• Valley Ford Challenge | June 3, 2023 | Valley Ford, CA Print and mail entries only
• Northern California Wool Growers | June 11, 2023 | Tehama County Fairgrounds; Red Bluff, CA Print and mail entry Online entry
• Sonoma-Marin Fair Sheep Dog Trial | June 25, 2023 | Petaluma Fairgrounds; Petaluma, CA Entry information on page 155 Online registration
• Marin County Fair Sheep Dog Trial | July 2, 2023 | Marin County Fairgrounds; San Rafael, CA Entry information Online registration
• Sonoma County Fair Sheep Dog Trial | August 6, 2023 | Sonoma County Fairgrounds; Santa Rosa, CA Guidebook Online registration

View our 2023 Sheep Dog Trial calendar.

Tango Farms delivered another wonderful trial day on Saturday, April 29, 2023. A beautiful sunny day punctuated by deep shade, a spacious green field with frisky sheared sheep, good friends, good food and good judging all combined to make this a thoroughly enjoyable day at the David Howard Memorial.

Link to Open and Pro Novice trial results | Link to 2023 High Point scores

Catlyn Gilman and her border collie, Remmy (shown here,) won the last three open trials during our 2022 season and returned to win the 2023 RESDA Spring Trial at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds on April 8, 2023. Congratulations to Catlyn and Remmy!

Click to view Spring Trial Scores

Donna Beebe and Meg are our 75th High Point Champions.

Donna's great uncle, Lev Beebe, was our very first High Point Champion. This championship has been awarded each and every year since RESDA was formed in 1947.

Donna's grandfather, Nick Beebe, was our 5th High Point Champion.

Donna's father, Curtis Beebe, was our 27th, 28th, and 31st High Point Champion.

Congratulations and warm thanks to Donna and the Beebe family for all the support and success they have brought to RESDA throughout our history!

Catlyn Gilman and Remmy (shown here) finished strong, winning each of the last three trials they competed in this year: the Sonoma County Fair Sheep Dog Trial, the Potter Valley Classic, and the RESDA Fall Trial. They also finished a strong second in our annual High Point Competition, giving them a well-deserved Reserve Champion title.

Three cheers for Dean and Shadow! Dean Watson and Shadow got their first RESDA Trial win done right: the only team to complete the course and thus take home the trophy buckle at the Mendocino County Fair Finals Trial held in Boonville on Sunday, September 25, 2022.

Other placings:
2. Steve Moody and Roadie
3. Nancy Todd and Grit
4. Donna Beebe and Meg
5. Colleen Duncan and Rosie

Congratulations to Catlyn Gilman and Remmy (dog left,) for winning the Potter Valley Classic Open trial on September 17, 2022, at the Potter Valley Rodeo Arena. Catlyn and Remmy were the only open team to complete the entire course, working very fresh sheep provided by the Kaos Sheep Outfit.

Catlyn and Ellie (dog right) placed second in the Pro Novice trial held immediately after the open event. The bag and the bucket shown on the fence were part of their respective winnings.

Steve Moody also had a very successful day, placing second in the open trial with Roadie and first in Pro Novice with Sammy.

Photo credit: Donna Beebe

Congratulations to Steve Moody for his winning run with Roadie (left) and his second place run with Cady Beth (right.) Steve and Cady Beth also took home a beautifully engraved bottle for the best pen of the day. It is fair to say Steve and Company cleaned house at the Beebe Johnson Memorial Trial!

Photo credit (and credit for the unique prize for best pen) to Donna Beebe.

Nancy Todd and Grit showed beautiful style during their run at the Valley Ford Challenge sheep dog trial on Saturday, July 9, earning them second place. Only one team from the full class of 20 completed the entire course, however, and won the trial. Click here to find out which team won.

Photo credit: Donna Beebe

It's common when meeting old friends to feel like no time has passed since you last saw them. That's how the day felt last Sunday, July 3, 2022, when our sheep dog trial returned to the Marin County Fair in San Rafael, CA.

Judge Nancy Todd (right) awarded the first place trophy to Karen Kollgaard and Timbre. Karen (left) moved with her family to San Rafael while still a child and grew up in a home within sight of the Marin fairgrounds.

As a result, Karen's memories of old friends must have been even stronger, especially when she was handed the Bill Slaven Memorial trophy, purchased with funds donated in memory of RESDA lifetime member, Bill Slaven of Zamora, CA.

Photo credit: Dean Watson

Click here for full trial scores.

