Ruth Van Keuren - 1990 - Meritorious Service

Ruth Van Keuren's legacy lives on today, years after her death from cancer in 2003.  An obedience trainer who showed schnauzers and had a passion for junior handler agility, Ruth made a lasting impact as she helped develop the USDAA’s junior programs in concert with Wisconsin’s 4-H Kids Programs.

In the early 1990s, Ruth attended an agility demonstration/seminar with Ken Tatsch and Peter Lewis while she was on vacation and was hooked. She co-founded the Minnesota Agility Club and became enthusiastic about agility for youth, helping to initiate a committee that developed rules. The USDAA Junior Handler Program was born in 1993, and that year the Minnesota Agility Club held the first USDAA Junior Handler classes at its trial.

Throughout the country in USDAA, NADAC, AKC, as well as 4-H programs (especially in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio), Ruth has impacted the future of agility in a long-lasting way.  She worked with local 4-H leaders, conducted numerous demonstrations of agility, held training seminars and worked to establish statewide rules and programs. For years Ruth, along with Joyce Zmek, organized the Junior Handler Showcase/Spotlight at USDAA Nationals: setting up social mixer games and pizza parties for the participants, organizing the ring help and keeping the juniors ring running smoothly. She became a USDAA and AKC judge in the mid-1990s.

Ruth authored a Junior Handler Training Manual, first made available through USDAA, and a special award (for showing good sportsmanship and leadership in agility) was established at Minnesota Agility Club to be awarded to one junior handler (not just 4-H members) from Minnesota or Wisconsin each year.

She was honored for her meritorious service in 1990, and her work continues in large youth organizations flourishing and several scholarships established to promote junior sportsmanship. Several state 4-H programs have adopted agility rules based on Ruth's foundation.  Her model program is now used in Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, California, South Dakota, Washington and several other states.