The Next Best Junior

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218 – March, 2026

 By Jessica Braatz

Photos by Lisa Croft-Elliott

On the frigid Sunday afternoon before Westminster, junior handlers from across the country gathered for a first-of-its-kind event at the AKC Museum of the Dog. Co-hosted by Heidi Hartman-Booth and the museum’s CEO and Executive Director, Christopher Bromson, the event bridged the past and the future, inviting past Westminster winners and future ones to gather, talk, and calm their pre-show nerves together.

The event was star-studded to say the least, with Westminster Best Junior Handler winners ranging from 1979 to 2024. Those in attendance included Susan Schneider (1979), David Harper (1985), Angela Lloyd (1998), Zachary Helmer (2007), Dylan Kipp Keith (2009), Ania Kelly (2012), Luke Waters (2023), and Octavia Stensen (2024). These winners span decades, and each shares a deep commitment to the sport. Together, they represent almost fifty years of legacy and perspective, bringing decades of knowledge to those preparing to compete.

This year, 100 junior handlers competed for the title of Best Junior Handler at Westminster. After working all year to win the required seven Best Juniors to qualify, it can be nerve-racking to step on the green carpet. There, all of the country’s best vie for eight coveted spots in the Best Junior Handler competition, where over $20,000 in scholarships are awarded. Whether it is a junior’s first year or last, there can be an immense feeling of pressure, and the sense that it all comes down to one moment on the carpet.

Click here to read the complete article
218 – March, 2026

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Posted by AnthonyA on Mar 23 2026. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.