.  From there it was encouragement from Gail Carpenter and the likes of Ch Banchory Deep Purple and the young WildOak Moon Reflection at my first National that lead me to the breed ring and the whelping box.

I’ve never kept more than four dogs at home and one litter a year is my max.  My girls have done me proud producing 20 American champions mostly during a time when it took 20+ for a major!  Among them are MBISS Macdega Notorious ROM, ROMC, Ch. Kymric Fantasia Celestial ROM, Macdega Rendevous ROM, 4 ASSA award of merit winners and numerous regional specialty winners.

I’m approved to judge Shelties, seeral other herding breeds, all regular obedience classes and junior Showmanship.  I judged Obedience at ASSA in 2018.

I’m a charter member of the SSC of Western New York and I’ve been a member of ASSA for 38 years.  I’ve judged Shelties North, South, East and West and it’s made my life full and rich and alive with beauty.

It’s every judge’s dream to judge their breed’s National, an you can bet, it’s mine.

Thank you for considering me for the ASSA 2024 judging panel.

 

Ellen Worthington

I’m honored to be nominated again.  I began judging in 1996 and judged the National in 2000, 2008, and 2016.  We have had Shelties, always in limited quantities, averaging only 1-2 litters a year in all colors.  At Aynsworth, we currently own three Champions, one major pointed bitch and a sable youngster under 6 months.  There have been four ROM sires and one ROM dam and over 25 champions, an ASSA National BOB winner, Working and Herding Group winners, and ASSA AOM winners.  Quality-not quantity-has been our intent; our dogs are part of our family.  I’ve also owned GSDs, Cockers, Collies, a Beagle and a Samoyed during my childhood and early marriage.  It would be exciting to have the opportunity to judge the 2024 National.  If you think Ch Hannalore Improvisation, Ch Grandgables Pure Heaven or Ch Syringa Treasure Trove, ROM are inspirational, you know what I like, as they’re my past winners.  Thank you for your consideration.

 

Barbara Wright

To judge the National is the ultimate responsibility and honor to which any judge can aspire.  To be considered again is sincerely humbling (and awesome). Even after living with and loving Shelties for 50+ years, I still can’t conceal the thrill of seeing beautiful puppies, promising youngsters, glorious mature adults, and, of course, those magnificent veterans.

I approach every assignment exactly the same – judge each entry to our Standard.  In addition, since some Shelties, especially puppies, may need a softer approach, I make every effort to ensure that the experience will be a positive one for all.

I have been licensed to judge Shetland Sheepdogs and Juniors since 1993.  Judging throughout the US, in Canada, and in Japan has afforded me the opportunity to appreciate the great strides our dedicated breeders are achieving.

My introduction to dog shows was through Obedience.  Through the years we have completed 6 obedience titles, supported our daughter in Juniors, finished 29 Champions (all colors) including a ROM sire.  Since joining ASSA in 1975, it has been my privilege to serve as Regional Director and Director at Large 5 terms.  In 2018, I was presented the ultimate ASSA award, Life Membership, for which I am eternally humbled and grateful.

If elected I would approach this assignment with total respect for our Breed, honor to our Standard, and absolute Joy!

 

Mendy Gleason

I must state that I am humbled by the nomination to judge the futurity for the ASSA National.  This is a breed that is truly my passion in life.

I acquired my first Shetland Sheepdog in 1985.  I began in Obedience, agility and Junior Showmanship.  It took no time before I was intrigued with conformation and I quickly became hooked on the breed ring.

I have been so fortunate to have many supportive breeders / teachers, including the opportunity to apprentice for Guy and Thelma Mauldin of Kismet Kennels.  This apprenticeship allowed me to meet many of the great specimens that have blessed our breed, and gave me the opportunity to dissect and learn the standard with a great mentor.  There is nothing more impressive to me than running my hands thru that beautiful, chiseled skull, or watching a sheltie effortlessly move thru the ring.  There is nothing more beautiful than that sheltie with the head carriage that speaks with out words- I am special!!

I have handled numerous dogs for others to their championships and have finished multiple champions of my own.  I am blessed to have clients that share my passion and provide me with their babies I can be as proud of as my own  My personal highlight was handling the national winner from 2018 under the prestigious Bryan Cleveland.  Such an Honor!!

 I am passionate about this breed and the future of this breed.  I have only the utmost respect for all of those that share this passion, as well as the other nominees! I cannot imagine a day without a Shetland Sheepdog, a breed has brought so much enrichment to my life.  I know the future will be bright, as long as there are shelties in our world.

I am blessed to have been nominated for this futurity assignment and would consider this an opportunity of a lifetime.

 

Holly Hatcher

I am so happy to have received the news that I have been nominated to be on the list to judge the ASSA Futurity.  This would be such an honor and something I have dreamed of.  I have neen breeding and showing Shelties since 1989 under the kennel name Kymric.  I have bred and finished many Champions over the years, most owner handles.  Judging the futurity would be the icing on the cake to this journey I have had with my wonderful Shelties.

 

Krystn Messer

I acquired my first sheltie in 1985 and through a series of events was invited to an upcoming match. I went, I got a ribbon, and that was the beginning of the rest of my life. I joined the club, started obedience, and began to study. I bought & borrowed every magazine and Handbook I could get my hands on, and attended every seminar possible. My first National was 1987 and I have only missed 5 nationals since. I have served the ASSA as Futurity chair and board member for many years.

My ideal Sheltie is both beautiful and functional. I personally strive to breed dogs that win under both specialists and all-rounders. From 2 foundation bitches, I have bred 22 champions, as well as dogs titled in Obedience, Agility, and herding. I enjoy the showmanship in dog shows but can’t ignore that the dog show should be a showcase for our best. Futurity is an exciting event as we bring out the puppies that are the product of our planning and expectations for the future. The thought of being able to personally examine each and every one of those pretty puppies is both a little daunting and exciting! I thank you for honor of being nominated. It would be any breeder’s dream to judge Futurity.

 

Cadie Pruss

No bio received.

 

Shannalee Waller-Michalsky

I want to thank my peers for the nomination to be selected to judge futurity.  It has been my dream to judge this since I was a young girl.

I started in shelties in 1983 when I purchased my first sheltie with the money I saved up from mowing lawns.  I was 12 years old at the time.  Little did I know that little dog would spark a lifetime passion for the breed.  My first sheltie was trained in obedience and obtained a dog world award for her scores getting her Companion Dog title.

Since then, under the prefix “Akadia”, I have bred and/or owned 67 Champions to date.  Among them, 3 ROM’s, several ASSA Award of Merit winners,  several ASSA Select winners, an ASSA Winners Bitch,  2 ASSA Reserve Winners, and 2 ASSA Brood bitch class winners.  I have also had All Breed Best in Show and specialty Best in Show winning dogs.

I am also the co-breeder of the top winning sheltie of all time BIS/BISS GCh.P. Syringa-Akadia The Corsair.

I am a 30 year member of the ASSA, having joined in 1991

I love all shelties in every shape and form.  All colors and sizes.  I consider the breed to be my life’s work and would be so honored to be selected as the judge for the futurity.

Thank you for the consideration.