Sheepdog trials return to Camas Aug. 19

When: This year’s sheep dog trial will be held Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 19 through 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the finals on Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost: Admission is $3 per person; senior citizens and children 12 and younger can attend at no charge.

Getting there: To get the Johnston Dairy Farm, from Camas travel north on state Route 500 for 2.5 miles, turn left on Northeast Third Street and follow the signs.

Additional info: Shaded seating will be available, and food concessions featuring seafood and hamburgers will be on site.

Contact: Reach Lynn Johnston at 834-0724 or visit www.lvsdt.com.

The largest sheepdog trial on the West Coast will be held at a Camas farm Aug. 19 through 22.

This is the sixth year that the Lacamas Valley Sheepdog Trial has been hosted by the Johnston Dairy Farm and its owner Lynn Johnston. It began as a small gathering just a few years ago, and has continued to grow in popularity every year.

“This is not a money making event, but more a labor of love,” said Rene Carroll, Johnston’s sister. “We are easy driving distance from anywhere in Clark County. It is quite unique for this type of event to be held so close to town. It is a great opportunity for people to watch these amazing dogs at work.”

The farm will be transformed into an international style course, which provides ample room for spectators to watch the sheep dogs follow commands from their handlers to move sheep through a specific course in a time limit.

A professional public address announcer will be on hand Saturday and Sunday, so spectators can learn about and gain an appreciation for the sport.

There will be 130 handlers and 225 dogs from nine states and British Columbia attending, with 600 sheep being trucked in from Brownsville, Ore., in the Willamette Valley for the event.

There are four levels of competition: novice-novice, where both handler and dog are less experienced; pro-novice, the intermediate level that pairs one pro and one novice in the team; nursery, a special class for young dogs and is based on the age of the dog, which is typically between 2 and 3 years old; and open, where both handlers and dogs are experienced and considered experts of trials.

Top participants earn qualifying points to compete nationally, and the winner of the event is awarded prizes, as well as a coveted invitation to the Soldier Hollow Classic in Heber Valley, Utah. Held in early September, it is considered one of the premier sheep dog trial events in the world.