Sheepdog championship returns to Soldier Hollow over Memorial Day weekend

A herding dog at the Soldier Hollow Classic, where handlers and their dogs work more than 300 Rambouillet sheep across open mountain terrain. Photo: Heber Valley Utah

The four-day event pairs world-class working dog trials with family activities, demonstrations and festival programming in Midway.

MIDWAY, Utah — The Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Championship & Festival returns to Heber Valley over Memorial Day weekend, bringing four days of working dog trials, family activities, and festival programming to one of Utah’s Olympic venues.

Founded in 2003, the Classic has become a signature Heber Valley event, pairing agricultural tradition with high-level sheepdog competition on the same landscape used during the 2002 Winter Olympics and slated to host events in the 2034 Winter Games.

“What makes this event exceptional is the setting and the level of competition,” said Dallin Koecher, executive director of Heber Valley Tourism, Chamber & Economic Development. “It gives visitors a rare opportunity to experience the heritage of the sport and the caliber of a world-class competition in one place.”

Preliminary trials run Friday through Sunday, with the championship round on Monday. Over the weekend, trained dogs and their handlers will work more than 300 Rambouillet sheep across Soldier Hollow’s open mountain terrain, where the absence of fencing adds to the challenge.

The festival also includes dog agility exhibitions, sheep shearing, live demonstrations, educational activities, food vendors, artisan booths, and other family-friendly programming.

Organizers describe the Classic as an international competition showcasing the partnership between handler and dog, with a broader festival designed to introduce spectators to the sport and its agricultural roots.

The event runs May 22-25 at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, 2002 Soldier Hollow Lane in Midway, with competition daily from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale through the Soldier Hollow Classic website.