What are the dogs on trial for?

That's what a friend asked me when I told her we were going to the Meeker Sheepdog Trials. "What are the dogs on trial for?" If you haven't been The Meeker Sheepdog Trials are an annual event where sheep dog "handlers" show off their stuff. It's a 5 day stock trail with a grueling "double lift final" at the end. The field is over 300 yards and the dog must "pick up" one group of sheep- herd it through gates to a holding circle; "look back" pick up a second group of sheep- and herd those through gates to the holding circle. Then comes the part which takes a toll on your nerves "The Shed". Five sheep have orange collars. Those 5 and only those 5 must remain in the circle or the "Shedding Ring". Once you've isolated the 5 collared sheep (and they don't call 'em sheep for nothin'- they want to stick together, you then herd them into the pen and close the gate. All of this in only 20 minutes.

We normally drive up early Sunday to catch a little bit of the finals. You may think watching a border collie herd sheep into a pen doesn't have the thrill a minute hard hitting action of the NFL- you'd be wrong. It's edge of your seat stuff...



If that isn't enough there's also the poster contest and the Lions Club Pancake breakfast.