HIGHLAND COUNTY FAIR DOG SHOW

Saturday, August 30, 2025 - 9:00am till approximately 12:00pm

Chairman, Holli McVeigh & Co-Chairman, Lisa Neil

Judge, Meredith Persinger

— SPONSORS —

Jadalyn’s Pet Care Services & More: Raffle Prize to benefit Highland County Humane Society

Rockingham Cooperative: Kent Blue Seal Feed Dog Food for Trophy Winners

Dr. Julian Metts Jr. & Family: Trophies and Ribbons

Wildman’s Diesel Performance: Treats

Big Valley Performance: Judges’ Gift

Simmons Tech Solutions LLC: 1st Prize Payouts

Meet The Judge

Meredith Persinger

Growing up in the Appalachian foothills of Virginia (Highland, Bath and Augusta Counties), Meredith always had a love for animals. To her mother’s chagrin, she would bring live specimens of reptiles, rodents and amphibians home in her pockets in order to study and to better understand Virginia’s wildlife.

In an attempt to positively channel this interest for animals, her parents allowed her to begin breeding New Zealand/Californian cross meat rabbits when she was 8 years old. Her interest in domesticated animals soon expanded to dogs and, determined to have one, she worked butchering poultry at PolyFace farms to save for her very first dog, an Italian Greyhound named Charlie.

Once in the world of purebred dogs, Meredith discovered her true passion and established a very successful breeding program. Under the Selah prefix, Meredith has produced multiple top-winning AKC and international Champion Italian Greyhounds.

Her current stud dog at standing, Raphael (Selah Chiaroscuro), is the first Italian Greyhound to have been awarded Best of Breed at the most prestigious shows in the USA (Westminster, AKC National Championship and IGCA National) and abroad (Crufts in the UK and the IGCC National in Canada). Meredith is also an all breed handler with a special interest in hound and herding breeds.

When she is not at dog shows, Meredith serves as an ESL teacher at Wilson Memorial High School.

Meredith Persinger

Dog Show Raffle To Benefit Highland County Humane Society

Cat and dog posing together

Bring along  donation of pet food when you come to the dog show and be entered to win a pet goody basket! Most needed items are dry and wet kitten food, and dry dog food. 

Must be present to win!

Prize Sponsored by: Jadalyn’s Pet Care Services & More

NOTE:

  • This is a “pet-friendly” dog show.
  • The Dog Show will be held at the Grandstands unless inclement weather forces it to be held at the Livestock Show Barn. Dog owners/exhibitors must enter from the Grandstand ticket booth entry gate (Rt. 220 entrance) and purchase or produce their daily or season ticket for entry.
  • Dog Show exhibitors are not allowed to park on the fairgrounds.  Designated parking areas must be utilized.
  • Residency shall be considered the residence where the dog resides, not the exhibitor. 
  • It’s encouraged to ask the owner of the dog permission before approaching or petting their dog/s. 
  • Dogs are entered at the sole risk of the exhibitor or owner of the animal.

    — RULES —

    • Online pre-registration will open August 1, 2025 at 8:00am and will close August 22, 2025 at 5:00pm. Please go to https://forms.gle/kc6j8DWHR8zt2EP26 to pre-register at that time.
    • Registration on the day of the show begins at 8:00am.
    • Entries will be accepted up until each class starts.
    • Entry fee for classes 1-10 shall be $1.00 each.  There are no entry fees for classes 11-16 but the owner/exhibitor must register for these classes.
    • Entries eligible for Toy and Miniature Breeds (Class 3) should weigh approx. 15 pounds or less.
    • Entries eligible for Large Breeds (Class 4) should weigh approx. 70 pounds or more.
    • Entries eligible for Puppy Class (Class 6) are dogs 9 weeks to 6 months old. 
    • Entries eligible for Costume – Fair Theme (Class 8) should be costumes that best match the current year’s fair theme. Check a fair guide or go to https://highlandcountyfairva.com to find out this year’s current theme.
    • Entries eligible for Best “Old” Dog (Class 11) are dogs 8 years old and older.
    • NEW This year, “Best Adopted Dog” will be “Hometown Hound” (Class 12) and must be an adopted dog that found its FURever home in Highland. This is for Highland resident dogs only but the dog did not have to be adopted from the Highland County Humane Society, as long as the dog resides in Highland now.
    • Entries eligible for Best Child’s Pet (Class 13) are first place ribbon winners from Child’s Pet Classes 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d.
    • Committee reserves the right to combine two or more classes under a miscellaneous class when there is only one entry in a class.
    • Committee reserves the right to divide large classes as necessary.
    • All dogs must be current on their distemper, parvo, and rabies vaccinations. The committee reserves the right to request proof of vaccinations.
    • For the dog’s safety, no puppies under 8 weeks old shall be allowed in the show.
    • All dogs must be on a leash at all times or risk disqualification. 
    • No dogs are allowed on the fairgrounds except during the Dog Show. Dogs are not allowed in any building or on the midway (any area other than the Grandstands).
    • Owner/exhibiter is responsible for feces clean-up. They’re encouraged to bring their own dog waste bags. 
    • Ribbons will be awarded for first four places.  Blue-1st; Red-2nd; White-3rd; Yellow-4th.  Prize money will be awarded for all places.

