Joni Tietjen & Star – 3-year-old Female
Clearmont, WY
Joni Tietjen’s name is a familiar one at the Meeker Classic – she’s been competing here almost 20 years. Competing in 2017 with littermates, Star and Ben, Joni made it to the Semi-finals and Finals with both dogs. Ben has been her stronger dog, but Star showed her stuff in 2017. Star and Joni tied for 2nd of the 30 semi-finalists with 96 points out of 100. Ben also had a good score of 92 that put him 5th on that Saturday. Running 9th and in the heat of the day on Sunday, Star’s run during the Double-Lift was strong and impressive. Her score of 125 gave her a solid 2nd place for the day.
Joni & Star working the International Shed during the 2017 Meeker Classic Photo courtesy of Toby Leavitt
When asked about her dogs, Joni Tietjen emphasizes that she primarily uses her dogs for ranch work with a secondary use in trialing competitively. She first began working and training dogs for use on the ranch in 1990 and started competitive trialing around 1995. Since then she has been a consistent top finisher in many top trials throughout the US and Canada. Joni has established a reputation as a breeder and trainer and a force to be reckoned with on the trial field.
Joni’s had many memorable dogs over the years – this is Lew in 2007 at Meeker.
Joni feels blessed to have the many special dogs in her kennels over the years. Like so many handlers, she credits the dogs as a blessing and the gifts that have made her the handler and trainer she is today. Joni harnesses the border collie’s heart and their desire to work livestock as she trains them first on sheep and later cattle on the ranch in Clearmont, Wyoming. Joni feels fortunate to have mentors like Pete Carmichael, Bud Beadreau, Gene Litton and Jim Swift over the years, they shared their knowledge willingly and for free. She tries her best to pay-it-forward the many gifts that have been bestowed upon her. Joni’s passion for the Border Collie breed is evident in her dogs and her success. She loves the dogs, the sport and helping others get started.
Star (left & smaller) and Ben as pups. Photo courtesy of Joni Tietjen
Joni with Star & Ben – 2017 Photo courtesy of Michelle Cox Photograhpy
In Joni’s words, “Star and her mate Ben have truly been a gift. Star is a really little dog, so I didn’t really take her seriously at first.” Ben and Star were bred and raised by Joni, she never really trained Star with trialing in mind because Ben was the stronger standout. Star and Ben have taken Joni on quite a ride – Ben winning the USBCHA Nursery Finals in 2016 and 2017 – something that has never been done by the same dog. Both Star and Ben made the finals in Meeker in 2017 and Star went on to place 2nd in Meeker and then traveled east to Virginia to win the first two rounds of the Open at the USBCHA Finals just a few weeks later. Star placed in the top 10 of both the Nursery and Open at the 2017 USBCHA Finals – she’s certainly made her mark on the trial field.
Located in the rough Powder River Breaks near Clearmont, Wyoming – the ranch’s terrain is rough and rugged. Dogs are a valuable tool in managing the livestock on the ranch. Photo courtesy of Joni Tietjen
Joni and her husband Blake live on a ranch in Clearmont, Wyoming where they run several hundred mother cows along with 400+ yearlings. The country is rough and big – Joni and Blake rely on the dogs to help get the work done. They’re a valuable resource and have cut the work time on the ranch to a minimum. Congratulations go out to Joni and Star – we’re sure to see them often in the years to come!
Star working the International Shed at Meeker – Photo courtesy of Toby Leavitt 2017