Hard Working Dogs

Whatever the historic ups and downs of the sheep population and its attendant industries in Vermont, the activities of the shepherd are alive and well in the Green Mountain state in the 21st century. In fact,Merck Forest and Farmland Center celebrates those skills at the annualSheep Dog Trial, which will see its sixth round on the weekend of July 10/11. This competition, designed to single out the best shepherds among the handlers of the dogs that traditionally do this work, is the first in the series of events that make up the Vermont Triple Crown Championships. The main job of the Border Collie is to gain the trust of the ewes and rams as he herds the flock according to his master’s wishes.

Originally a Scottish breed, the Border Collie is considered the premier herding dog, expected to meetthe highest standards. These include being able to cover a hundred miles a day—day after day—and to outrun a 200-pound ewe downhill, and turn her around.

The Border Collie is traditionally given a one-syllable name—the faster for the handler to give directions to the dog. Second rule for sheepdog nomenclature: Start with a hard consonant. Among popular Border Collie names that meet those tests: Tip, Cap, Ben, Tess, Bud. Some of the contenders seen at Merck last year: Dart, Pace, Bob, Tap. (You get the idea.) Still, the dog that ranked in sixth place, scoring 86 of a possible 100 points on Sunday, the second day of the 2009 trials, actually answers to a two syllable name—Katie. Amanda Milliken of Kingston, Ontario, with her dog Clive was the top-scorer on Saturday last year, tottingup 99 (of a possible 110). Number One on Sunday—and the two-day champ—was Beverly Lambert of Andover, Connecticut, whose dog Hemp registered 98 points on Saturday and89 (of a top 100) on Sunday. Lambert’s other contender Mirk placed 8th on Saturday (95) and first on Sunday(91), coming in with a combined score just one point below his housemate, champion Hemp.

As the Merck Trial demonstrates, those who are good are really good: Seven contending handlers placed in the top ten both days…..

Contents

The 60s—Yodel-ay, we’re on our way!

It took incredible courage, strong vision, persistence and a large dose of naïveté to launch a ski area back in the 60s.

The 70s—The sky’s the limit!

The Stratton Mountain School was started in the 70s to give young skiers the opportunity to compete on the world ski stage, and the mountain grew in every possible way.

The 80s—It takes a village

The 1980s was a decade of explosive growth at Stratton. But not without a few challenges.

The 90s—Growing with the consumer in mind

“If it weren’t for Stratton hosting the U.S. Open, I most likely never would have started snowboarding.”

2000 and Beyond—Back to our roots

Stratton in the year 2000 entered a new phase—not just bigger, but better. But the heart of the mountain remained the community experience, certainly among those multi-generational families who have called Stratton their winter home away from home for half a century.

Stratton Magazine – Southern Vermont's Journal of Living

Contents