One week ago

One week ago this morning we lost Jag. It has been a difficult week dealing with his loss. I have been learning to do chores without my Jaggie. That is a difficult thing for me. I can't take things for granted any more. I have to be on my toes at all times now as my younger dogs aren't trained as far as Jag was and I can't take it for granted that when I ask for a flank it is going to be nice and wide and I can't take it for granted that I can give a flank command and turn my back and continue doing what I need to do. I need to watch and use every time on the sheep as training. I know that they will get better, the more that I use them and work with them. But, I still miss my Jag. He was my boy, my conversationalist. Oh, the conversations that we had together. We used to poke fun at Steve and talk about other things.

We miss you, Jag. Thanks for the Monarch butterflies.

Last picture of Jag

I took this picture on Friday, July 24, 2009. I had the dogs in the yard as I was walking out to take some pictures of a hawk. This is the last picture of Jag that I have before we lost him. He was giving me these sad eyes hoping to work sheep. This was in the morning so it wasn't time to bring the sheep in yet. We are still having a hard time believing that he isn't here any more.

Rough week

I have some very sad news to report. Kathy Heilenman of Iowa City who has been a leader in our organization and a part of so many of our events, has passed away. I just found out that she died last night after a valiant struggle with cancer. She was very aware that her condition was tenuous but she kept going, doing what she loved and was so good at with very very few complaints...She is an inspiration to us all...I will never forget her.


Boy, has this been one helluva a week. First Jag yesterday and now my friend, Kathy H. from Iowa. I hope that Jag was there waiting to greet Kathy until one of her own dogs can join her. We will all miss Kathy dearly.

Thank you Kathy for my Corbie. If it hadn't been for you, I would have never met Jenn and then Jeep. Thank you for you friendship and the wonderful conversations.

On July 30th, 2009, we lost our Jag, Our hearts hurt today

Although I sit here with a broken heart and tears in my eyes I need to express what Jag meant to us through my eyes.


We will never forget you,
We will always love you,

Our hearts hurt today

You were a herding champion, both sheep & ducks,
You were the CHORE DOG!!

Our hearts hurt today

You were always dependable and faithful,
You were the proud father of Styrker,

Our hearts hurt today

Sheep held the up-most respect for you,
The squirrels in our bird-feeders had the up-most fear for you,

Our hearts hurt today

The rest of the dogs will miss you, Jag

Our hearts hurt today

You ran your last trial just last week, had some trouble on the big field, but never gave up,
We now know why

Our hearts hurt today

Sogn Valley Farms will never be the same, Jag
Our hearts hurt today

But as we all know, that with time, the memories and thoughts of you that today fill our eyes with tears, will someday fill our hearts with laughter and joy, Jag.

But for now, our hearts hurt today.

by: Steve Beatt
A loving tribute to a fine and one of a kind, working, caring, loving friend, Jag.

That'll Do, Jag

We lost our dear Jag this morning. Words cannot express my sorrow and feeling of loss right now. I already miss him so much. We both started as green, newbies and made our way all the way to the big fields. We started out in novice and went all the way thru to open. We made our attempts at the 725 yd field and ran on plenty of 400 - 600 yd fields and had a fun time doing it. Jag was my right hand dog, my go to dog around the farm and I will miss that terribly. I know that there is going to be a difficult task and I'll call for Jag and then realize that he is not here to help me any more. I learned so much about sheep and this whole thing called herding with Jag. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. We both love you Jag and we miss you terribly.

I wanted to share a few pictures of Jag working our sheep. This was his working some of our sheep this past winter, March 2009.

Jag loved to work his sheep and would do it all day long if I asked it of him.

Jag also enjoyed working ducks. We did a few duck trials earlier in his career and he loved it. But he didn't want to have anything to do with chickens tho.

I wanted to share a few shots of him at some of the trials that we ran at.

Here we are shedding some sheep at a trial here in Minnesota a couple of years ago.