BCSA: National Specialty 2008

I was raised a country girl. I grew up with dogs and horses all my life. I have been training quarter horses for over 30 years. I trained hunting dogs (pointers and labs) before having my first herding dog. I have owned, trained, and trialed herding dogs since 1994.

I began using my Australian Cattle Dog on our roping steers to help get them up into the chutes. I later acquired a Border Collie to help us as well. It was at that time that my life started to shift from horses to herding dogs. I had no idea, just how much it would.

My husband and I own a working farm in Southeast Missouri. I tend to a moderate size flock of St. Croix, and St. Croix/Katahdin cross sheep, as well as a small herd of cattle. I raise border collies, and train not only my own, but outside herding dogs for farm and trial work. I operate a training facility which gives private lessons and small clinics. We have hosted AKC and AHBA trials at our farm. I am an AKC and AHBA judge. I enjoy having the chance to have been a stock-handler at many trials.

In the years that have passed, I have trialed multiple dogs successfully in arena trials as well as field trials. I don’t get to go to as many as I would like, dog training and tending to the farm keep me pretty busy.

Herding has given me the opportunity as both competitor, and as a judge to meet some of the nicest people in the country who have not only become very important to me, but I consider my “herding family”.