By Susan McCabe and Susan Riemer
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic, now 10 years old, will begin next week, drawing thousands from around the region to watch the art of sheepherding unfold at Misty Isle Farms.
The Sheepdog Classic will include bagpipers, refreshments, the popular Fiber Arts Village, which will feature vendors from all over the Northwest, and a kids’ tent with hands-on activities, along with sheep shearing and recognition of world-wide Knit in Public Day. The centerpiece of the event — sheepherding — will take place from dawn to dusk Thursday through Sunday, June 6 to 9.
Like last year, guests are expected to buy tickets ahead of time to keep the crowds at a manageable level after they swelled to 10,000 two years ago. This year, event founder Maggi McClure said organizers are hoping to limit attendance to 2,500 people each day.
“We wanted to cap attendance so we could maintain that sense of being transported to a different time and place; we want to retain the intimacy and magic of the place,” she said.
The event will start at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, with the “nursery” event, where pups under 2 years old test their abilities. This day is the quietest of the competition, and entry is by donation, with proceeds benefitting the Vashon Community Food Bank.
The skill levels increase from there throughout the weekend, with dogs and handlers from as far away as Georgia.
On Friday morning, the gates will open at 7 a.m. with competion beginning then and running all day long. Later in the morning, the array of vendors will open, along with the popular Fiber Arts Village, followed by the Spirit Garden at 11 a.m.
Bagpipers herald the entrance of fresh sheep every afternoon, and sheep shearing demonstrations follow. Interspersed throughout the weekend are “gray muzzle” competitors — a special class developed by the organizers for old dogs, those 9 and above who are participating in the highly competitive open class.
Sheepdog trials originated in the late 1800s as a way for shepherds to show off the talents of their canine partners, and the sport has surged in popularity in the 21st century. Competing sheepdogs are frequently border collies because of their speed and intelligence. During the competition, the dogs’ mission is to gather and move the sheep through tasks they could encounter on a farm. Guiding the sheep with kindness and patience is essential — a bite is cause for immediate disqualification. The handler guides the dog with whistles or voice commands, and the entire run must be completed within a certain number of minutes.
The classic’s special guest this year is Dr. Patricia McConnell, zoologist and an emeritus certified animal behaviorist. McConnell will speak at the Vashon Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, and present the talk, “Lost in Translation – What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You.” She will speak again the next day at the Vashon Sheepdog Classic at 1 p.m.
McConnell is known internationally for her books, DVDs and presentations on canine and feline behavior and dog training. Her radio show, Calling All Pets, was heard in more than 110 cities around the country, where she dispensed advice about behavior problems and animal behavior research for over 14 years.
On Saturday and Sunday, The Vashon Sheepdog Classic will offer a shuttle from the Ober Park Park & Ride in front of the Chamber of Commerce offices for visitors from the north-end ferry, and at The Country Store Park & Ride for visitors from the south-end ferry. Parking at Misty Isle Farm is limited, and the shuttle can save miles of walking to the event. The shuttle is free for Vashon residents and $5 round trip for others.
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic is a also a fundraiser for island non-profits. Over its 10 years, the classic has donated over $150,000 to participating non-profits and includes an abundance of community community collaboration, too.
More than 100 volunteers from various island organizations tend to a variety of tasks, such as trash management,ticket and guest handling, set-up, teardown and, in return, the Vashon Sheepdog Classic gifts the proceeds from the event to those participating nonprofits that focus on the enrichment of education and health for Vashon youth.
Advance admission and shuttle tickets are recommended and available online at Brown Paper Tickets, bpt.me/4109274, or in person at Pandora’s Box and the Country Store & Farm, both on Vashon Highway. The cost is $15/day general admission on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; kids 10 and under free. A four-day pass is $25.
Guests to the trials should bring cash. There is no ATM on or near the field. Credit cards can be used for admission but only with some, not all, vendors.
For more information about the trials, including a full schedule of events, see vashonsheepdogclassic.com.