On Sunday, 6/26/22, a gorgeous June day welcomed us back to our first Sonoma-Marin Fair Sheep Dog Trial since 2019. With a full Open class of 20 teams, we added a Pro Novice class too. Our ten-time High Point Champion, Steve Moody (photo right,) served as judge and Chris Cornett brought untamed sheep, challenging every sheep dog to bring his or her best game.

Steve Moody awarded first place to Sandra Milberg (photo left) and her border collie, Devon. Sandra and Devon also won our Circle X Ranch Trial near Potter Valley, CA, last May.

Photo credit: Donna Beebe

Click here for full trial scores.

Undeterred by rain showers or by crutches, Team Beebe had a great day at the RESDA sheep dog trial held during the Northern California Wool Growers Annual Meeting and BBQ on June 12, 2022.

Donna Beebe and Meg (dog left) won the Open trial, while Donna's pup, Macey, earned her first Open points.

Click here for full trial scores.

Buy RESDA logo wear exclusively from RESDA. Featured product: a tee design with our hand-drawn logo on the back of the shirt and the abbreviation, RESDA, on the front.

You can choose from several different shirt designs and colors to make it your own, including men's, women's and unisex styles. All proceeds go to RESDA.

Big shout out to Sonoma County's own Sandra Milberg, who placed first and second with her border collies, Devon and Tex, at the Circle X Ranch Trial held near Potter Valley, CA, on May 7.

Trial hosts of Sonoma County's most prominent USBCHA-sanctioned sheep dog trial, winner of the Sonoma County Fair Champion Sheep Dog, past RESDA President and frequent USBCHA National Finals competitor, there is little Team Milberg can't do!

Click here for all Circle X Trial Scores.

Donna Beebe and her border collie, Meg, were looking good at the Tango Farms in Honcut on April 23, 2022. Congratulations to Donna and Meg! Click here for all Tango Farms Trial Scores.

Congratulations to Ron Stark and Moss, who won our 2022 Spring Trial with a very smooth run. Our first trial of the season can be a challenging outing for many teams, but with one of the highest scores for the gather, perfect scores on both panels and the highest pen score, Ron and Moss easily won this trial. Click here for all Spring Trial Scores.

There are a few quick announcements from Spring Meeting I would like to share with you. The minutes will be emailed when available.

First of all, I would like to introduce the new RESDA Board for 2022:

• President - Catlyn Gilman
• Vice President - Carolyn Erdman
• Secretary - Paigelynn Trotter
• Treasurer - Colleen Duncan
• Board Members:
• Steve Moody
• Dean Watson
• Suzanne Farris
• Andy Edmondson
• Shelia Rios

A big round of applause for those who stepped in to or continued in leadership positions in the club. A big thank you for those that served last year, keeping the club running during uncertain times.

This year marks the return (keep your finger crossed) of the fair trials! It also marks the return of many USBCHA trials in our area. To accommodate handlers that would like to participate in both, we have moved up the Judging Clinic to February 26th (yes, it is coming up fast!). We will be at the Potter Valley Rodeo Grounds. More details to follow shortly. The judging clinic is open to all members and it is a great way to learn about trialing with us.

Trialing season will start in early April. Board members are coordinating with hosts and sheep providers to confirm dates.

Lastly, this year we will have many more opportunities for training days. Dates are still tentative and will be announced when confirmed, but we have at least 3 play-days in different counties and on different sheep in the works.

Keep an eye out for more announcements. I am looking forward to this year of trialing with you.

Thank you,
Catlyn Gilman
2022 RESDA President

During the weekend of February 5-6, 2022, routine maintenance was performed on the RESDA website. To make navigation easier, a Site Map or page index was added to most pages that provides an overview of and link to every page. Depending on the screen size of your device, the Site Map will appear on the right side or bottom of the page. If the site doesn't seem to be working right, please reload the page in your browser by clicking the "reload" or small circular symbol that appears in your browser address bar.

Describe RESDA using 12 words or less: unique course, tough sheep, fun settings, 75 years, 10X champion Steve Moody!

Steve Moody and his pup, Cady, got their first Open win at the RESDA Fall Trial held in Boonville, CA, on Saturday, October 16, 2021. Great job! Click here for all Fall Trial scores.

Cady is a one-year-old female sired by Nancy Todd's Ace, with whom Nancy previously won our high point competition. Cady's mother was Donna Beebe's Meg.

Congratulations to Nancy Todd and Grit! They won the finals trial at the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show on September 19, 2021. Click here for finals trial scores.

