The western Victorian town of Casterton will again be filled with thousands of Kelpies and Kelpie enthusiasts during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
And Stock & Land readers have the opportunity to win a Kelpie pup from renowned breeder and trainer Joe Spicer, GoGetta stud, Hamilton.
The winner of GoGetta Talisman will also get a complimentary training clinic and book.
Mr Spicer said Talisman had a kind and outgoing nature and already had a calm holding ability and strength.
He said the dog was very easy to work and would develop a big long cast.
With the right tuition, Mr Spicer is confident GoGetta Talisman will back and bark in the yards and move cattle with ease just like his parents Barru Monkey and GoGetta Tell.
The entry form (on the back page of Stock & Land) is to be posted and will be drawn at the 21st Clark Rubber Working Dog Auction, on Sunday June 11.
The muster will begin with a challenges and activities on Saturday June 10.
The RMA Working Dog Futurity is a fantastic spectacle and people from throughout Australia come with their Kelpies to compete. The futurity displays Kelpies’ athletic ability, prowess and intelligence in the working yard, and is open to dogs purchased in previous Casterton Clark Rubber Working Dog Auctions.
In the Stockman’s Challenge, contestants compete with the working dog's and horses over the obstacle course.
The Festival will also be held again, and its highlights includes the Kelpie Triathlon, the Kelpie Dash, the Kelpie Hill Climb and the Kelpie High Jump – which Teagan Eagle and her dog Bailey won last year with an event record of 2.951 metres.
This year, the volunteer organising committee have also organised a shearing and whip cracking demonstration. There will be a street parade and a unique program of novelty events.
Organisers of the iconic Clark Rubber Working Dog Auction would like to remind people hoping to purchase a dog that they need to have a letter of introduction from their stock agent or have enough funds on their credit or eftpos cards.
People travel from across Australia to buy or sell their working dogs.
At the Working Dog Auction on the Sunday, all dogs are given a set limit of time to demonstrate their talents while being worked by their current owner, moving sheep around a course.
The Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens said last year’s festival was another huge success.
“We thank everyone who made this happen from our volunteers, sponsors, community groups and of course the public."