County, Meeker

Questions and answers about the Meeker Classic

MEEKER I Have you attended the Meeker Classic for years yet still wonder about some of the things going on out there? Here are some frequently asked questions, and their answers.
Q. The Meeker Classic is a U.S. Border Collie Handlers Association open trial for which points are awarded. What does all of this mean?
A. The USBCHA purpose is to preserve the border collie as a working breed. To this end, the organization “sanctions” local trials that showcase the skills of working sheepdogs and hosts the national finals where the 150 dog/handler teams from the U.S. and Canada who have won the most points in open trials during the year (from Aug. 1 to Aug. 1) compete. A sanctioned trial course replicates work on a farm and the trial is run according to USBCHA rules and guidelines. The top 20 percent of dogs running at a sanctioned open trial earn points. An open trial is one for experienced dogs and handlers.Meeker offers high points, stiff challenges and cash. Meeker will host 135 open dogs this year, as opposed to 40 to 60 at most open trials. The winner will earn 27 points (20 percent of 135), the runner-up earns 25, on through the 27th team which earns one point. In addition to points and apart from the USBCHA, the top 20 competitors will share a $25,000 purse and $10,000 in additional cash prizes, including Moody Construction’s awards for the top four dogs on each day of preliminary runs – and the bad luck and sportsmanship awards for train wrecks. Along with the money, Julie Hansmire’s flighty yearling ewes, just down from summer pasture in the Gore Range, make the Meeker Classic a top draw even for those competitors from outside North America who cannot compete for points.
Q. About how far do those 35 lb. border collies run in 13 minutes?
A. If everything went perfectly at a preliminary run in Meeker, a dog would run almost a mile full tilt, looking for the sheep, keeping pressure on the sheep, thinking about making little course corrections, listening for commands from the handler, some of them occasionally in error … (It’s true. Watch for the dog looking back as if to say, “You said what?”) But, there has never been a perfect run at Meeker. So, here are some facts as a basis for your own calculation. For the gather, the dog must run from the handler’s post to the sheep set out, roughly 535 yards, then calmly move the sheep through a gate back to the handler’s post. The dog, though, cannot run out in a straight line because it would scatter the sheep. So, it runs a pear-shape course, wide end near the sheep, and comes in behind the sheep about 10 or 12 yards so as not to disturb them. Then, the dog should fetch the sheep to the handler with a minimum of zigs and zags. The dog must change position in relation to the sheep to some extent to keep them going in a straight line. At the very minimum, the dog will have to run about 1192 yards or a little over two-thirds of a mile to this point. Many will run much farther. Your best guess of an individual run and a stopwatch will tell you the speed..Then the dog drives the sheep through the first drive gate, 150 yards from the handler’s post, across the field another 150 yards to the second drive panel, then to the center of the 40 yard shed ring – most of the 150 yards back to the post. That, plus shedding and penning the sheep will easily add up to a mile. Most dogs will run two to three times that far.
Q. Does the panting dog get penalized for jumping in the water tub before finishing the work? A. No, but the clock keeps running. Good sportsmanship requires sheep be reasonably stress-free. they are, after all, the rancher’s livelihood – and the dog be well treated. Can the dog wait a bit? Do the sheep need a break? Just another dilemma for the handler.But, at the end of the run, every dog will head for a refreshing dunk with the handler not far behind to tell the dog “well done.”  Refresh your week with a day with the dogs — and the fabulous food, crafts, art show, vendors, sheep shearing and demonstrations — Sept. 7-11. Bring sunscreen, a hat, a stopwatch and leave your pooch at home. Discounted tickets for RBC residents are on sale at the Meeker Chamber and at Wendll’s, where art contest entries are on display and you can also vote for your favorite. Visit www.meekersheepdog.com or call 878-0111 for information.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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