2026 GSCA NATIONAL SPECIALTY
The 2026 National Specialty will be held October 11-17, 2026 at Purina Farms in Grey Summit, MO in collaboration with the American Bouvier des Flandres Club. Our 2026 National Specialty is dedicated in memory of Enid Lagree.
SPONSORS
Special thanks to the following for helping sponsor this year’s National Specialty:
COMMITTEE AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Midwestern Regional Director Frank Lavoie is the show chair for the National and Midwest Regional, and Western Regional Director Kathi Seaman is the show chair for the Western Regional. Laurie Mason is co-chair and helping ensure everything stays organized, and Andrea Defibaugh is the chair for all Performance Events.
Our volunteers support our specialties in many ways and are the key to the success of these events. To get involved, please contact Andrea Defibaugh for performance events and Frank Lavoie for conformation and hospitality events. You can also reach out to any of the other committee members:
| Treasurer – Howard Postovit | Rosettes – Laurie Mason |
| Trophy Chair – Keli Mazzenga | Fundraising – Chris James |
| Hospitality – Stacy Leach | Merchandise – Melissa & Luis Delatorre |
| Publicity – Jayca Pike | Giant Invitational Gala – Adam Duke |
| Parade of Titleholders – Abby Kelly | Education – Robin Henderson |
| Awards – Suzanne Johnstone | Reserved Grooming – Chris Reed |
COMPETITION ENTRY INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sunday Oct 11th
| Event |
Hosted By |
Judge |
Location |
When |
| Scent Work |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Service Building |
All day |
Monday Oct 12th
| Event |
Hosted By |
Judge |
Location |
When |
| Scent Work |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Service Building |
All day |
| Agility |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Great Hall |
All day |
| Carting |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Outdoors |
All day |
Tuesday Oct 13th
| Event |
Hosted By |
Judge |
Location |
When |
| Agility |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Great Hall |
All day |
| Carting |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Outdoors |
All day |
| Fast CAT |
GSCA |
- |
Working Field |
All day |
Wednesday Oct 14th
| Event |
Hosted By |
Judge |
Location |
When |
| Obedience/Rally (GSCA National Supported) |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Great Hall |
All day |
| Fast CAT |
GSCA |
- |
Working Field |
All day |
| Parade of Titleholders |
GSCA |
- |
Great Hall |
4 PM |
| Breeders Sweepstakes |
GSCA |
Steve Fox |
Great Hall |
4 PM |
| Welcome Party |
GSCA |
- |
Checkerboard Café |
5:30 PM |
Thursday Oct 15th
| Event |
Hosted By |
Judge |
Location |
When |
| Western – Breed |
GSCA |
Sandy Weaver |
Great Hall |
9:30 AM |
| Western – Juniors |
GSCA |
Sandy Weaver |
Great Hall |
9:30 AM |
| Obedience/Rally (GSCA Midwest Supported) |
ABdFC |
TBD |
Great Hall |
All day |
| Fast CAT |
GSCA |
- |
Working Field |
All day |
| Judges Ed – classroom |
GSCA |
- |
Meeting Room |
12:30-2 PM |
| Judges Ed – hands on |
GSCA |
- |
Great Hall |
2-3 PM |
| Annual Meeting |
GSCA |
- |
Founders Room |
3-4 PM |
| Giant Invitational Gala |
GSCA |
Panel TBA at event |
Wildwood Hotel |
6:30-9 PM |
Friday Oct 16th
| Event |
Hosted By |
Judge |
Location |
When |
| Midwestern – Sweeps |
GSCA |
Dayl Phillip |
Great Hall |
9:30 AM |
| Midwestern – Breed |
GSCA |
Bill Shelton |
Great Hall |
9:30 AM |
| Midwestern – Juniors |
GSCA |
Bill Shelton |
Great Hall |
9:30 AM |
| Fast CAT |
GSCA |
- |
Working Field |
All day |
| Handling Seminar |
GSCA |
- |
Great Hall |
1-2:30 PM |
| Structure Seminar |
GSCA |
- |
Meeting Room |
2:30-4:30 PM |
Saturday Oct 17th
| Event |
Hosted By |
Judge |
Location |
When |
| National – Sweeps |
GSCA |
Lance Carter |
Great Hall |
9 AM |
| National – Breed |
GSCA |
Janine Starink |
Great Hall |
9 AM |
| National – Juniors |
GSCA |
Dayl Phillip |
Great Hall |
9 AM |
| Fast CAT |
GSCA |
- |
Working Field |
All day |
| Awards Banquet |
GSCA |
- |
Founders Room |
5:30-9 PM |
PARADE OF TITLEHOLDERS
The Parade of Titleholders will be held on Wednesday, October 14 at 4 PM in the Great Hall at the Purina Farms Event Center. It will be followed by Breeder’s Sweepstakes and our Welcome Party. This is a great way to show off your dog and recognize his/her achievements. The Parade is open to all Giant Schnauzers who have earned at least one AKC title in Conformation or Performance. The $45 entry fee includes a personalized Parade Rosette and a listing and write-up in the Parade pamphlet.
