Agility
Experience
Northeast Agility Championship
Team Competition
Versatility Awards
Friday B Match
Allison Vicuna Sportsmanship Award
Sunday is “Game Day”
Meet Our 2025 Judges
Ronda Bermke – Greenleaf, WI
Canines and the sport of pure-bred dogs have always been a big part of my life. I grew up participating in dog events with my mother and, with the exception of college life, have never been without a dog. My very first AKC licensed show was in 1979 with my Shetland Sheepdog. Since then I have “grown up” and
established my own kennel, White Ridge, located just outside of Green Bay, WI.
I am married to Rob and we have one son, Sam. Currently we share our home with one Standard Longhaired Dachshund and three Border Collies. I am involved and titled my dogs in multiple AKC venues, including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, scent, and earthdog work.
In 2011 I became an AKC agility judge and soon followed with my junior showmanship license, rally license and conformation license to judge some hound, working and herding breeds.
I appreciate and delight in watching each and every team that steps to the start line in the agility ring. Best of luck to you!
David Nauer – Colorado Springs, CO
I have been married to my wife Karen for over 45 years, and credit her with starting me in canine sports. In 1982 I started showing dogs in conformation. We have lived in Colorado since 1979 and are active in many clubs in our region, breeding and raising German Shorthaired Pointers.
I started competing in Agility in 1996 and completed the AKC Judging Seminar in 2005. I have judged the AKC Nationals three times including challengers and finals. I was a volunteer helper for the 1999 AKC Agility Nationals and was head of the scoring table for the 2001 AKC Agility Nationals, both hosted in Denver. I judged finals at Westminster KC Agility in 2021 and judged the AKC Agility Invitational in Orlando in 2022.
In 2015 and 2018 I was one of three finalists for AKC’s Companion Events Lifetime achievement award, and in 2016 was honored as “Sportsman of the Year” for the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America’s AKC award. In 2018 I became the sixth person to be awarded the AKC Agility Achievement Award for service to the AKC Agility program.
I was a member of the 2009 and 2013 AKC Rules Advisory Committees. The experience allowed me to appreciate AKC operations, the process of updating and upgrading AKC offerings, and working with senior staff at the AKC.
More importantly to me, I’ve been happy to share this sport with my wife Karen, an AKC Conformation Judge, and participate in Conformation, Agility, Tracking, Rally, Obedience, and Hunt Testing. I am the Versatility Chairman for the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America, and have been the Agility, Obedience, and Rally Trial Chairman for many GSPCA National Agility Trials. I’ve also been a Trial Chairman for a few of our local All-Breed Agility trials.
I am honored to be a judge at this year’s event and look forward to judging Finals. Good luck to each of the teams – bring your best because you are the best.
Alex Davis – Doswell, VA
It is a great honor to be asked to judge at the 27th Thanksgiving Agility Cluster.
Having shown a variety of breeds in conformation since a child in England, I started “Just for Fun” agility classes in 2004 on the advice of a friend, who said agility would give my Puli, Oliver, the confidence to win his final major. He did finish his breed Championship and then in agility went on to a MACH 3, attending many Invitationals and the Nationals in Lexington, VA. I became an AKC agility judge in 2012.
Over the years my dogs have won several MACHs and PACHs and regularly attended the Invitationals and several Nationals.
I am recently retired and currently live in Virginia with my husband, three Standard Poodles and four Pulis.
Wishing you and your dogs a successful weekend and many clean runs!
Abbie Hanson – Estill, SC
I grew up with Dachshund but it wasn’t until my husband and I bought our first Rottweiler around 40 years ago that I became involved in AKC events. I began showing in Conformation, Obedience and training my Rottweilers in Herding before Rottweilers were recognized to receive AKC Herding Titles. I got into Agility to do something fun and give my Brittany, Rumor a job after I finished her Championship, at an early age. Needless to say I became addicted.
I was encouraged by a friend to become a judge. In 2012 I became a AKC Agility Judge and recently have become a AKC Hunt Test Judge.
My husband and I live in South Carolina and currently compete in Conformation, Hunting, Rally and Agility with our 6 Brittanys and 2 Vizsla.
I enjoy watching all the teams work together. I am excited and honored to judge the Thanksgiving Cluster.
Good luck and most of all have fun with your canine partner we don’t have them long enough!
Erin Schaefer – Foxboro, MA
Always smiling, I have been involved in agility since 1990 and an AKC judge since 2008. Agility has taken me all over the world and I have been fortunate to meet so many wonderful people and dogs along the way! I am very happy to be asked back to help judge the fantastic exhibitors again at the Cluster, which is the first place I won the Agility National Championship in 2000 with fabulous Shetland Sheepdog Jag. We went on to be the first individual Gold medal winners at the World Championships in 2002 in Dortmund Germany. Jag and I were on the AKC US team for five consecutive years as well as the US Open team. He was also the first dog to win the top AKC Shetland Sheepdog dog in 2000. I have achieved many MACHs with different dogs over the years and love the camaraderie and enjoyment I get to see on the agility course!
I began agility with American Eskimo, Stasch. He also had his share of top accomplishments,
I am from New York City, but now reside in MA. I share the house with three Shelties, a McNab oh, and husband Ben!
Thank you for having me back!
Don Farage – Bartlett, TN
Don Farage became involved in the AKC dog world in the early 90s. His first AKC dog was a Miniature Schnauzer named Beau. Beau was very helpful learning how not to do Obedience and later how not to run Agility. About that time, a Standard Schnauzer entered the picture taking him into these same venues plus AKC Conformation. Obedience never went very far, but Conformation Championships and Agility Master titles were earned. Conformation continued in parallel with Agility. In 2003, Don started judging AKC Agility events and has been judging and showing in Agility ever since. Assignments have included multiple three assignments at the NAC, AKC Invitational, Westminster Kennel Club Agility, a World Team Try-out, and a World Team Qualifier.