Dogs and handlers will converge on Vashon this weekend for the sheepdog trials, a three-day event that is becoming a fall tradition on the island.

The Vashon Sheepdog Classic, now in its fourth year, will feature 60 young dogs Friday and 65 older dogs throughout the weekend as they herd sheep brought in from Oregon.

The event, a benefit for island youth organizations, will have more entrants than last year and has a waiting list of handlers who would like to attend.

“There’s a good vibe out there for the trial,” said Maggi McClure, the main organizer of the event.

McClure hopes to bring in $10,000 that will be dispersed among a variety of youth-oriented organizations, she said. Some of those groups, such as the Olympus Pony Club, the Grapplers’ Society and Eyes of the Future, are assisting with the event this year.

As is standard in sheepdog trials, each dog will have a set of tasks on which it is judged, including approaching a group of sheep from 300 to 400 yards away, herding the sheep down a field, then pushing sheep through sets of wooden panels and separating two sheep from the rest. Finally, the sheepdog must split one sheep from its group and then guide the group of sheep through a gate and into a pen.

On each part of the course, the dog can receive a perfect score or lose points for errors. The top dogs and handlers from each day of the event will receive cash and prizes, McClure said.

New this year will be a “The Gray Muzzle Champion” award, which will go to the top dog over the age of 9. There are more than 10 dogs competing who fit this category, McClure said.

Like last year, this year’s sheep are young. With no leader, they are more reactive than older sheep would be, McClure said.

As in years past, there will be artists showing their wares, children’s activities and several vendors.

There will also be a new fiber arts tent, organized by Myra Willingham, where a variety of activities will take place, including daily sheep-to-shawl demonstrations, a chance to see spinning with dog fiber Friday afternoon and a public “yarn storming” of  the livestock gates for next year’s event.

The trials will run from dawn to dusk Friday through Sunday at Misty Isle Farms on Old Mill Road. Admission is $5 at the gate. Children under 12 are free. For event details, see www.vashonsheepdogclassic.com