2024 Mid-America Working Terrier Trials

Let me tell you a story about the Mid-America Working Terrier Trials. It started in the winter of 2023 when my friend and fellow board member at Colorado Earthdogs Inc., Mike Cox, asked if I’d be interested in helping the Mid-America Working Terrier Association prepare for their 2024 trial. If you know Mike and Kelley, you know they’re good people. When they ask for something, you just do it. They knew I could help with many of the behind-the-scenes tasks that needed to be done, and I was happy to assist. Volunteering also meant that my husband and I were going to our second terrier trial – ever.

We have two Jack Russell Terriers – Kali and Buster, and we live in the suburbs. They don’t hunt, and we don’t travel for trials. They enjoy play days, can bark at rats like nobody’s business, and Buster lives for lure course. We entered them into the events we do at play days and were ready to go. I didn’t know that spayed/neutered terriers could enter conformation until Patti Podliska pointed it out to me. I had some credit in my trial account, so I entered Kali in conformation for both days and didn’t think about it again until the trial.

As Kali and I stood watching the dogs and handlers before us, it hit me that we had no idea what we were doing. Well, maybe Kali knows a little bit about being a good terrier and she was looking great in the “lucky” show lead loaned by our friend Lauretta Olson, but I had no idea what it took to be a handler in the ring. Yvonne and Robert Foster, who were waiting to show their dog, gave me invaluable tips – how to position the lead, keep Kali’s attention, and position my feet to get her to stand. Despite entering their dog in the same category – spayed/neutered adult terrier – and competing against us, they helped us out! Their guidance gave me the confidence to step into the ring, try something new, and get out of my comfort zone.

his supportive spirit was my experience throughout the trials. Nancy O’Neil helped me get Kali in the right “suitability to hunt class” and let us borrow a lead on the second day. Nancy Rice offered tips to improve our barn hunt performance. Chet Atkins patiently explained how to use the information from my trial packet to assist the judges when looking for our entries. These are just a few examples of the incredible kindness and patience shown to us. Everyone wanted us to succeed and have a good time. In my opinion, this community support is the secret to hosting a great trial.

So, how did we fare in conformation? Rancho Fiasco Kālikā placed first in spayed/neutered adult terrier on Saturday! We did okay in the other categories we entered, but that first-place ribbon belongs to the entire village who helped us. Thank you so much. We’ll be back next year, better prepared, and looking forward to the experience!

– Ginger Nichols and Kali Nichols-Moore