Please fill out all required information on the entry form. Include a short 45-word-or-less resume about your dog. Make payment and submit. Note: Entries will not be accepted without payment. Entries for Parade close September 1st. Rosettes will not be mailed. Please make arrangements for pick up if you are unable to attend. Contact Abby Kelly, Parade Chair, with any questions.
WELCOME PARTY
All are invited for free pizza and cash bar starting at 5:30 PM at the Checkerboard Café on Wednesday, October 14th. The party is open to all Giant Schnauzer exhibitors and fanciers. Please make a reservation through the National Store.
GIANT INVITATIONAL GALA
The Top 10 Giants in both breed and AKC National Owner Handled Series rankings for the 2025 competition year have been invited to compete in the Giant Invitational Gala. The entries will be judged by a 3-person panel consisting of a breeder, a handler, and an AKC judge. Only the top Giant will be selected from all those competing.
Please join us on Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 PM in the ballroom of the Wildwood Hotel for cocktails (open bar) and hors d’oeuvres, and a night of Giant excellence. Formal attire is definitely encouraged. All Giant Schnauzer exhibitors and fanciers are invited to attend. Tickets for the Gala are $50/person and include food, drinks, and an event catalog. Please order your tickets through the National Store by October 5th.
ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET & AUCTIONS
The Giant Schnauzer Club of America will be hosting its Annual Awards Banquet at Purina Farms in the Founder’s Room on Saturday, October 17th. This event is open to all breed fanciers and their guests and is not limited to GSCA members. The Silent Auction will close before the Awards Presentation and the Live Auction will take place after the Awards Presentation.
The buffet dinner menu will include: sliced beef w/au jus, chicken breast w/classic Mornay sauce, harvest garden salad, fresh vegetable medley, roasted potato medley, assorted sweets — cookies, brownies and lemon bars — tea and coffee.
Please join us for cocktails (cash bar) at 5:30 PM and dinner at 6:30 PM by ordering your tickets through the National Store. The cost of the dinner is $65/person through October 5th. Online reservation deadline is October 5th, after which tickets may be purchased at the show site for $80 based on availability only. Note: You must purchase a Banquet ticket to attend the Annual Awards Presentation.
JUDGES EDUCATION
The seminar is open to those who are interested in judging the Giant Schnauzer and who are currently AKC licensed judges or who have applied to the AKC to become a judge. The seminar will begin at 12:30 PM on Thursday, October 15th with a classroom portion in the Event Center Conference Room and hands-on instruction from 2-3 PM in the Great Hall. The cost will be $25, checks made payable to GSCA. Funds must be in U.S. currency. This cost will include a copy of our Illustrated Standard. Contact Robin Henderson to register and please check in at the Giant Schnauzer Information table at the Purina Event Center.
EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS
Handling Seminar – Learn the ins and outs of how to best present your Giant from AKC Judge Sandy Weaver. This will be a hands-on session from 1-2:30 PM on the afternoon of Friday, October 16th and it will be held in the Great Hall.
Bones, Beats and Better Bodies – When the foundation is right, everything works better. This is true in houses, businesses and dogs. In this session, participants will learn the basics about canine anatomy and structure, along with how common faults affect movement. Live dogs and/or slides and videos will be used to illustrate the concepts being discussed. This seminar will be from 2:30-4:30 PM on the afternoon of Friday, October 16th. It will be held in the upstairs conference room and taught by AKC Judge Sandy Weaver.
Sign up for either seminar through the National Store. Tickets are $15 each.
TROPHY SPONSORSHIP
Please consider sponsoring a trophy for the 2026 National, Midwest, and Western Regional Specialties. Your sponsorship and dedication will be acknowledged in the Show Catalog, on social media, and in the newsletter, and is a wonderful way to honor or memorialize that special Giant or dog person. Contact Laurie Mason for cost and availability information. Availability will be confirmed and the class reserved. An invoice will be sent to your email; online payment is due within 10 days to hold the class. Please note that trophy sponsorship dollars are used to fund trophies, rosettes, and other show expenses.
