Oregon’s Black and White Heritage
As a native Oregonian for almost 70 years, my journey started from Russia in 1908 with my grandfather emigrating from Odessa as a German looking for a better life. His journey started from Bremen on the steamship Main to Ellis Island and homesteaded our ranch in Boxelder, Montana. Having hard times, he decided to move to Portland, Oregon to build “Liberty Ships” with all of the family to fight the war. My time in Oregon began in 1938 and I always had a love for agriculture and animals- I always felt at home here and had opportunities to move out of state, but my heart was embedded here forever and never wanted to leave.
Over the last 50 years of owning two agricultural businesses in the western part of the state, my wife and I retired to Wasco for several years before owning the ranch here in Unity. I have had Border collies for many years, trailing and teaching stock dog herding to ranchers and 4H kids. We raise California red sheep, a new breed within the past 10 years and have a high quality breeding program for the Border collies.
Having an interest in my family’s journey and how they got here, I have always felt the same about how the Border collie got here and their heritage in Oregon. Contrary to belief, all of the sheep and cattle did not come overland from the east. Dry John MC Glauphlin imported some of them from Europe to Clatsop County up the Columbia River, and as the sheep and cattle increased, the Boarder collie was brought into Oregon from England. Today, the west coast is a showcase for the top trials and Klamath Falls is one of the top trial areas in the U.S.
I never met a Border collie I did not like; our last litter, we had some of the toughest pups I ever had to train and was the challenge of my life. The first pup I was going to sell is the one that evolved into the best dog I ever had- he had one blue eye, was long and skinny, with short ears, big feet and a long tail and is the hardest biter I have ever seen. To me, he is worth a million dollars. My Abby is the pride of my life as she is my best friend in life (next to my wife). We got her from a breeder in Klamath Falls seven years ago and I can remember the breeder saying he thought she would be able to read my mind and he was right on that one.
Oregon’s history is rich with one of the legacies left from the pioneers- the sheep dogs that helped build the west yesterday and into the future. I feel very fortunate to spend part of my life with the greatest dog of all time.
