Cow Dog 'Luee' Sells for Incredible Amount in Red Bluff

It was a record year for cow horses and working stock dogs at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding sale, proving to be the ‘best in the West’ yet another year in a row.

Courtney Kreider | Jan 29, 2024

Courtney Kreider, SI Rodeo

The dog competition already drew a crowd outside despite the overcast weather. However, the true show was inside the historical Don Smith Pavilion once the dogs went up for bid.

Arguably the most popular attraction at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, it was standing room only for the sale of working stock dogs. If you were lucky enough to find a spot, you witnessed a record sale for the stock dogs in Red Bluff, Calif.

Working Stock Dog Competition at the 2024 Bull and Gelding Sale in Red Bluff, Calif. — Working Stock Dog Competition at the 2024 Bull and Gelding Sale in Red Bluff, Calif / Stephanie Roundy

"The quality was up, and the prices showed it," sales manager B.J. Macfarlane said. "The last couple of years, it’s become standing-room only, and I think that’s because of the standards we put forth and the quality we bring into Red Bluff. It makes for a real exciting show."

Consigned by Henry VanOrnum of Cave Junction, Oregon, Lot #4 RC5 ‘Luee’ sold for $50,000 to Elwood Ranches out of Montague, Calif. The tri-colored male Border Collie had a final round score of 87 points from the judges, placing in second overall at 230 points overall. Nonetheless, it was double the sale of the second-highest stock dog purchase.

The 2024 Stock Dog Champion ‘Bobbie Jean’ finished with 239 points overall and sold for $21,000 to Legacy ProRodeo Company out of Corvallis, OR, consigned by Tom Richards of Melba, Idaho.

The female Border Collie wasn’t the rodeo company’s only large purchase. The sale’s Champion Head Horse was purchased by Legacy at $72,000, an all-time record in Red Bluff. Lot #47 VYNTAGE consigned by Walter & Mary Vermedahl of Flagstaff, AZ, was one of 46 geldings sold Friday evening.

The average price for a gelding came in at $24,554.35. New to the sale this year, five mares were also sold, averaging $25,400 a horse. The sale also included four Cold Bloods, which averaged at $16,125 a horse.

Official Red Bluff Bull and Gelding results are available at redbluffbullsale.com/gelding-sale.

Published Jan 29, 2024

COURTNEY KREIDER

Newly added to the team, Western Sports Writer Courtney Kreider is a former TV journalist, bringing eight years of broadcast experience to the world of rodeo. Known for her Emmy-nominated California wildfire coverage, Courtney’s passion for working the fire lines makes her a perfect match for the adrenaline inside the rodeo arena. The Western industry is also home to Courtney. Born and raised in the small town of Viola, Calif., her love for horses and the cowboy culture began as a little girl exploring the alluring backcountry in the northern part of the state. She works as a media relations coordinator for the Red Bluff Round-Up and serves as a spokesperson for the rodeo every April. Away from work, Courtney enjoys her time off the grid with her family in Montana, which she calls her second home. Majoring in Criminology in college, Courtney’s passion for humanizing the badge has brought close relationships with various municipalities throughout her career. Her genuineness is shown in her ability to go beyond the emergency or story at hand. This year, she covered the American Rodeo and the Wrangler National Finals and is coming off her first year dedicated to promoting our Western lifestyle.