DONATIONS
General donations will be used towards show and hospitality expenses. Any amount is greatly appreciated! Sponsorship levels are available for $25 and up, from Grand Champion to Double Platinum. Donations can be made online at DONATE NOW or by contacting Holly Reed or Howard Postovit.
CATALOG ADVERTISING
Full page (8” x 5.5”) ads can be placed in the catalog – Black & White ($75) or Color ($90). Half page Black & White ($35) ads are also possible. All ads must be camera ready and submitted via email as a PDF or JPG file. Contact Laurie Mason for submission and payment information. No ads will be processed without payment. Deadline is September 1st. Please send ads in early. Late ads will not be accepted.
AUCTIONS
Both Silent and Live Auctions will be held during our Annual Awards Banquet on October 17th. If you would like to donate an item to the auction, contact Chris James. You will be asked to fill out a form so that we can gather information on the item you are donating to the auction. Please let us know about your donation items as soon as possible and no later than September 1, 2026, as no items will be accepted after this date.
We will also offer select items via online auctions prior to the National. These auctions are held regularly in the GSCA Fundraising group on Facebook — be sure to join if you haven’t yet!
MERCHANDISE
National merchandise featuring the 2026 National logo will be available for online orders through the manufacturer. Things will be a little different this year as merchandise will be shipped directly to buyers by our vendor well ahead of the National. More information will be available on the GSCA Facebook page, website, and at the Information table at the National.
NATIONAL STORE
The online store for all things associated with the GSCA 2026 National Specialty is now open. In the store you will find event tickets and registration for the Welcome Party, the Giant Invitational Gala, Educational Seminars, and the Annual Awards Banquet. And of course, the store will offer convenient ways to donate in support of the National!
HOST HOTEL
The Wildwood Hotel is our host hotel and is located about 15 miles from the show site via Route 100 to Gray Summit at 2801 Fountain Pl in Wildwood, MO 63040. Phone: (636) 733-9100. Mention Giant Schnauzer Club of America for the following special rates available until September 14, 2026:
- Standard/Two Queen Beds: $99/night Sunday-Thursday; $159/night Fri-Sat
- Standard/One King Bed: $105/night Sunday-Thursday; $165/night Fri-Sat
All rates are for single or double occupancy. There is an extra fee of $10 per night per additional adult in a room. Breakfast, pool, free parking, and Wi-Fi are included. One-time pet fee of $30 for 1-2 dogs in room or $60 for 3-4 dogs in room. Maximum of 4 dogs per room. Pets are not allowed in food or beverage areas, pool, or fitness center.
RESERVED GROOMING
Online reservations for grooming spaces in Gateway Hall (closer to wash tubs, etc.) and premium spaces in the Great Hall (next to the show rings) will open later this spring. Spaces must be reserved for all days and may not be booked for individual days. All spaces in Gateway Hall are 5x10 and $50, and you can reserve more than one if needed. Spaces in the Great Hall are all 10x10 and $120, and you may reserve only one. Electrical connections are included with all spaces. Stay tuned for order information and deadlines.
Bouviers will be set up at the South End of the Great Hall. These spaces will be available after 12 PM on Sunday Oct 11th. Giants will be set up at the North End of the Great Hall and spaces will be available after 10 AM on Wednesday Oct 14th. All spaces in Gateway Hall will be available after 12 PM on Sunday Oct 11th. Exhibitors will not be allowed access for set up in the various areas prior to these times. Dogs may not be left crated in the building at night. All dogs and equipment must be removed from the building by 6 PM on Saturday Oct 17th.
RV RESERVATIONS
RV reservations at the show site will be handled by Purina Farms. To book your spot, email your completed reservation form back to Purina at rvparking@purina.nestle.com. You can also contact Purina at (866) 979-2488 with any questions about overnight camping in the Purina Farms RV lots.
Purina Farms offers 2 different RV lots on property. The Full Service Purina Event Center RV lot offers 30 and 50 amp electric, water and sewer. The Electric Only Main Show Field RV lot offers 30 and 50 amp electric. The nightly charge is $50/night (Row A), $45/night (Row B) and $40/night (Rows C & D) in the Full Service Purina Event Center Lot and $25 in the Electric Only Main Show Field RV Lot. Full payment by credit card must be received before the space can be finalized. There is no guarantee of site assignment.