FCJ College Agriculture teacher Elizabeth Isaacson and Year 12 student Katelyn Wells at the 2026 Benalla Sheepdog Trials.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
The annual Benalla Sheepdog Trials is much more than just a fun sporting event.
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It’s also a great day out, a learning opportunity for local students, and a place where young and old alike can meet and form lifelong friendships.
The showgrounds were a hive of activity from March 2 to 5, as competitors showed off their skills in one of four categories.
The event has also welcomed VCE agriculture students from FCJ College, who have been getting involved with all elements of the trials, from assisting with the sheep to taking part in the judging of the competition.
Peter Kerin, Wally Dalton and Dave Sweatman enjoying a day out at Benalla’s 2026 Sheepdog Trials.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
Benalla Working Sheepdog Club secretary/treasurer Sue McAllister-Reid said the club had been running these trials in Benalla for more than 50 years, and it took a team to plan the event.
“We have lots of helpers,” she said.
“We have people doing timekeeping, some are doing the let-out and take-off, we have the judges.
“We couldn’t function without all these volunteers.”
Ms McAllister-Reid said triallers had come from all over Australia for the four-day event.
The 2026 Benalla Sheepdog Trials were held at the Showgrounds from March 2 to 5.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
“We've got quite a few from Western Australia this year,” she said.
Of course, an event like this could not take place without sheep, which need to be found locally.
“We need to say a big thank you to Dale West, who has provided the sheep,” Ms McAllister-Reid said
“We need 100 sheep every day, and they’re fresh sheep each day too.
“They only get worked once a day, some might work twice, but that is the maximum.”
In a sign that sheepdog trials are still popular with a range of people, Ms McAllister-Reid said not only were there high-school students taking part, they also had a nonagenarian involved.
“Tony (Whitehead) is 90, and we’re thrilled to have him here,” she said.
Mr Whitehead took a few minutes out of doing commentary on the event to chat to the Ensign.
At 90, Tony Whitehead is the second oldest sheep dog trials competitor in Australia. At the 2026 Benalla Sheepdog Trials he was working as a commentator, keeping the crowd up to date on the details of the competition.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
While he said he was proud to still be taking part at 90, he admitted to being only the second-oldest sheepdog trialler on the circuit.
“We’ve got a guy over in WA, he’s 91,” he said.
FCJ teacher Elizabeth Isaacson said she had brought seven Year 11 and 12 agriculture students to learn about the innovations of dogs on farms.
“And to participate in helping with some of the sheep work as well as the judging,” she said.
“Just for them to see the community and meet some other farmers and to see how well dogs can execute jobs on farm.”
Ms Isaacson said the event was a great opportunity for students to take their heads out of books and computer screens and get hands-on experience.
“The more we can do in our community, the more real it makes it for them,” she said.
“Particularly as a VCE subject, there is a lot of book learning, so for them this is a fantastic opportunity that we can just do as part of our normal school day.”
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