I worked hard on the ranch, calving, herding, gathering the cattle, driving them to summer pasture, and my buddies were continually by my side. But it wasn’t always work, work, work. During the slower times I would teach them tricks, such as jumping on the back of my horses and riding along on the saddle with me.  

The bond with my dogs was special. They were a part of my life in every way.

After college, I married a cowboy and started a family. We had three daughters, and one of the things we liked to do was attend sheep dog trials. We enjoyed the travels and many of our competitors became our friends.

Then cattle dog trials were introduced in the Northwest, and I was hooked. My first true loves—besides my husband and children—was ranching and cattle, so competing in cattle dog trials was a natural fit. Hardly a day goes that I’m not out in a field with a whistle and a dog. 

And it’s paid off. My dogs have won three national championships and usually place in the top five percent against the best competition.

My success in the field, led to requests to join the boardroom. I was asked to be the first lead on the board of directors (BOD) of the first United States Border Collie Handlers Association (USBCHA) Cattle Dog Association. I’m also on the board of the American Border Collie Association (ABCA), which monitors cattle dog committees and trials, including the national trials.

I was the first board member of The National Cattle Dog Association and was instrumental in getting the Horseback class and the intermediate classes established for the National finals.

Even with all these professional and family responsibilities, I still loved to compete and when the timing was right, I would find my way to back to the trials, where I was one of the first women taking on this sport dominated by men.