MERRIMAC FARM is a seventeen acre estate outside of Redmond, Washington.  Founded in 1906 by George Magnuson, Merrilee's grandfather, who was a dairy farmer, the farm remained a working farm into the late 60's.  In the mid 70's, Merrilee purchased the family farm.  With her husband Bill (Billy Mac), the Magnuson Farm became MerriMac Farm, combining their names, Merrilee and McCarthy.   For ten years they entertained on the road while maintaining the farm and breeding Egyptian Arabian horses.  The Old English Sheepdogs were on the farm but there wasn't a breeding program in place.

MERRILEE:   In 1960 I bought my first OES.  I saved up $100 and got an all white girl named "Bridget" from Hazel Foster Collins.  "Bridget" was an experience.  Amazingly,  I stayed with the breed despite her and her white factor and In 1969 purchased "LuLu" , a daughter of Hazel's breeding,  Am./Can. Ch. Driftwood's Oliver Twist.  He was a great winning boy in the 60's here in the northwest, owned by Jack and Rosemary Murphy , who became my two dear friends.  After hiring handlers and groomers for LuLu I decided I to try my hand at showing.  So in 1978, I was at a dog show in Portland, Or. in search of a show pup.  There I saw consistent type coming from a sire named Ch. Cheerio Heavy Number, owned by Ken and Paula Leach.  The type was bear-like and I really loved the look.  I called the Leaches and went to see clipped down "Tuffy" and was so taken with this extremely handsome male, I put in my order for a show male pup. The following year, we got our magnificent "Boomer".  Boomer travelled all over the country with us and we loved him so.  Unfortunately, we lost Boomer to heart failure early on and the Leaches were so kind to replace him with another "Tuffy" son,  Cheerio Tuffson of MerriMac aka "Bubba".   While waiting for "Bubba's arrival  we purchased "Bessie" from the Leaches.  "Bessie" aka Cheerio Lil' Bessie Smiff, was the most perfect girl for us to start a breeding program with.  Her smart personality and beautiful conformation combined with the handsome "Bubba"  gave us a wonderful beginning.  Along with the look came the most beautiful movement.  From that only breeding, came "Blossom" and "Beaulah", our foundation girls.  Both were outcrossed to Elizabeth Tokach's line at Galliyard.  "Blossom" aka MerriMac Ballroom Dancer,  was bred to Liz's Am./Can. Ch. Banbury Royal Sultan with tremendous results.  I now had what I needed to take into the ring.  Liz was the best mentor anyone could have going into the ring for the first time.  I have so much to be grateful to her for.  I'm grateful for the trips to the shows and learning the ropes and just talking about dogs.   I only bred to "Turki" once but then went on to breed to his sons to solidify the type and movement.

TODAY:   The horses are all gone from MerriMac Farm but the OES have the entire run of  the place.  With large mown fields and so many different areas to explore, the dogs are free to run and play -  to be healthy, happy and sound.  We believe in a program of good feeding, supplementation and a reasonable vaccination protocol.  Gone are the days of over- vaccination, leading to suppressed immune systems.    Breeding dogs is a big responsibility - to the dogs you create and to the people who take them as their own.  We continue to learn with every step we take.  We are constantly evaluating our strengths and our weaknesses in hopes of giving health and happiness and beauty to this breed, the great Old English Sheepdog.

ABOUT THE PAGES:  When you go to the pages of Males, Females, etc. you will find dogs that were owned by other people.  I have included these dogs for your information as they are dogs that I have bred to and are found in the pedigrees of my dogs.  This will assist in the research of the background of my pedigrees.