Sheepdog Competition
Our 2026 Judge
Peg Anderson lives and works on a sheep farm in northern Michigan with her husband, Jim. She has worked with sheep and Border Collies for over 24 years and has competed in sheepdog trials since 2003. Peg has participated in numerous USBCHA National Finals and represented the United States at the World Sheepdog Trial in 2011 and 2014. In recent years, she has spent extended time in Scotland’s Borders, working alongside shepherds and deepening her understanding of the history, breeding, training, and working role of Border Collies. Peg has judged extensively, including twice at the USBCHA National Sheepdog Finals, as well as the Bluegrass Classic, Vashon Sheepdog Classic, numerous Open trials across the U.S., and select trials in Scotland. She is excited to be part of the 2026 Soldier Hollow Classic.
Our 2026 Set-Out Crew
Chris Jobe and Liz Stenning will be the 2024 set-out team, bringing a wealth of experience to the job. Chris is the owner and trainer of Canine Solutions, which specializes in training, trialing and breeding working border collies in southern Albertas. Border collies became an integral part of my life when I started ranching in 1994. I got my first border collie ‘Tuck’ soon after and have since devoted a good share of my time to training and working them. Liz is from Kimberly, Oregon, where she raises and trains border collies and kelpies. She actively trials and helps set out at numerous trials.
2026Yearling Rambouillet Ewes
The Okelberry Rambouillet yearling ewes return again this year to challenge handler–dog teams at Soldier Hollow. Wintered on the vast open ranges of Utah and Nevada’s West Desert, these sheep survive amid predators and rugged terrain, shaping generations of athletic, tough, and extremely wary stock. Individually selected for consistent size, condition, and conformation, these yearling range ewes have not been worked by dogs and have had minimal human contact. Handlers consistently describe them as among the most challenging sheep they have ever faced—one memorably calling them “wicked.”
Brian and Ann, fifth-generation sheep ranchers, once again provide these remarkable sheep, and we are excited to welcome them back. They represent, quite simply, the ultimate test.
Competition Course and Scoring
The trial course is set to test the dog’s ability to maneuver sheep in a clam, controlled manner. There are six scored parts to a course run, each designated to test a skill that working dogs need to help a shepherd with the daily management of sheep. While the layout of the course may vary slightly from trial to trial, depending on terrain, this trial, follows this general layout as all approved trials.
On the left, is a typical scoresheet for the preliminary runs. The United States Border Collie Association (USBCHA) has adopted Judging Guidelines which are followed at all USBCHA sanctioned as well as here at Soldier Hollow.
For a description of each element of the course and the how it is scored, tap or click the button.
To see how the trial course relates to farm work, check out the video from the American Border Collie Association: “How Sheepdog Trials Relate to Practical Work,” found here.