UNITY — Nearly every organic farmer in the state and beyond likely makes the pilgrimage to the Common Ground Fair in Unity at least once in his or her life, and many return year after year, some with their produce and crafts in tow.

John and Doreen Simmons of Stoneheart Farm in South Paris just happened to bring their dogs, Bea and Gwen, and if the size of the crowds watching the dogs in action is any indication, they are a favorite sight at the fair.

Bea and Gwen are border collies who work every day, just as hard as their owners, to help manage the flock of sheep at Stoneheart Farm. Gwen is 8 years old and Bea is 2. Each year, they join four other herding dogs at the Common Ground Fair to show off their skills in herding demonstrations.

“I can take 60 or 80 sheep down the road with the dogs a couple of miles, and it’s as easy as if I were walking by myself — but it’s more fun,” said John Simmons, who started raising sheep about 15 years ago and added dogs to his farm about 12 years ago.

About a half hour before each of the three scheduled shows per day, hundreds of people began arriving to find the best viewing spots around the sheep pen to watch the herding demonstrations. By the time expert dog trainer Dave Kennard of New Hampshire began the show, there was hardly a spot left around the large, fenced-in area.

One might say that Simmons came to own border collies because of his now-close friend, Kennard.

Long before he owned his first dog, Simmons came to watch Kennard do his dog shows at the Common Ground Fair. He watched each show, intent on learning everything he could. Eventually, Simmons bought his first dog from his friend, and now, he brings his two dogs and assists Kennard with the demonstrations.

“I got interested in collies and herding from going to the Common Ground Fair way back when it was still at the Windsor Fairgrounds,” Simmons said. “I would go every year and learn about it. Then I read a lot of books. I didn’t have any help training my dogs. I taught myself watching videos, reading and watching other people.”

Gwen and Bea are quite useful on the farm. Sheep are notoriously aggressive when it comes to food, and they’ve even been known to knock a person down as he or she is attempting to fill their food dishes. Simmons brings Gwen and Bea into the sheep pen with him and they keep the sheep away from the trough while he supplies them with feed. Once the troughs are full, Simmons gives a command, which he says is like flipping a switch — the dogs retreat and the sheep can eat their food.

“Their eyes can be locked on a sheep, and you tell them ‘that’ll do’ and they’re done,” Simmons said.

“That’ll do” is an important command, according to Simmons. It’s the command he uses to to let the dogs know their work is done and it’s time for fun. The dogs are more than just workers on his farm, Simmons said. They’re also his best friends.

“They know when it’s time to work and when it’s time to play,” he said. “If you don’t let them know they’re done, they’re just going to keep on working. They’re with us all the time. It’s fun to have a dog that is useful, and who are also your pets.”

Several of Simmons’ fields are a distance from the farm, and he walks his sheep from field to field for rotational grazing. He said he could do the task easy enough with one dog, but that he has come to depend on them so much, that he likes to keeps two just in case something might happen to one because he’s not sure how he would manage the herd without a dog’s help.

Each dog has a unique personality. Bea is an attention hound. She enjoys children and looks for opportunities to be petted by anyone willing to look in her direction. Gwen is more reserved. She will perform for the crowds, but she’s more likely to stay close to Simmons’ side than to seek out any attention.

Preparing for the demonstrations at Common Ground Fair is easy for Gwen and Bea since they work every day. A couple of weeks before the show, Simmons will work with them on specific commands to brush them up on certain skills needed for herding the sheep, goats and ducks at Common Ground Fair.

“It’s not like you can really cram for this,” Simmons said. “We’re just trying to show folks here how (herding) works and why it works.”

mjerkins@sunmediagroup.net

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