Sheep herding competition at Badlands

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The sheep herding competition will involve dogs and their ability to round up and keep flocks of sheep under control.

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The Wisconsin Working Stock Dog Association is bringing its 27th annual Labor Day stock dog trial to St. Croix County on Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

The sheep herding competition will feature some of the country’s best stock dogs and dog handlers.

The event is open to the public at the Badlands Sno-park site at 772 Kinney Road, Hudson, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The art of controlling and moving sheep using a dog is an old-world skill that technology has not improved upon.

More than 120 dogs and handlers from eight states will be in Hudson to compete at the Badlands Sheep Dog trial. Spectators will see dogs working off verbal and whistle commands at distances of up to 500 yards from their handlers to safely move sheep through a course designed to simulate ranch work.

While the sport of stock dog handling is open to all herding breeds, the Border Collie dominates. Having been bred for centuries to herd livestock, it still takes years of refining and molding that instinct to develop dogs to the level that will be on display. The goal of the sport is to refine and preserve the working instinct of the breed.

Admission to the event is $5, with children under 10 free. There will be indoor shelter and food for sale. The trial will go on rain or shine.

Tags: agriculture, wisconsin, outdoors