Working Sheepdog Demonstrations

The Working Sheepdog Demonstrations at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival are always a crowd favorite. Festival audiences are continually amazed by the talent and ability of our handlers and their dogs. Come watch as they demonstrate their skills working in partnership to maneuver the sheep through the obstacles and around the arena. We are pleased to have Mr. Nathan Mooney of Carlisle, Pennsylvania headlining our sheepdog demonstrations again this year. For almost 20 years, Nathan and his dogs have entertained Festival audiences. Nathan is an outstanding sheepdog handler and trainer, and he has competed successfully in Open Sheepdog Trials throughout the United States and Canada. Nathan is a past president of the United Border Collie handlers Association and is a well-respected sheepdog trial judge. Nathan gives lessons and clinics for training sheepdogs and their handlers, and he raises and trains working Border Collies for farm use and trial competition. Nathan is a former professional calf roper, and he is also active in cutting horse competitions.

Again this year, Mr. Mark Soper of Woodbine, Maryland will join Nathan to provide our sheepdog demonstrations. Mark has had Border Collies most of his life and started training them for sheep work about 15 years ago. He is a successful competitor at sheepdog trials. He and his dogs are often hired to “set sheep” at trials throughout the area. Mark is a full-time farrier and is also very successful in cutting horse competitions.

Mrs. Nancy Cox Starkey of Mt. Airy, Maryland, will again provide the
commentary for the Sheepdog Demonstrations. Nancy has owned Border Collies for more than thirty years, and with the help of her dogs, Nancy manages a large flock of Bluefaced Leicester sheep. Nancy competes regularly in sheepdog trials and she and Mark often team up to perform working sheepdog demonstrations.