Jacob’s Field of Dreams

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Let’s give a big community welcome to one of our newest programs, the 4-H dog obedience school. The 4-H members guide explains the program best. “The 4-H Dog Obedience Proficiency program helps you learn what you need to know about your 4-H project. Your project leader will assist you in setting and achieving your goals. Through your project, you will acquire an understanding of the principles of dog handling, obedience, and working on and off a leash.” The program has been running in the Globe-Miami area since February.

Most 4-H dog programs do not have a space of their own per se. They are usually run along with other 4-H programs, and most of the training is done either at home or at a volunteer’s home with the kids. However, more than a few volunteers are looking to change that in Globe. Nestled at the top of a canyon, just off of Thornwood Drive in the Skyline area of Globe, something wonderful is being built. “It’s going to be a world class facility. Gila County is already being coveted by the other 4-H dog programs in the state,” said Carol Ptak, a lead volunteer for the program.

When you drive down to the lot the first thing you notice is a beautiful, 80-yard by 80-yard, grass field. The field is surrounded by a fence with a gate to allow participants and their dogs to come in and out. It is thanks to the help of quite a few volunteers that this entire project is coming together. “John Dixon got the grass for us from Brookes Farm, at cost. All we had to do was pick it up. It took 13 pallets; each pallet weighed 2,000 pounds. That’s how we got the grass. The steel for the fences was donated by Beverly Hawkins and Chuck Sandoval did all the welding for us. Charlene Giles donated the trees and we are hoping to have some more trees coming in,” said Amanda Haas, lot owner and 4-H volunteer.

Amanda is more than thrilled to see her family’s lot being brought to life by the kids, their dogs and the volunteers who are helping to build this amazing dog training course. It was not always the design for this lot to become a 4-H hosted facility. In fact, this lot was originally going to be the space where her son, Jacob, built his home. Unfortunately, Jacob lost his life in an accident before this dream could be realized. Left with a decision on what to do with the property, Amanda and her family came up with a perfect plan - to not only memorialize the caring life of her son, but also to provide a service to the community that the family could be proud to put in Jacob’s name. “My son worked with Tri-City Fire Department. He was training his dog, Fen, for search and rescue. Dogs meant the world to Jacob, so this would have been something that he wanted to do,” Amanda explained calmly, while holding back a storm of emotions. Jacob was also a coach for the local Little League teams. So, a lot where dogs and kids can come together - it doesn’t get much better than that.

The fi eld is designed simply but effectively. It provides enough space for the kids to effectively practice dog obedience, agility and rally. Rally has 18 to 22 stations where kids show off their dog’s training at each station. As Amanda shows off the different aspects of the field, she can’t help but rave about the kids and their dogs. “These kids put in a lot of time with these dogs. If you had seen them when we started, at the end of February, these dogs couldn’t even be walked on a leash. All of these dogs are still a little reactive, but they are learning how to be more obedient, and to listen and focus on their owners. It’s a huge difference, and these kids are building trust with their dogs, which establishes better communication skills.”