43RD ANNUAL RED BLUFF STOCK DOG SALE
Jan. 29, Red Bluff, CA
17 Stock dogs $8,735
Auctioneer: Trent Stewart
The stock dogs at the 43rd Annual event of Red Bluff was an exciting year with intense competition. Experienced handlers brought top prospects to hold off newcomers who challenged the very top! This year’s event was exceptional and an increase in the overall sale average by nearly $2,600 was reflective of the uniform offering of high-quality dogs.
The top three dogs were in a tough competition from the very first trial. After the third and final trial, they were separated by only 4 total points. Together, they accumulated $40,000 of the sale’s overall gross and sold to buyers in three separate states. Of these top three dogs, two came from Red Bluff’s best consignors. Brian Jacobs, Hollister, CA, has been consigning dogs and geldings to Red Bluff for the last several years and has become a fixture among the top consignors in both species. His 2-year-old female, Ruby, was again a highlight of the dog sale.
Jaime Gonzalez, who has been consigning the Red Bluff for quite some time now and may have the most recognized name of all the consignors, again brought a top female, Lola, who gave everyone a run for their money. These two consignors are seasoned to not only the stock dog competition but the inner workings of Red Bluff. They are among the top every year, but this year they were challenged by relatively new consignor, Tim Woods, who brought in a 3-year-old female, Kansas, who had built a resume winning at various other trials leading up to Red Bluff. The competition at the top was fierce, and when everything settled, a difference of 4 points separated the top three and newcomer Woods split the competition and ultimately topped the sale. It was fantastic.
[inline_image file=”ff6afb6f03763094c27f2e2d75166313.jpg” caption=”BC Millie, shown by Trent Johnson, waits patiently along with other stock dogs and their families for her time to trial during the Red Bluff Bulls. Millie went on to place 4th overall and sold for $10,500. Photo by Crystal Amen Photography.”]
In year’s past, two trials have taken place in the indoor arena with the final trial taking place in the four-acre field adjacent to the fairgrounds. However, this year’s week of Red Bluff was met with a torrential downpour and massive storm system early in the week, causing the outdoor venue to be unusable. All three trials took place indoors. Though the moisture can’t be overstated in how bad the West Coast needed it, the competition for this year’s trials had a slightly different feel to it.
These dogs are truly athletes. They have so many characteristics and each dog has its own personality. The handlers are seasoned and have built reputations and businesses around their talents and how they develop these young dogs. Success story after success story comes from those who’ve purchased dogs from Red Bluff. They are strictly evaluated by a team of professional judges and scored on their ability to control livestock, manage the situation and move the cattle through the course in a timely, efficient, and controlled manner. They are evaluated on how they obey, handle themselves if cattle don’t respond, and process what is going on. These dogs aren’t micromanaged; they simply can’t be. Handlers have to allow these dogs to work and display their talents in front of judges and large crowds.
The sale is always one of the favorites of anyone going to Red Bluff. With COVID concerns, there were a few empty seats in the sale ring this year, but otherwise this sale was standing room only. This sale has gained national attention and of the 17 dogs that sold, they went to nine different states. It was an excellent year. Congrats to all the consignors, the committee members, and the buyers. If you’d like to learn more about the Red Bluff Stock Dog Sale, go to www.RedBluffBullSale.com and follow the links to the dog sale, their videos, and the results.
TOPS—Kansas, 2018 tri-colored female by Stormy, from Tim Woods, Cottonwood, CA, to Ty Jenkins, Ten Sleep, WY, $17,000. 208Anne Bonny, 2019 red and white female by 7J Ike, from Tim Clausen, Melba, ID, to Buzz Shannon, Memphis, TN, $15,000. Ruby, 2017 red and white female by Booker, from Brian Jacobs, Hollister, CA, to Mark Hill, Mack, CO, $14,000. Dodge, 2017 black and white male by Jack, from Madi Post, Wallowa, OR, to Mike VanDalen, Linden, WA, $12,500. BC Millie, 2017 red and white female by Chakula, from Clint Johnson, Baker City, OR, to Brian Cardosa, Oakdale, CA, $10,500. Tink, 2019 tri-colored male by GS Levi; from Loren Holmes, Red Bluff, CA, to Nissen Ranch, Esparto, CA, $10,000. — LOGAN IPSEN
