Arts briefs: Sheep dog competition coming to St. Croix Valley in September

Some of the best shepherds and sheepdogs in the country compete in Hudson, Wis., next month.

The Wisconsin Working Sheep Dog Association's Sheepdog Trials are Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-7.

Dogs work using their own talents and in partnership with their handlers to gather livestock and move them with precision over hills, through standing alfalfa, around gates and obstacles and into pens.

Bring a lawn chair and a picnic or gather under the big tent with a lamb brat or burger as an announcer explains what each dog is doing and what the judges are looking for.

The event is open to the public at the Badlands Sno-Park site, 772 Kinney Road, Hudson, Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost is $7 per person. Children under 10 are admitted free. Check WWSDA.org for updates.

Outdoor yoga at Lake Elmo Park Reserve ends for the summer on Thursday, Aug. 20, and the fall season of indoor yoga starts Sept. 21.

The sessions have been offered from 6-7 p.m. Thursdays at the North Picnic Shelter.

The program is open to all levels. Dress for outdoor yoga, bring a mat and arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. In case of rain or inclement weather, class will be held in the Nordic Center.

Registration is required; each class is $5. Vehicle permits are also required. Call to register at 651-430-8370.

Fall indoor yoga will be 5:30-6:30 Mondays Sept. 21 through Nov. 9 at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve Nordic Center.

These sessions are open to all levels of yoga. Dress for yoga, bring a mat and water bottle, and arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. Registration is required.

Lake Elmo Park Reserve is at the intersection of County Road 19 and County Road 10, one mile north of Interstate 94 in Lake Elmo.

A gala catered by Lake Elmo Inn, apple picking and other events are coming up at Carpenter Nature Center, at the southern tip of Washington County.

Offerings on tap in the coming weeks:

Aug. 20: Pollutants in Our Waters at 10 a.m. at the Tilden Community Center.

Aug. 28: Public Bird Banding from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Sept. 13: Autumn in the Valley Gala.

Sept. 25: Public Bird Banding from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Sept. 26: Raptor Release from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On the day of the gala, tours start at 4 p.m. and the event itself is from 5-9 p.m.

The gala includes cart tours of the trails, live and silent auctions and a wall of wine raffle. It's the primary fundraiser for the year, attended by about 250 people.

The address is 12805 St. Croix Trail, Hastings.