Sheep

SHEEP 

Department G 

Superintendents: Kendra Brown, Buffy Hourt-Allred, & Dina Connell 

 Junior Superintendents: Amelia Betson & Alexandra Rasmussen 

SHEEP RULES AND GUIDELINES: 

  1. General Animal Science Rules apply to this Department.
  2. Number of Entries per Exhibitor: A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 2 breeding rams; 2 ewes; 2 feeder lambs; 3 market lambs and 1 bottle lamb.
  3. Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) – Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). Refer to the Nebraska State Fair General Rules and Regulations for additional information.
  4. All Sheep must have official 4-H ownership affidavits on file for the current year.
  5. All purebred animals must be registered or eligible for registry. Grade breeding individuals must be of the color or color markings, conformation and general size of the breed it represents.
  6. All Market and Bottle Lambs must be weighed in on pre-fair weigh ins with 4-H members allowed 3 market lambs and 1 bottle lamb, all market lambs and bottle lambs must have a USDA Scrapies tag in place at time of weigh- ins. Regardless of it being a wether, ram or ewe.
  7. Check-In and Show: Market Sheep and Bottle Lambs will weigh in at fair on Tuesday, July 28, 2:30- 4:00 p.m. The Sheep Show will be Thursday, July 30 at 8:30 a.m.
  8. Lambs entered in Market, Feeder, and Bottle Lamb classes will be weighed at fair to assist the Superintendents in setting up classes. The weight on entry day will be the official weight for the sale. All market lambs must weigh 100 lbs. to sell. For selling purposes only, youth will be paid up to a maximum weight of 180 pounds for their animal.
  9. Weights: Rate of Gain requirements are no longer valid for placing. However, there is a special ROG award.
  10. It takes a minimum of 4 Market Sheep to have a separate class.
  11. USDA requires that all sheep over 18 months of age as well as all sheep breeding stock have official USDA identification. All sheep under the age of 18 months that are shown at fairs and expositions must also be identified with a USDA scrapies tag. This identification system will allow animals found to have scrapie at slaughter to be traced to the flock of origin. 4-H ear tags are no longer used.
  12. Age of Market Lambs: All market lambs are required to be born on or after December 1, 2025. Sheep are to have milk teeth and there shall be no evidence of breaking of the skin or eruption of the two permanent front teeth.
  13. Showing and Handling Practices: The use of showing and/or handling practices that may be considered objectionable or abusive, such as striking or slapping lambs and exhibiting the lamb with its front feet off the ground, are not acceptable. The use of such practices may result in the lowering of a ribbon placing. (Lifting the lamb in a fluid motion to set the front legs prior to quickly setting the feet back on the ground is acceptable.)
  14. Exhibitors furnish their own feed and bedding.
  15. Bottle Lamb: The purpose is to design an animal project for younger or more inexperienced youth, teach proper health care and nutritional requirements of young sheep, and teach basic sheep management skills and to teach basic record keeping skills.
  16. A bottle lamb is an orphan, or newborn lamb born after January 1st and before June 15th of current year; male or female; and fed on bucket or bottle.
  17. Exhibitors can be ages 8-18 (by January 1st); must be enrolled in the Bottle Lamb Project; and have completed the annual Livestock Quality Assurance class.
  18. Exhibitors will need to complete the Bottle Lamb Record Book (available online at: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dawes/4h/). This should be completed and turned in to the Extension Office by July 21st to allow the judge time to read and prepare for interviews.
  19. ALL bottle lambs must be weighed in, tagged, and properly identified at the Sheep Weigh-In. Paperwork must be on file at the Extension Office by June 15th.
  20. Exhibitors will sign up for interview times at fair when Bottle Lambs are weighed in on Wednesday, July 29th. 4-H member's project animal will be present during their interview with the judge on Wednesday, July 29th from 1 to 3 p.m.
  21. Lambs will be presented to the public at the conclusion of the Sheep Show on Thursday, July 30. All judging will have been done prior to that time.
  22. Lambs will be dismissed with all other exhibits on Saturday, August 1.
  23. Bottle lambs may be used by all age divisions for the sheep showmanship classes.
  24. Judging will be done on the following basis: 

-Evaluation of completed record book – 35%. 

-Evaluation of member’s knowledge by interview – 35%. 

-Health condition and quality of animal – 15%. 

-Evidence of training and showing – 15%. 

DIVISION 028: SHEEP 

G028001. Senior Showmanship.  

G028002. Intermediate Showmanship.  

G028003. Junior Showmanship. 

G02800C. Clover Kid Showmanship. 

G028004. Purebred Wool Ram Lamb. (9/1/25 and after)  

G028005. Purebred Meat Ram Lamb. (9/1/25 and after)  

G028006. Purebred Wool Yearling Ram. (9/1/24 – 8/31/25)  

G028007. Purebred Meat Yearling Ram. (9/1/24 – 8/31/25)  

G028008. Commercial Crossbred Ewe Lamb. (9/1/25 and after) 

G028009. Commercial Crossbred Yearling Ewe. (9/1/24 – 8/31/25)  

G028010. Purebred Wool Ewe Lamb. (9/1/25 and after) 

G028011. Purebred Meat Ewe Lamb. (9/1/25 and after)  

G028012. Purebred Wool Yearling Ewe. (9/1/24 – 8/31/25)  

G028013. Purebred Meat Yearling Ewe. (9/1/24 – 8/31/25)  

G028014. Aged Ewe. (2 years or older) 

G028015. Feeder Lambs. (Ewes or Wethers) 

 

Market Lambs: 

G028016. White Faced. No Black Marks  

G028017. Black Faced. No White Marks  

G028018. Speckled Faced. 

G028019. Pen of Three Market Lambs. (Ewes or Wethers)  

G028020. Bottle Lamb. (Ewes or Wethers) 

Dawes County Fair Book