Herding Sheep Is A Family Affair

By Jennifer Loren, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- There are some four-legged farm hands that are putting on quite a show at the Tulsa State Fair.

Wyatt Fleming is only 11 years old, but around these parts he's known as the star of the show.

"I've won a belt buckle, a lot of ribbons, plaques," said Wyatt Fleming.

Wyatt hopes this year's sheepdog trials go as well as last year, so he can take home another one of those buckles.

Wyatt isn't the only Fleming at Tulsa's sheepdog trials.  For him, it's a family affair. His sister, Whitney, is a handler.  And his father, Thad Fleming, taught him almost everything he knows.

But, according to Thad, the dogs are the brains of the operation.

"This is what they're born to do. You know, they're not lap dogs. They're gonna herd," said Thad Fleming.

The goal of the trial is to get the sheep herded around some obstacles and into a pin.  To do that, the handlers give their dogs a series of commands.  Everyone has their own style.

For Wyatt and his dog, Kip, the outcome is usually a good one.  But, when it comes to an activity the whole family can enjoy, Thad says everyone wins with sheepdogs.

"It's a great family thing because anybody can do it," said Thad Fleming.

The Fleming Family came all the way from Leton, Missouri, to compete at the Tulsa State Fair.  Wyatt and Kip took third place on Tuesday.