We are launching the first FLORIDA JUNIOR CHALLENGE to be held on Saturday, January 10, 2009 & Sunday, January 11, 2009 in Brooksville, FL. The big event will be held during the Florida Circuit. The event will be offered FREE of charge to Junior Handlers. Last year's Jamboree was a great success with 135 Juniors participating. We are hoping to make this new event even bigger and better.

The 2009 Junior Challenge will include a two-day curriculum for Juniors with expert instruction from AKC handlers, breeders, former AKC Juniors, AKC judges and AKC personnel. The curriculum will include instruction focused on the group specific breeds of the Junior. Participants will also be grouped by age & experience level. Master Groomer, Chris Pawlosky of Oster will also be giving instruction on grooming dogs of each group. Junior Showmanship participants and future Juniors are invited to attend.

Advanced registration to participate in the curriculum portion of these events is requested before December 24, 2008. To obtain information on pre-registering for the Junior Challenge curriculum or if you have any questions, please contact Angela Pickett at pickettpap@aol.com or phone (407) 359-6659.

There will be NO entry fees to enter Junior Showmanship on Saturday, January 10, 2009 & Sunday, January 11, 2009 at the Inverness Florida Kennel Club, Inc. show and the Tampa Bay Kennel Club, Inc. show. Juniors must enter through MB-F to participate in the Junior Showmanship Competition in the Inverness Florida Kennel Club, Inc. and the Tampa Bay Kennel Club, Inc. shows on January 10, 2009 & January 11, 2009. Entries close for these shows on December 24, 2008. A voucher for airfare to the AKC Invitational will be offered as trophies to the winners of each Open Class each day. The Best Junior trophy each day will include a voucher for two (2) nights lodging and meals while at the Invitational. School Supply Gift Cards will be offered as trophies to 1st through 4th place winners in all Novice Classes and 2nd through 4th in all Open Classes. All Open Class winners MUST comply with the AKC Invitational requirements including grade point average to qualify to collect the trophy. Should the 1st Place winner of Open Junior, Open Intermediate or Open Senior be the same winner as Saturday, January 10, 2009 the 2nd Place winner of the class will receive the voucher for the roundtrip plane ticket to the AKC Invitational and the 1st Place winner will receive the $100.00 Gift Card for School Supplies. We will also have prizes for participating in the curriculum and several armband drawings each day after Junior Showmanship judging for more special prizes.

The Florida Junior Challenge is sponsored by generous donations from All-Breed and Specialty Clubs throughout the state. We would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of all of these groups. Without them the event would not be possible.