2026 Meet The Breeds

The Collie booth team absolutely crushed it at AKC Meet the Breeds this weekend (February 7-8, 2026) at the Javits Center—huge shoutout to Kate, Marnie, Lotta, Jared, and Doreen for manning the fort through the massive crowds, chaos, and everything else!

With 40,000 visitors pouring in over two days, the booth was nonstop action: endless pets, photo ops, questions about Rough vs. Smooth coats, herding instincts, grooming tips, and those classic “Lassie” stories. The Collies were rockstars—calm, sweet, and totally captivating everyone who stopped by.

But let’s give extra special praise to Kate Long, the chairperson, who truly went above and beyond! Coordinating the setup amid parking nightmares and loading struggles, keeping the team organized, making sure the dogs stayed happy and the booth looked amazing, answering every question with patience and expertise, and basically being the glue that held it all together… Kate, you were incredible! Your leadership turned a potentially overwhelming weekend into a huge success for the breed. The love for Collies was off the charts because of your hard work and dedication—thank you for pouring so much heart into it!

The whole team—Kate, Marnie, Lotta, Jared, and Doreen—deserves all the applause for braving the arctic aftermath vibes outside and delivering such warm, welcoming energy inside. The Collies (and future Collie owners!) are lucky to have you all representing the breed so beautifully.

*Wind chills dropped to 15 to 25 degrees below zero. Dangerous conditions with risks of frostbite in minutes. The cold prompted warnings for residents to stay indoors and use caution.

Come See Us in New York!

If you’re heading to Meet The Breeds this weekend, stop by the CCA booth! Meet beautiful Rough and Smooth Collies, chat with Kate, Marni, Lotta, and other volunteers, grab a goodie bag, take selfies, and discover why the Collie remains America’s favorite family dog.

Tickets are available via the AKC website—come experience the breed up close!

A heartfelt thank you to Jackie and Joan for designing every piece of marketing magic, to Kate for her incredible hands-on work and long drive, and to Marni and Lotta for hitting the road to make this happen. Your commitment inspires us all!

See you in New York—let’s make Meet The Breeds unforgettable!

Interested in volunteering, joining the committee, or sharing ideas? Contact Kate Long at tamiamicollies@gmail.com.

Behind the Scenes: The CCA Meet The Breeds Committee’s All-Out Effort for AKC Meet The Breeds!

With the AKC Meet The Breeds event kicking off this weekend—February 7–8, 2026, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City (9:00 AM–4:00 PM both days)—the Collie Club of America’s Meet The Breeds Committee has poured heart and expertise into creating a standout booth that celebrates the Rough and Smooth Collie’s timeless elegance, intelligence, loyalty, and family-friendly charm.

A Unified, Professional Presentation

The committee has designed and produced a comprehensive suite of branded marketing materials, perfectly aligned with the refreshed CCA website (thecollieclub.org) for a cohesive “one look, one voice” experience:

Two 8-foot tall retractable banners for maximum visibility
Purple tablecloths and runners printed with the new Collie Club of America logo
An 8-page full-color booklet: “The Collie As A Family Dog,” packed with breed highlights, history, and stunning photos
“I Met a Collie Today!” stickers for memorable interactions
Collectors’ cards featuring QR codes linking to CCA’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.)
Business cards with a “Join Us!” QR code and contact info
A delightful selfie frame for fun, shareable family photos
A Collie coloring book complete with crayons to engage young attendees

These thoughtfully crafted items engage families, prospective owners, and enthusiasts while reinforcing the Collie’s gentle nature, adaptability, and devoted personality.

Jackie Caruso and Joan Johnson deserve special recognition for creating all these marketing materials! As key committee members, they brought their deep breed knowledge and creative vision to life, ensuring every banner, booklet, sticker, and card reflects the Collie’s heritage and appeal. Jackie (a District 2 Director and longtime breeder/exhibitor from Devinwood Collies) and Joan Johnson (of Blu Ridge Collies, a respected breeder, mentor, and webmaster contributor) collaborated to deliver professional, high-impact designs that make the booth inviting and informative

Extraordinary Dedication from the Committee

Chair Kate Long has gone above and beyond, personally stuffing over 1,000 goodie bags filled with educational handouts, stickers, and fun swag so every visitor gets a memorable takeaway. Kate is also driving from Florida to New York to staff the booth and bring it all together.

Joining her on the road are:

Marni Sharoff (from Maryland), driving up from the Mid-Atlantic. A dedicated breeder, exhibitor, and supporter of junior handlers and youth programs, Marni adds her passion and expertise to connect with attendees on grooming, temperament, and the Collie’s role as a wonderful family companion.
Lotta Hedman (CCA District 1 Director, covering NY and NJ), traveling from Thompson Ridge, New York. With over 30 years breeding and showing top Collies at Milas Collies, Lotta brings stewarding experience, breeder insights, and a focus on the Rough and Smooth varieties to ensure smooth, engaging public interactions.

Together with the full committee, Kate, Jackie, Joan, Marni, Lotta, and others are transporting everything needed to create a welcoming, educational space that draws crowds and highlights the Collie’s legacy.

Fundraising and Sustainability

Success is also fueled by Collie Couture Bonfire apparel campaigns (tee-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, hoodies), which have raised funds to support these efforts. Surplus materials will be sold at the CCA National Specialty (March 28–April 4, 2026) and online in batches for local clubs at regional events—helping cover reprints and future outreach.