DISTRICT 1
Terri Pelkey:
I live in Boulevard, Ca. with my husband, Roy. Together we train Ranch Horses and trial dogs, primarily , Border collies. We raise  our own sheep and keep a few cows for this purpose. I train my own dogs and manage to qualify them most ever year for the National Finals. I work with handlers, novice through Open. We’ve hosted numerous Clinics and Trials over the years, and enjoyed trialing in Scotland and working with Bobby Dalziel.
Terri has been involved in all aspects of USBCHA trialing for over 30 years. She has contributed not only by consistently running talented dogs at the highest level, but also by training dogs, mentoring new handlers, hosting clinics, participating in big trial set out, as well as judging trials. I believe her involvement in horse activities/training will also contribute another nuance to her nomination. Terri Pelkey would be a solid choice to represent District 1 on the BOD of the USBCHA. Nominated by Mary Minor
DISTRICT 2
Jan Stebbins: Nominated by Joni Tietjen
DISTRICT 3
Wyatt Fleming: Nominated by Kathy Knox
DISTRICT 4
Steve Rhidenour: I am a candidate for director of District 4. I am a lifelong resident of Groesbeck, Texas. I have been around livestock most of my life. I retired from a career in the oilfield a little over a year ago. Allen Mills introduced me to Border Collies in about 2004. I started trialing in 2005. In my opinion, the USBCHA has the best rules and guidelines to represent real stock work today. Trial hosts, without whom the USBCHA couldn’t exist, have a valuable resource to use producing trials. Also the membership can enter having a general idea of what to expect. The leadership through the years has worked to keep the guidelines, as close to natural dog work and I will continue to keep that in my decisions as well. I am honored to be considered as a candidate for District 4 and will serve to the best of my abilities if elected. Nominated by Russell McCord
DISTRICT 5
Jennifer Boznos: Nominated by Mike Neary
DISTRICT 6
Lori Cunningham: Lori Lives in Central Virginia. She has been involved with working border collie for 25 years. She trains her own dogs and judges trials throughout the US and Canada. Lori co chaired the 2013 USBCHA National Finals and has served multiple terms on the USBCHA Board . Lori believes the HA should be responsive to member concerns and and is invested in ensuring the district 6 membership is involved in Ha decision making. Nominated by Bob Washer
DISTRICT 7
Sue Schoen:
I started my first dog in 1991. For several years I trialed exclusively within the Northeast and became active in the Northeast Border Collie Association serving on the both the NEBCA Board of Directors and the Open Trials Committee. I have served on these committees both as a general member and as the Chair. As time went on I was able to travel more widely throughout the United States and Canada where I met handlers from other regions and was introduced to trialing on different landscapes and types of sheep.
I am an avid trialist and have woven the world of sheepdog trialing throughout my career as a small animal veterinarian and (essentially) single motherhood. My daughters, Emily and Jessie, now 26 and 21, were raised within this community. I am passionate about our dogs and strive to achieve excellence in breeding, training and trialing. Since my first Finals in 2007, I have participated in the National Finals whenever work and family obligations allow. I have hosted trials at my own small farm in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and have managed or helped manage other trials over the years. We have lost many important trials over the past few years. This is a crucial problem which I hope we can rectify as new enthusiastic handlers come into our community.
This has been a crazy 18 months. As trialing began to be possible again for those of us in the Northeast, my sense of relief was overwhelming. How fortunate we are to have each other and our shared passion.
Nominated by Mich Ferraro
DISTRICT 8
DISTRICT 9
DISTRICT 10
AT LARGE
Stephanie Goracke: I have been involved in trialing and training border collies for 20+ years. My full time job does not allow me to make as many trials as I would like to, but I get around a fair bit! I have previously served as USBCHA Director at Large and enjoy conversations with folks around the country pertaining to USBCHA business. I am currently serving as the TSDA President. Nominated by Steve Rhidenour
Tyler Shupe: Good day!
My name is Tyler Shupe and I was born, raised, and currently reside in Eminence IN. I attended Eminence Community School for grades K-12 before going to Purdue University to study Animal Agri-business/ Pre-Vet. It wasn’t long into my college career before I realized I need to make some big changes to my future career plans. After college I returned to my home town and made the decision to study equine podiatry. After months of schooling I took two separate apprenticeships with successful farriers in my area. I have now had my own business for approximately 10 years and couldn’t be happier with it. I started working dogs on the farm in high school but I thought they would have to fall to the wayside in college. I was very fortunate to meet a Professor at college, Mary Lou Hayden, who trialed dogs as well. She graciously let me live in her attic for a while and I got the opportunity to attend a few cattle dog trials while still in college. I have just recently started trialing again in the past two years, and entered my first open trial last August. I was fortunate enough to win the first open trial I was in, along with doing fairly well in a few others. However making it to the double lift finals at theBluegrass Classic this year, has been the highlight of my career to date! I hope to be able to report other wins along the way in the next couple years.
I will bring positivity, enthusiasm, and a fresh face to this sport in any way possible. If you have any questions for me, I am just a call away! (317)517-3477 Nominated by Bob Washer