September 3-7, 2025

38th Anniversary – 5 Day Event
Dogs, Sheep, Education, Art, History & Culture
135 Handler/Dog Teams compete in 3 days of Preliminaries
30 of the Top Dogs advance to the Semi-Finals on Saturday
12 Dogs Advance to the Finals on Sunday

OUR COMMITMENT:

To Promote the responsible use of working stock dogs through sheepdog trials and related activities.

We will work to promote and preserve the agricultural heritage of the area.

COMMITMENT – INTEGRITY – COMMUNITY – EDUCATION – RESPECT  are our Guiding Values

WHAT IS THE MEEKER CLASSIC?

Structured as a 501C3 Non Profit Organization, the Meeker Classic hosts a five day sheep herding competition.  The object of a sheepdog trial is to test the dog’s ability to manage/maneuver sheep in a calm, controlled manner.  There are three days of preliminary runs.  The top 30 dogs from the preliminary runs advance to the Semi-Finals.  The top 12 dogs from the Semi-Finals advance to the finals.  The degree of difficulty with each run increases from the preliminaries to the semi-finals to the finals.

On the Meeker course, dogs are sent 600 yards to fetch the sheep and then bring them into the infield while working them quietly and safely through a set of obstacles.  Demonstrating practical working skills for the farm or ranch, handlers guide the dogs with a series of commands to complete the six scored components of a sheepdog trial.  The system of scoring at trials is such that a maximum number of points are allocated for each component and the dog and handler lose points for any faults as they progress around the course.  The Meeker Classic is sanctioned by the United States Border Collie Handlers Association.

HISTORY OF DOG TRIALS

Conventional wisdom has it that the first trials were held by farmers testing the mettle of their dogs. The earliest recorded dog trial, however, was on October 9, 1873, in Bala, Wales. Three hundred spectators braved the wet and cold to witness a Scotsman best all other competitors, who were Welsh in a contest with few rules over a course reminiscent of a steeplechase. Trials quickly gained popularity with the first Scottish trial in the early 1870′s and the first English trials in 1876. In 1906 the International Sheepdog Society was founded to bring organization to the trialing world and to “improve the breed of the collie with a view to the better management of stock.” Rules for the course accordingly were adopted that showcase the skills necessary for efficient stock management. After World War I, the term, “Border Collie,” was adopted to distinguish the working collie from the show collie.

The first record of American trialing was at Philadelphia’s 1880 centennial year celebration. The first U.S. “official” sheepdog trial, however, occurred in 1928 in Bennington, Vermont where 1500 people gathered to watch a competition among seven dogs. Event and attendance numbers have risen dramatically, especially since the United States Border Collie Handlers’ Association, formed in 1979 as a sanctioning body for US and Canadian trials, adopted rules similar to those of the International Sheepdog Society. Stockmen and spectators alike have discovered the challenges of the new sport at hundreds of trials now held throughout the year,across the US and Canada. The National Finals, sponsored by the United States Border Collie Handlers’ Association and the American Border Collie Association, is run annually to select North America’s champion herding dogs.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • World Class Sheepdog Trial
  • Jammin’ Lamb Festival – Culinary & Cultural Event
  • International Art Show
  • Educational programs for Schools
  • Adult Education & Outreach
  • Vending & Craft Fair
  • Food Vendors/Barbecues
  • Cultural programs
  • Spinning, Weaving, Pottery, Painting & leather work demonstrations
  • Volunteer opportunities for all ages
  • Scholarship Program-MHS Graduates

OTHER FACTS:

  • The Meeker Classic is 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization governed by a 15 member volunteer board that meets monthly throughout the year to plan the event
  • 375+ Volunteers help orchestrate our annual Event each year
  •  handlers,  spectators, competitors, artists and vendors support the  event in strong numbers each year
  • This premier event for Western Colorado attracts thousands of spectators, from all over the United States, Canada and the world visit the Meeker Classic – The highest concentration of visitors was from NW Colorado, the Colorado River Basin and the front range of Colorado
  • Our competitors hail from all over the US and Canada and we’ve had entries from South Africa, Brazil, UK, Denmark is the past.