*Denotes State Fair Entry
Purple, $4; Blue, $3; Red, $2; White, $1.50
Each youth member may show seven total head in addition to one Lottery Sheep — providing they are owned and cared for by the youth member. The same sheep cannot be entered in both breeding and market lamb classes. 4-H members showing sheep at the fair must have signed a drug-free waiver for their animals on entry day.
Identification: All sheep being exhibited need to be individually identified with USDA official ID (Scrapie tag). Under no circumstances may sheep be exhibited which originate from scrapie source flocks or scrapie infected flocks. All market lambs must be owned by exhibitor and the animal affidavit turned into the Buffalo County Extension office by June 15 to be eligible to show. Animals jointly owned by siblings – ownership will be determined at check-in at fair.
Ringworm/Show Lamb Fungus Policy: Animals that have active ringworm or visible show lamb fungus will not be allowed entry into the Buffalo County Fair for exhibition. Animals will be inspected before weigh in. All Breeding and Market Sheep must be slick shorn, including belly and blankets removed prior to check in. The inspecting veterinarian will judge a ringworm to be inactive if the lesioned area is not encrusted and hair/wool has begun regrowth in the area. No ice is to be applied directly to animals; no ice jackets are permitted. Muzzles are not permitted. Spike collars are not permitted. Wood chips are preferred for bedding. Carpet and rubber mats are permitted; however, herdsmanship judges may choose to deduct points if the club pens are not uniform in appearance.
Grooming Rule — See General Livestock Rules.
The market class lambs must weigh 100 pounds or more on entry day to be eligible to show. Lambs weighing less than 100 pounds may show in a pre-market class but are not eligible to show for Champion Market Lamb.
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Training: Exhibitors in beef, dairy cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and market poultry (including production turkeys) must have received Quality Assurance training or testing through a UNL Extension program by the date set by the Extension Office. Anyone not completing the Q.A. training will be ineligible to exhibit at the Buffalo County Fair. Completion of training will be certified by a Buffalo County Extension Educator.
All market lambs, regardless of breed, will be classified for judging purposes on basis of sex and weight. Market sheep will be divided into divisions of wethers and ewes for showing. All market lambs must have milk teeth intact at weigh in to be eligible to show or will be lowered one ribbon placing.
MARKET SHEEP
All market lambs are required to be born on or after December 1, 2025.
*G030010 Market Sheep - Wether
*G030011 Market Sheep – Ewe
G030060 Market Sheep – White Face Division – All White Face Sheep will show in one class. To be eligible to show in the White Face Sheep division at the Buffalo County Fair, sheep must be owned by the exhibitor, and exhibit breed characteristics typical of a purebred animal of the breed in which they are entered.
G030001 Bred and Fed Sheep Division — This division is designed to honor the outstanding quality of animals produced by Buffalo County 4-H exhibitors on their family’s farm or ranch. Sheep that are produced from the 4-H member’s own herd or the herd of the immediate family’s farm or ranch are eligible. The sheep’s dam must have been bred and lambed at the family’s facilities and the sheep must have stayed in the ownership of the family since its birth. Bred and fed classes will be divided by weight at the discretion of the supervising committee. An exhibitor is allowed four market sheep. If an animal qualifies for Bred and Fed it may show in either that division or the traditional market division. Exhibitors will nominate their Bred and Fed sheep at weigh-in and can make the designation at the time of pre-entry.
PEN OF 3
All market sheep have to be owned by a single exhibitor. These can be of different breeds and sex. Purpose is to match group as to uniformity of size and type.
G030002 Three market lambs
CLUB GROUP OF FIVE
Each club will be eligible to enter two groups of five market lambs. These can be of different breeds and sex. Purpose is to match group as to uniformity of size and type. At least three different exhibitors must be represented in the club group.
G030009 Club group of five
Exhibitors must be at least five years of age and not older than eight years of age by January 1 of the current year and enrolled in
4-H Clover Kids program.
Pre-fair registration will be required for this show so that enough staff/volunteers can be available for show arena safety. Exhibitor is eligible to show not more than one sheep. Participation ribbons given only; no premiums given. The Clover Kid Sheep Show will take place just after the regular 4-H Sheep Show during the Buffalo County Fair. Each sheep will be brought in the morning of the show and will leave the fairgrounds following the show unless showing a sibling’s sheep that is already at the fair.
