Mike Neary

Karen, I know you mean well, but you’re wearing everyone out with all these questions. The HEF is a volunteer board. Completely volunteer, concerned breeders, like yourself. Questions are fine, but there is a limit where answering every little question becomes burdensome. We all have the same goal, we just need to breathe a little.

Wyatt and Thad Fleming. They raise, train, handle good working dogs.

His contributions to the working Border Collie breed have been immeasurable. Plus, he was a delightful human being! I'll miss him.

i can assure you that no one from the ABCA or the ABCA HEF has spoken to the BCSA about any topic, let alone one that has been funded by the working Border Collie community. I suspect they got their information off this site, and probably more specifically this thread. Mike Neary

So sorry to hear this, Donald. It seems like only last week Dana and I rode the train with you from Blair Atholl down to London after the international. It was our honeymoon, and the latest September 3rd made 29 years for us. Time does get by. I always enjoyed seeing you at the Bluegrass each year, and next year won't seem the same without you there. Thanks for being a champion for the working Border Collie all these years. Mike Neary

All of us owe a big debt to Nathan. He did so many things to advance the working dog in this country. Without his and Bud Boudreaus vision there wouldn't be a Nursery program. At a time when most of the best dogs were imported, the start of this program gave a huge incentive for folks to go out and train their own dogs. This has had an untold positive effect on training, handling, and breeding of working dogs in this country. Nathan and Bud really brought this program up from the ground level. Also, the National Finals were changed immensely by his efforts. He encouraged and cajoled the handlers association to take the finals from Bellevue, IL and move it around the country. This opened things up for folks all over the continent. When he was President of the USBCHA there was a strong sentiment for the ABCA to hold their own finals. Nathan worked tirelessly with ABCA Directors and USBCHA Directors to hold a single, unified finals. The long range positive effect of this was immense. As Donald noted, he was also an accomplished handler. His most well known dog was Max, but he also imported many other fine dogs that added to our gene pool in this country. I was fortunate to call him a friend, as were many other folks. His outgoing personality, warm smile, hearty laugh and wit attracted people. He was a good man and although I didn't see him much the last number of years,as he curtailed his trialing, I still thought of him often. He always made it to the finals in VA and spent a couple of days catching up with old friends. I was so looking forward to seeing him this year. I'll think of him fondly.

We had a board meeting last night and the majority of the meeting was spent on this topic. We will have a formal joint statement between the ABCA and the ABCA Health and Education Foundation coming out early next week. I know many people are anxious to hear the stance of both organizations on the test. However, this is a complicated subject and we have carefully looked into the issue going back a number of years. Combine that with fact that the ABCA is a democratic registry and the logistics of getting information to all the directors, discussing it frankly, and making a reasoned and as accurate decision as possible takes some time. We feel we owe it to the members to be as thorough and responsible as possible in regards to our official position on this test. This is a big consideration and an emotional one for many. Couple that with social media and people get impatient. That's understandable. Please be patient, we will have a very detailed statement on this topic. The statement will appear on the ABCA website when ready next week. The final statement will be voted on by the full board and until that vote occurs, it would be premature to discuss the statement now. I believe the statement will be clear enough that a healthy discussion can be had once the statement is released. Thank you for your patience- Mike Neary

Why don't people use their real names when posting? Never understood this. Here a person comes onto this site, posts very inflammatory comments, has 2 posts total and goes by the name "stardew". If one is going to post things like this, then have the fortitude to sign with a real name. I can't say I know Norm and Vicki extremely well, but I do know them well enough to be very suspicious of this claim. They are both highly regarded in the working dog world. I imagine they'd sign their name to a posting. Mike Neary

Unanimous action by the board of directors of the ABCA at a board conference call on May 19, 2015 resulted in the following disciplinary action: The ABCA has permanently barred Bill and Gloria Barnes (Barnes Border Collies) of Braxton, MS from ABCA membership for submitting false registration documents to the ABCA. Effective May 19, 2015, their registration and certification privileges are revoked. As of that same date, Lady (ABCA #344534) and Buddy (ABCA #398685) are de-registered, and littermates Bella Ishee (ABCA #344534), Oreo Cookie (ABCA #344535), Lucy (ABCA #344536), Sketch (ABCA #398680), Toby (ABCA #398681), Chief (ABCA #398682), Rusty (ABCA #398683) and Tuff (ABCA #398685) are placed on non-breeding status. Mike Neary, 2015 President American Border Collie Association

The biggest problem with the international shed at the first two Sturgis finals was the placement of the shedding ring. It was too far into the corner of the field and too close to the exhaust. The third year it was placed further up into the field giving more room for the shed sheep to move off. All three years fine wool sheep were used.

Hello board members, Just want to announce our annual Lambing School to be held on February 8, 2014. It also has value to goat producers. The workshop will be held at the Purdue University Animal Sciences Research and Education Center at the sheep unit. Purdue University is about 70 miles north of Indianapolis and about 100 miles south of Chicago. The deadline for entries is January 29 and 40 people are allowed on a first entered basis. A flier and registration form can be obtained at the following url; http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/SH/ under upcoming events. There have been a number of attendees from the boards through the years and the feedback we get is always positive. It is designed as a hands on activity and allows plenty of time for informal questions and discussion. Hope you can make it. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Mike Neary, PhD Extension Small Ruminant Specialist Purdue University 765-494-4849 mneary@purdue.edu

http://www.lolbca.com/ is the website for the Land of Lincoln Border Collie Association. It is an active club that sponsors 2 trials per year, the first being in early May. I'm about 3 hours or so from Springfield, so not close by. LOLBCA also has a facebook page I believe, I'm not on facebook so not positive about that. She/he should be able to find someone to help closer than I. Good luck- mn

Linda Fogt has a litter right now. She's in Ohio. mn

With all due respect, this does not seem like the type of sale where a beginner should buy sheep to work their dog on. This is a consignment sale and show. Prices will probably be pretty stiff, and being a new person to sheep, you will be fresh meat for some of those seasoned consignors. Sorry to be so blunt, but speaking the truth. Are you a member of NEBCA? I imagine there are members with excess dog broke sheep this time of year that they would be willing to sell. This would be a good place to start with dog broke sheep, even if they aren't exactly the breed or type you desire at this exact point in time. You can learn a lot from the first purchase of sheep, then expand your horizons as you get more experience. I would also encourage you to contact or particpate in Cornell's sheep educational programs. You can contact them direct or go through your county extension office. They can be a valuable resource. Good luck- mn

That's what I was thinking, Julie, but wasn't sure and couldn't find any info on it. mn