A shared love of stock dogs keeps NCTA couple connected
CURTIS, Neb. — For Paige and Wyatt Meyers, weekends often mean loading up the dogs and heading to a stock dog trial together.
Paige, a Veterinary Technology student at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, and her husband, Wyatt, a May 2025 NCTA Agronomy graduate, share a love of working dogs that keeps them learning, laughing and connected to campus.
Their shared hobby began with Sage, a young Border Collie Paige purchased but needed somewhere to keep. Wyatt agreed to help and began training her. Sage soon made her preference clear.
“She’d sit there and just stare at me,” Paige said. “And then Wyatt would tell her the same thing and she’d do it.”
Sage became Wyatt’s working partner, and Wyatt bought another Border Collie, Maggie, for Paige. Paige calls the arrangement a trade.
The couple met through FFA at McCook High School and married in September 2025. Both found what they were looking for at NCTA: Paige had wanted to attend for Veterinary Technology since about age 10, while Wyatt appreciated the opportunity to study Agronomy close to home.
Paige’s interest in dogs grew through 4-H agility and showmanship. Looking for a new challenge, she learned about stock dogs from someone at her church and discovered NCTA’s team. Then she brought Wyatt into it.
Wyatt joined during his final semester. Although new to stock dogs, he and Sage connected quickly. She was about five months old when they got her and was competing with Wyatt by nine months.
Paige credits his experience working cattle with helping him understand where to position himself and his dog. Practicing together lets them offer each other suggestions that are easier to see from outside the arena. Those practices also build skills that carry into agricultural and veterinary careers: reading animal behavior, making decisions in the moment and communicating with a partner.
It also provides plenty of laughs. During one memorable practice, sheep crossed Wyatt’s path as he worked a young dog, sending him tumbling over them. Paige still enjoys telling that story.
Working dogs have taught both patience and helped Paige build connections through clinics and competitions. But their favorite part is sharing the experience.
“I like going to trials together,” Paige said. “We can both go to this trial because it’s something that we both do.”
Although Wyatt has graduated, trials continue to bring him back to NCTA. He now works with cattle and hopes to build toward an operation of his own. Paige is preparing to graduate in May, hopes to stay in the area and has discussed returning to help with the stock dog team. Both value NCTA’s small community and practical learning opportunities.
Paige also serves as an NCTA student ambassador, sharing her experience with prospective students. Next week, she will return to a classroom at her former high school in McCook to talk about life at NCTA and encourage students to visit campus.
Whether preparing for a trial or figuring out which dog belongs to whom, Paige and Wyatt are continuing to learn by doing, together.
The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis is a two-year institution within the University of Nebraska system, dedicated to developing the next generation of agricultural professionals and veterinary technicians. NCTA offers specialized programs in Animal Science, Agronomy, Ag Equipment, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Education, Equine Industry Management, and Veterinary Technology, all grounded in a practical, career-focused approach to learning.