New York, NY- The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s
largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and
responsible ownership, is excited to announce the champions of the AKC Agility League’s
summer season! The League recently concluded its 13th season and honored its top teams and
competitors.
Team champions were named in each of the ten divisions. AKC Agility League offers three 12-
week long seasons a year. Teams, composed of three to eight dogs, run six courses each season.
There are three field size divisions: Extended (100 X 100 min.); Regulation (70 X 100 min.); and
Limited (50 X 70 min.) and five skill levels: Ph.D. (International); Senior (Masters/Excellent);
Sophomore (Open); Freshman (Novice); and Elementary (Pre-Novice).
37 states were represented by League team participants this past season, including Alaska and
Hawaii. The winners of the Limited Senior Class, ISU Cyclone Warning, work in a unique program
at Iowa State University, where students are taught dog training and behavior while helping
rescue dogs. Next season, they plan to have an all-student team.
“The spirit of the AKC Agility League is unmatched and speaks to the energy and drive of the
League’s amazing participants,” says Penny Leigh, AKC Agility League Director. “Congratulations
to the summer season champs! We can’t wait for the seasons to come.”
This season’s team champions are:
Extended Ph.D. – Michigan Border Patrol – The team captain is Debbie McLean, and the
team runs at The Bark Barn in Fenton, Michigan. Team members are:
- Kathy Petroni & Border Collie, Grand Oakes Start Me Up NA NAJ
- Hannah Smith & Working Kelpie, Zephyr's Tamed A Raptor AX MXJ NF CGC TKA
- Julie Oakes & Border Collie, Grand Oakes Sticky Feet MX MXJ
- Debbie McLean & English Cocker Spaniel, Kacadu Wot Was Ithinkin MX MXJ
- Elizabeth Petschar & Border Collie, Grand Oakes Now Or Never RN FDC MX MXJ CGC
TKI
- Bailey Preston & Border Collie, Grand Oakes Center Of Attention MX MXJ OF BCAT
CGCA CGCU TKP VHMA
- Juliet Weissberg & Border Collie, Grand Oakes' Hero, Yowza! CD MX MXB MXJ MJB
MXF
- April Beale & Border Collie, Grand Oakes Life Gave You Lemons MX MXJ OF
Regulation Ph.D. – TAG Summa Zoom Laude – The team captain is Adriana Nottestad, and
the team runs at Fly High Agility in Knightdale, North Carolina. Team members are:
- Emma Litman & English Cocker Spaniel, Nohea Making an Appearance at Fly High
SWA SCE SIE SEE
- Adriana Nottestad & All-American Dog, Endgame's I'm a Shark
- Catherine Holmes & Border Collie, Sloane Ranger
- Liz Burke & Border Collie, Quicksilver Too Hot to Roll NA SWN CGC
- Preston Adcock & English Cocker Spaniel, Everwind the Whistlepig Says Spring
- Heather Werner & Beauceron, The False God Beelzebub Du Feu Eternel OA AXJ XF
SWN SIA TKE
Regulation Senior – Woof Das – The team captain is Cassy Janssen, and the team runs at
Grand Forks Dog Training Club in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Team members are:
- Kaydi Grunhovd & All-American Dog, It’s in the Sauce MX MXJ MJB XF T2B BCAT
ACT1J
- Kaydi Grunhovd & Border Collie, Hob Nob Little Miss Mayhem MX MXJ MJB MXF T2B2
BCAT CGC TKI
- Jill Swingen & Miniature American Shepherd, GCH CH Knee High's Trend Setter RA
FDC AX MXJ OF BCAT ACT1 SIN SEN CGC TKN
- Cassy Janssen & Miniature American Shepherd, GCH CH 74 Ranch Barrel Aged N
Smoked RN NA OAJ NF BCAT SCN
- Kaydi Grunhovd & Labrador Retriever, MACH2 Rebel Just for Kixx MXS MJS2 PJD MJP
MFS TQX T2B5 DCAT ACT2
Limited Senior – ISU Cyclone Warning – The team captain is Karen Moore, and the team
runs at the Iowa State University Team Yard in Ames, Iowa. Team members are:
- Karen Moore & Border Collie, AGCH MACH5 Brighteye N South Street's It's About
Chime MXG2 PAD MJC2 PJD MJ
- Cheryl Morris & Australian Shepherd, Boyd Ranch Codigo Blue Steel AX MXJ OF CGC
TKN
- Kristin Weichman & All-American Dog, MACH Moohollow Us Luca MXB MJB NJP MXF
