The 13-year-old is a seasoned 4-H member and has won numerous awards for her participation in 4-H with her dog, Butch.

“I do the Thunder Over and Under Club, and we compete and train our dogs every Monday at 4-H.  It’s a dog sport where a handler leads the dog with hand signals and verbal commands,” she said.

As a second year participant in dog agility, Leonard is also part of Pembroke’s Hoof and Whiskers Club, which meets at a 4-H leader’s farm house.

In 4-H, Leonard has won the Hands Award, the Junior Leadership Award, the 4-H Ambassador and a certificate of achievement for her dog project, which was a year long record on income and expenses involving raising, and training her dog.

Her English Springer Spaniel will be four in October. “I love him to pieces,” Leonard said.

Outside of her Monday evening class at 4-H, Leonard sometimes takes the initiative to train Butch a few minutes a day, depending on her schedule.

Leonard said she would recommend 4-H to anyone.  

“I meet so many people with the same interests as me and at 4-H, I share the love for animals with others,” she said.

With support from her family, Leonard does some traveling for events where she participates with Butch.  

“I have been to lots of fairs, and I’m also a part of a club that focuses on livestock.  We learn veterinarian science that will prepare me for the future,” she said. “It’s really fun to show the public what we do.”

Leonard hopes to become a veterinarian when she gets older.  She also enjoys performing community service with 4-H.  An achievement she is proud of was when she helped organize a fundraiser for the Brockton Blue Dog Shelter.

“We raised a few hundred dollars, and provided toys, blankets and kennels and also got to visit the dogs. It was really nice.”

This year’s Marshfield Fair highlights many exciting events for 4-H members, according to Molly Vollmer, 4-H Extension Educator and Sam Fox, of Plymouth County Extension, High Street in Hanson.

July 27-31, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on the Marshfield Fairgrounds there will be a children’s 4-H animal camp.

This will be a chance to get up close and have hands on experience with a variety of livestock animals, according to Vollmer.

“We have many 4Hr’s participating in the fair this year. We have well over 100 kids that participate with their animals, including goats, chickens, dairy cows,” Vollmer said.

Last year Vollmer said Hanson resident Kevin Kelly, 14, won the sheep showing taking Best of Show, Market Champion and Fitting and Showmanship Champion. He was also category winner of the same three for the swine showing.

“He is great with the animals and puts in a lot of effort,” said Vollmer.

The culmination of the fair on Aug. 30 is a quiz bowl contest where kids provide the answers to questions regarding animals and livestock animals. Prizes and achievement awards will also be presented for the week long events for 4-H participants.