MENDOCINO CO., 9/21/26 — More than 100 attendees packed the stands at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville Sunday morning to watch sheepdog trials where dogs take turns herding three sheep through a timed course.
The Mendocino County Fair sheepdog finals were held on the last day of the fair. Catlyn Gilman and her dog Ellie took home first prize over seven other contestants.
The audience reacted audibly to the competition. When the sheep dodged the entrance to a pen or a funnel, sympathetic sighs rang through the stands, but when a dog completed a task, jubilant cheers and applause filled the covered seating area.
Ron Stark, whose 10-year-old dog Moss made the first run, said competing in sheepdog trials requires “a lot of training from a young age.”
“The first thing you do with a young dog is try to get them to go around sheep in a small, controlled area,” Stark said. “They learn how to flank left and right, and they get comfortable going around the sheep. Then they learn how to build a balance. They’re flanking around behind the sheep, and they’re balancing the sheep to you.”
Stark said dogs have varying temperaments with sheep, and once the handler feels comfortable with progress in a small, round pen, they move on to a bigger area and eventually introduce whistle commands.
Stark said he has seven border collies and has been doing these competitions for 16 years. He placed fifth in this year’s finals on Sunday.
