Student takes on childhood hunger

Anna Pallister is getting an early start on a career in community service. As a seventh-grader, she's the youngest to ever be chosen to serve on Montana Governor Bullock's Youth Leadership Council, where she's spearheading a "Fight Childhood Hunger" campaign right here in Sanders County.

The big day for Anna and her project, which is a 4-H sponsored event, will be Sat., April 21. Anna will host a "Fight Childhood Hunger" Fun Day at Thompson Falls Dog Park from noon to 2 p.m.

As a dog owner who got bitten by the bug of dog agility last year in her 4-H classes, Anna is inviting the general public - and their leashed dogs - to join the celebration and dog games that day, all in the name of bringing awareness to childhood hunger. Anna will be selling raffle tickets for an inflatable kayak, which will be awarded that same afternoon. She is also coordinating a dog agility demonstration, put on with the help of her 4-H buddies and members of Sanders County Dog Training Club. The agility demos will begin around noon that day and will continue sporadically for two hours. The public will also have a chance to try their own dogs on the agility equipment, with help and guidance from dog club members.

Anna's own dog is an Australian shepherd named Pippin. She began training Pippin in the sport of dog agility last summer, in preparation for 4-H competition at the Sanders County Fair. It didn't take long for Anna to decide agility would remain on her activity list for years to come. "It's fun when your dog does what you've taught her to do," she says, noting that Pippin's favorite agility obstacles are the long tunnels.

She decided a dog agility day at the dog park would be a good way to attract and involve people in her campaign to fight childhood hunger. In addition to selling raffle tickets for the inflatable kayak, she also requests monetary donations for her cause. "The donations will go directly to the local food bank," she says. "We really would prefer money over food, since the food we get donated is so often expired, and we can't legally use it."

Instead of purchasing and donating expired food items, she explains, the food bank would prefer cash donations so they can purchase fresher items for their many clients.

Anna was chosen for the Governor's Youth Council based largely on her past experience and community service. She has participated in 4-H for almost eight years, has helped with highway cleanups, has volunteered her time with local senior citizens, and served on her student council.

Anyone may bring a dog to try the agility equipment at the dog park on April 21. However, dogs should be healthy, non-aggressive, and leashed. Owners should bring drinking water and a dish for their dogs, as the park's water system is not yet turned on for the summer. Human snacks will be provided.