Grit is a three-year-old male sired by Nancy's Ace, with whom Nancy previously won our high point competition. Grit's mother was Catlyn Gilman's Remmy, sired in turn by Bill Berhow's Cley.

Steve Moody and Roadie (black and white) won the Open trial at the Potter Valley Classic on Saturday, September 11. As trial winners, they received an extreme ice chest donated by Rainbow Ag in Ukiah, CA, shown upper left.

Steve and Cady (red dog) placed third. Second through sixth place finishers were awarded a large bag of Stella and Chewy's dog food, also donated by Rainbow Ag.

Photo credit: Sharon Heringer

Donna Beebe and Meg (dog right) won the Elimination Trial at the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show on Saturday, August 21.

The top eight scoring teams (one dog per handler) from the Elimination Trial will be invited to return for the Finals on September 19. The run order at the Finals is by reverse order of qualifying score and is as follows:

1. Nancy Todd and Grit
2. Joyce Shephard and Jazz
3. Colleen Duncan and Rosie
4. Teri Tucker and Olive
5. Steve Moody and Cady
6. Sandra Milberg and Devon
7. Catlyn Gilman and Bailee
8. Donna Beebe and Meg

First Alternate: Dean Watson and Gel
Second Alternate: Karen Kollgaard and Timbre

Donna and Macey (dog left) won the Pro Novice trial on Saturday.

Photo credit: Steve Moody

This year, the format of our Valley Ford Challenge returned to back-to-back sheep and cattle dog trials. The sheep dog trial was run on RESDA rules, while the cattle dog trial was run on Mountain States Stockdog Association (MSSA) rules.

Several RESDA members regularly compete in both sheep and cattle dog trials, including our Valley Ford Challenge trial host and judge, Steve Moody. As a result, the competition at both trials was intense.

RESDA member, Jeff Horner, recently competed in the MSSA national finals, where he and his dog, Gun, placed second in the open cattle class. Jeff and Gun showed us their winning style, placing first in the Valley Ford Challenge cattle dog trial.

Jeff and Tesla achieved the same, perfect score as Jeff and Gun, and placed third based on time required to complete the course. Donna Beebe and Meg also had a perfect score and placed second on time.

On Sunday, June 13, 2021, Colleen Duncan and her border collie, Lucy, had a clean sweep at the Northern California Wool Growers Annual Meeting and Sheep Dog Trial in Red Bluff, CA. They won Open Run 1, Open Run 2 and Overall Combined.

On Saturday, June 19, 2021, they won the Beebe-Johnson Memorial Sheep Dog Trial held at the Johnson Family Ranch in Boonville, CA.

On Saturday, August 7, 2021, they followed up strong, winning the sheep dog trial at Steve and Jeannie's Valley Ford Challenge.

Congratulations to Colleen and Lucy! This is the kind of streak that High Point dreams are made of!

Photo credit: LeeAnn Heringer

New to RESDA competition this year, Jeff Horner and his border collie, Tesla, had their first RESDA Open trial win at the Circle X Ranch Trial on Saturday, May 8, 2021. With 22 teams running and very fresh sheep provided by Robert Irwin, this was a significant accomplishment.

Warm thanks to our trial hosts, Russ and Nancy Todd. The Todd Family ranch near the town of Potter Valley, CA, is an amazing place to spend a day.

In addition to cash and ribbons, top finishers received free dog food sponsored by Rainbow Ag in Ukiah, CA. Link to Circle X Trial scores.

Photo credit: Donna Beebe

On April 25, 2021, Tango Farms Trial Judge Colleen Duncan awarded first place and the David Howard Memorial Trophy to Steve Moody and Roadie. Link to Tango Farms Trial Scores.

Steve and Roadie previously placed second in our 2021 Spring Trial and are now first in our 2021 High Point Championship as well.

Congratulations, Steve and Roadie!

Photo credit: Donna Beebe

Colleen Duncan of Honcut, CA (left) and her pup, Rosie, took home first place in Rosie's first Open Trial. Their winnings included possession for the year of the Spring Trial perpetual trophy—a historic RESDA painting. Trial Judge, Sharon J. Heringer (right) is shown here presenting the painting to Colleen and Rosie after the trial. … Full trial scores…

The Redwood Empire Sheep Dog Association has been a very big part of my life. In 1979, I got my start in border collies from … Read more…

We were able to download many but not all of the files from the previous resda.com website before it was taken offline.

Access those files here.