Meeker, Colorado is on the map every fall for professional dog handlers from around the world who compete at or tune into the Annual Meeker Sheepdog Classic. The 5-day event is a sanctioned championship trials of sheepdog herding competition for a purse that totaled $27,000 dollars this year. The competition held this month featured 135 Border Collies and their handlers from all over the world. This year’s winner was announced as handler Tom Wilson from Virginia and his sheepdog Bett. This win makes Tom and Bett 3 time Meeker champions! Next up for those that qualified is the 2023 National Finals Sheepdog Trials in Carbondale, Colorado. With ups and downs in the local economy, the event provides a great boost each year and consistently attracts an average of 6500 people from throughout the United States as well as places like the United Kingdom, Scotland, South Africa and Brazil. It truly is a community effort as over 350 volunteers take part in orchestrating the event.