TQX T2B ACT2 ACT2J
- Karen Moore & Border Collie, MACH2 On Target's Which Way Now? MXG PAD MJG
MFB TQX T2B3 BCAT
- Terry Ryan & Border Collie, MACH2 Rival's Race to the Finish MXB2 MJC PJD MFG
T2B4
- Cheryl Morris & Border Collie, Newfire Karma's You Can Fli RN NA NF BCAT ACT2
CGC TKI
- Cheryl Morris & All-American Dog, PACH Desert Sundog MX MXJ MJB MXP3 MXPB
MJP3 MJPB PAX OF T2B SIN SEN
Regulation Sophomore – Creekside Cracker Jacks – The team captain is Nikki Hall, and the
team runs at Their Place in Morgantown, West Virginia. Team members are:
- Tracy Horn & All-American Dog, Quicksilver's Chchch Changes OA OAJ MXF DCAT
- Carolyn Lathrop & Border Collie, Jailbreak's on the Lamb UD OA OAJ MXF
- Darlene Schmucker & Papillon, Tresor's There's Only One of B&D OA OAJ XF FCAT
FTN
- Jackie Kane & Border Collie, Cedar Runnin Against the Wind CDX BN RM OA OAJ MXF
DCAT CGCA TKN ATT
- Tammy Rubright & Shetland Sheepdog, Brandamike Sunshiny Day
- Michelle Yackovich & Shetland Sheepdog, Wickett Vincenzo CD BN RE NA OAJ OF CA
FCAT CGCA CGCU TKI FTA
- Beverly Sanders & Cocker Spaniel, Beachstone's 'Hunny' Comb NA AXJ OF FCAT2
CGC TKN FITB
- Annette Sovastion & Papillon, Chateau's Master Yoda-Jedi Knight OA OAJ XF BCAT
CGCU TKI
Limited Sophomore – Splashdown’s 2A 2BC –The team captain is Nanci Miller, and the team
runs at Splashdown Dog Sports in Bainbridge, New York. Team members are:
- Victoria Anderson & Australian Shepherd, Rising Star’s Auggie RN NA SWA SEE CGC
TKI
- Nanci Miller & Border Collie, Windy Ridge March to the Highlands SWN SIE SEE SBA
TKI
- Susan Watson & Border Collie, Orla O'Shea FDC NA NAJ TKN
- Victoria Anderson & Australian Shepherd, Propwash Elsmere Rosie SWN SCA SEA
CGC TKI
Regulation Freshman – Strider and the Shining Twins – The team captain is Audrey
Vojtech, and the team runs at Flint Creek Dogs Inc. in Antioch, Illinois. Team members are:
- Audrey Vojtech & All-American Dog, On Target's Jungle Juice NF TKI
- Monique Engemann & Border Collie, Cedar Rise of the Sun King CGCA CGCU STR
TKA FITB
- Timothy Vojtech & All-American Dog, On Target's Snitches Get Stitches OA AXJ OF
Limited Freshman – Rubber City Real Rebels – The team captain is Brianna Stevens, and
the team runs at Akron All-Breed Training Club in Akron, Ohio. Team members are:
- Robin Gray & All-American Dog, Splashback's Ms Marvel
- Brianna Stevens & German Shorthaired Pointer, Breezeway's Nashville Barefoot in the
Country BCAT
- Roberta Sajovec & All-American Dog, Sajovec's All Tuckered Out RN DCAT CGCA
CGCU TKI FITB
Regulation Elementary – Cookie Rookies – The team captain is Nikki Hall, and the team runs
at Their Place in Morgantown, West Virginia. Team members are:
- Cheryl Burns & Papillon, Abigail Grace Walker CGC STR TKN
- Lindsay Johannes & All-American Dog, Johannes' Lucy RN SWD SWM CGCA CGCU
TKN
- Darlene Schmucker & Papillon, GCH CH Grandemaison Tresor's Ode A Shay BCAT
- Tamara Cline & Border Collie, CH Korsakov's Touchstone RN FDC CA BCAT CGC ATT
FITB
- Diane Serlo & Border Collie, Ammardan Snappy Danser BCAT
- Stacy Holler & Shetland Sheepdog, Legacies Pocket Full of Sunshine FDC CAX FCAT5
CGC TKI FITG
- Stacy Holler & Shetland Sheepdog, Legacies I've Got Sunshine RE FDC CA FCAT
CGCA STR TKI FITG
Limited Elementary – Agility Kopek Mini – The team captain is Ipek Sevgur, and the team
runs at Dog Agility & Café in Hooksett, New Hampshire. Team members are:
- Caitlin O’Neil & Australian Shepherd, Cocoa
- Eve Fogarty & Chihuahua, Fogarty Hill Kavya ACT1 ACT2J
- Eve Fogarty & Chihuahua, Fogarty Hill Nikera ACT1 ACT1J CGC TKA
- Will Lynch & Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Elf's Run Vinny
Enrollment for the AKC Agility League fall season is currently underway. Competition launches
on September 14th! For more information, click here. Questions? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Talkin' Pets News - September 5, 2026

