Updated for 2026

The Sheepdog Demonstrations at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival are always a crowd favorite. Festival audiences are amazed by the talent, skill, and ability of the handlers and their dogs. Come watch as they demonstrate their skills working in partnership to maneuver the sheep around the arena and through the obstacles.

Performing in the demonstrations again this year is A J Hesketh-Tutton. A J was born in Winchester, England, where she learned about sheep and sheepdogs on her family’s farm. She now lives in West Friendship, Maryland with her Border Collies. A J also has a large flock of Katahdin sheep, where she and her dogs get daily practice doing chores and training for trials. A J also provides sheepdog demonstrations at other festivals and events, and we are pleased to have A J’s participation in the festival demonstrations.

For many years, Nancy Cox Starkey of Mt. Airy, Maryland, provided the commentary for the Sheepdog Demonstrations at the Festival. But again this year, she will be performing with her dogs in the demonstrations. Nancy has had Border Collies most of her adult life, and with the help of her dogs, Nancy manages a flock of Bluefaced Leicester sheep. She has retired from competition in sheepdog trials, but still provides sheepdog demonstrations at festivals and events.

Sheepdog Demonstration from the 2021 Virtual Festival