MOUNT VERNON — Dogs and their 4-H’ers, plus their families and friends, met at the Multipurpose Building on the Knox County Fairgrounds Monday evening for the Dog Showmanship competition. The Master Showman award was won by Anevin Tharp and her beagle, Adam. Tharp has shown beagles for six years and has shown Adam for three.

The competitors were judged for grooming and handling, execution and appearance.

Katie Shoots of Mount Vernon, a member of the Down on the Farm 4-H Club, showed her papillon, Pandi. Shoots was dressed in black and white, to complement Pandi’s shiny black and white coat.

“She was 1 year old on May 20,” said Shoots, and explained that exhibitors must carefully groom their dogs “so they show nice.”

“And we have patterns we have to do,” she said.

The patterns — the triangle, the “T,” the “L” and the down-and-back — are walked in the ring, the dog on a short lead, as the judge watches the pair’s turns.

Exhibitors are also judged on their own appearance, as well as their ability to answer questions from the judge about their dog. Each took a turn opening his or her dog’s mouth for the judge, Jill Lindsey. Pandi wasn’t keen on that part, and made things difficult for Shoots.

Sarah Hohman, also a member of the Down on the Farm club, showed her lively Australian shepherd, Tillie, with one brown eye and one blue eye.

“She’s not even a year old yet,” said Hohman, “but she’s good, for an energetic puppy.”

The competition was Tillie’s first, Hohman’s third.

“We’re judged on execution,” said Hohman. “How well your dog looks, how quickly you can do the pattern. And we’re both judged on our appearance. In the interview, we’re asked five or six questions that are worth 10 points each. The judges pick five finalists, then they come back into the ring for more judging.”

The five finalists were David Morris, Junior A; Bailey Padisak, Junior B; Shoots, Intermediate A; Anevin Tharp, Intermediate B; and Hohman, Senior B. There is no Senior A class this year.

Morris, of the Winner’s Attitude club, said his dog, Hope, is a Brittany, a breed that was previously called Brittany Spaniel.

“They dropped the ‘spaniel’ because spaniel means a flushing dog, and Brittanys are retrievers and pointers. They have two color coats, liver and white and orange and white. Hope is liver and white. I got her for my 10th birthday.”

Asked how many times he had shown Hope, Morris replied, “First year, first place.”

Obedience judging will take place today and the dog skillathon on Monday. There will be a dog show on July 21 during the Knox County Fair.