      PRIZES:  1st – $5; 2nd – $4; 3rd – $3; 4th – $2

      CLASSES:

      1. Working Breeds
        1. Collies & Australian Shepherds
        2. Heelers
        3. Miscellaneous (Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, Pinschers, Great Dane, Pyrenees, Mastiffs, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Husky, Corgis, Etc.)
      2. Sporting Breeds & Hounds
        1. Beagles
        2. Cocker Spaniels
        3. Coon Hounds
        4. Pointers & Setters
        5. Bear Hounds
        6. Retrievers
        7. Terriers
        8. Miscellaneous (Weimaraner, Basset Hound, Dachshund, Etc.)
      3. Toy and Miniature Breeds
        1. Non-resident Dog
        2. Highland resident Dog
      4. Large Breeds
        1. Non-resident Dog
        2. Highland resident Dog
      5. Pet Breeds
        1. Child’s Pet Exhibitor 10 years old and under – Non-resident exhibitor & dog
        2. Child’s Pet Exhibitor 10 years old and under – Highland resident exhibitor & dog
        3. Child’s Pet Exhibitor 11 to 17 years old- Non-resident exhibitor & dog
        4. Child’s Pet Exhibitor 11 to 17 years old – Highland resident exhibitor & dog
        5. Adult’s Pet 18 years old and older – Non-resident exhibitor & dog
        6. Adult’s Pet 18 years old and older – Highland resident exhibitor & dog
      6. Puppies
        1. Puppies – Non-resident Dog
        2. Puppies – Highland resident Dog
      7. Best Matched
        1. Best Matched Dog Pair (2 dogs that look alike) (both dogs will receive ribbons)
        2. Best Matched Dog and Owner/Exhibitor (Dog & owner/exhibiter that look alike, not in costume) (both dogs will receive ribbons)
      8. Themed Costume – “All Hearts Come Home to Highland”
        1. Child – up to 17 years old
        2. Adult – 18 years old and older
      9. *NEW* Fair Theme
        1. Highland’s Heartfelt Helper – Highland resident dogs that help on the farm
        2. All Hearts Come Home – Non-resident dogs that participate in the Dog Show consistently (at least 2x previously)
      10. Past Champion of Show Winners (only 1st place ribbon winner selected)
      11. Best “Old” Dog (Trophy)
      12. Hometown Hound – An adopted dog that found its FURever home in Highland – Highland Resident Dogs Only (Trophy)
      13. Best Child’s Pet (1st place/blue ribbon winners from Classes 5a, 5b, 5c, & 5d) (Trophy)
      14. Chairman’s Choice (2nd place/red ribbon winners from Classes 1-6) (Trophy)
      15. Non-resident Dog Champion of Show and Reserve Champion (Trophies)
        (1st place/blue ribbon winners from classes 1, 2, 3a, 4a, 5e, 6a, & winner of 11 if non-resident dog)
      16. Highland resident Champion of Show and Reserve Champion (Trophies)
        (1st place/blue ribbon winners from classes 1, 2, 3b, 4b, 5f, 6b, & winner of 11 if Highland resident dog)

      PRIZES:  1st – $5; 2nd – $4; 3rd – $3; 4th – $2