Host - Jon Patch / Co-Host - Jasmine the Dog Trainer - Tampa Bay, Florida / Producer - Philip Staub / CRN Producer - Sydney Hubbard

Special Guest - Hour 1 at 5pm ET - Actor, Filmmaker, Pogo Stick Record Breaker- "Joey Jumps for Cats", Joey Luthman, is raising money for EveryCat Health Foundation.

Talkin' Pets News - August 29, 2026

Host - Jon Patch / Co-Host - Maria Ryan - DogGone Positive Training - Port St. Lucie, Florida / Producer - Kayla Cavanaugh / CRN Producer - Sydney Hubbard

U.S. Forest Service and National Forest Foundation Launch the First National Forests and Grasslands Passport

Free digital experience gives visitors a new way to celebrate their adventures while exploring America's national forests and grasslands

WASHINGTON, D.C. AUG 27, 2026 – The U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) announced the launch of the National Forests and Grasslands Passport, a free digital experience designed to inspire visitors to discover more of America’s national forests and grasslands while earning commemorative digital badges along the way.

Available through the OuterSpatial mobile app, the National Forests and Grasslands Passport transforms every visit into a rewarding experience, allowing visitors to check in and earn exclusive digital badges for each national forest and national grassland they explore.  “As an avid fan of the National Park Service Passport Program, I am excited to announce the introduction of the digital U.S. Forest Service Passport Program. More than 164 million people visit our 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands each year bringing back with them stories, family memories and oftentimes plans to return or explore a new Forest Service destination,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “Now, millions of people are able to track their visits on their mobile devices through the National Forests and Grasslands Passport, and we are so excited to welcome the next generation of adventurers through this engaging, digital experience.”  

Each national forest and grassland has its own specially designed badge, inspired by the iconic Forest Service entrance signs that have welcomed visitors for generations. The artwork reflects the landscapes, wildlife, plants, and other features that define each forest and grassland, creating a collection as distinctive as the places themselves.

"We're proud to partner with the Forest Service on a program that inspires more people to experience our national forests and grasslands," said Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, President and CEO of the National Forest Foundation. "People care for the places they love, and every new connection helps build a stronger community of people committed to the future of these extraordinary public lands."

Additionally, users will be able to view their total visit number ranked in a leaderboard with other challengers. Visitors are encouraged to log in all their past visits to unlock digital badges to build their own personal collection; however, only check-ins within the geographic coordinates of the national forest or grassland will earn a certified green checkmark. 

To learn more about the National Forests and Grasslands Passport and to download, visit: www.nationalforests.org/passport  

About the National Forest Foundation

The National Forest Foundation (NFF) believes in a world where caring for forests is second nature, with a mission to transform America’s love of nature into action for our National Forests. As the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, NFF works to reduce wildfire risk, restore land and watersheds, and improve recreation access across America’s 193 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands. NFF’s work is national in scope, local in practice, and generational in impact.

About the U.S. Forest Service

The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.