Clover Kids programs involving live animals must adhere to the following Nebraska 4-H guidelines:
1. Exhibition includes discussion with youth based on their knowledge of the care and raising of the animal.
2. Exhibitors show in a non-competitive setting for participation only without rank or placing.
3. Age, size, and temperament of animal projects must be appropriate for the exhibitor’s age and size.
4. There will be one adult/teen volunteer present for every two Clover Kids handling or exhibiting animals.
BREEDING SHEEP
Breeding ewes born September 1, 2025, or after are classed as lambs. Ewes born between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025, will be classed as yearlings. Ewes born prior to September 1, 2024, are ineligible to show. All ewe lambs must have all temporary teeth present. Yearling ewes can have yearling teeth but cannot have two-year-old teeth. All breeding ewes may be subject to mouthing to verify age. All crossbred sheep will be shown by weight not age.
For breeding sheep to be eligible for show in a registered (purebred) class, it must be owned by the exhibitor by June 15 of the current year and be registered by the official breed association. Animals jointly owned by siblings – ownership will be determined at check-in at fair. The registration certificate must indicate one of the following: 1) the name of the exhibitor, or 2) the name of the exhibitor and /or a co-owner who is an immediate family member of the exhibitor’s family. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted. REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETE BY FAIR DATE. Immediate family is defined as members of a household, including parents, brothers and sisters, and youth in care of the head of the household. Copies of the registration paper or certificate must be submitted with pre-fair entries. Original registration papers or certificate must be presented at the County Fair check-in.
*G032100 Hampshire ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032090 Hampshire yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032095 Hampshire ram lamb
*G032120 Suffolk ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032110 Suffolk yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032115 Suffolk ram lamb
*G032053 Other breeds ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032054 Other breeds yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032055 Other breeds ram lamb
*G032140 Dorset ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032130 Dorset yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032135 Dorset ram lamb
*G032033 Cheviot ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032034 Cheviot yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032035 Cheviot ram lamb
*G032160 Crossbred ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032150 Crossbred yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032155 Crossbred ram lamb
*G032190 Southdown ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032180 Southdown yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032185 Southdown ram lamb
*G032159 All Hair Breeds ewe lambs – Born 9/1/2025 and after
*G032169 All Hair Breeds yearling ewe – Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025
G032179 All Hair Breeds ram lamb
G032170 Aged ewe (2 years and older)
LOTTERY MARKET SHEEP
The purpose of the Lottery Market Sheep project is to provide Buffalo County 4-H market sheep members with a 3 to 4 month educational, interesting and competitive feature at the Buffalo County Fair. This project is intended to help exhibitors find quality sheep at a fair and reasonable market price. Youth will learn about production traits, feeding and nutrition for sheep, and showmanship techniques. There are two phases to the Lottery Market Sheep Project: The Lottery Phase and the Production Phase. The Production Phase of the project will provide competition and demonstrated ability by the sheep exhibitor.
Lottery Phase:
Eligibility
- 4-H’er must be 8 years of age as of January 1 of the current year and enrolled in the market sheep project.
- The 4-H’er must sign up for the Lottery Market Sheep project in which each exhibitor must read and sign a Lottery Sheep Agreement form and put down a deposit toward the purchase price of the sheep by the county deadline.
- All Lottery Sheep will be tagged, weighed and drawn for on the date they pick up their sheep. Weighing and identification will be conducted by the Buffalo County 4-H Youth Educator and members of the Sheep/Goat Project Action Team. Sheep will be identified with a scrapie tag.
Entry
- Eligible 4-H’ers will make entry on a Nebraska 4-H Market Sheep Ownership Affidavit.
Production Phase:
Eligibility
- Eligible 4-H’ers must submit their Buffalo County Pre-Fair entry form on or before July 2.
- Lottery Sheep will be ewes and wethers. The top two purples from each class will compete for the Division Champion and Reserve Lottery Sheep.
SCORING FOR OUTSTANDING LOTTERY SHEEP EXHIBITOR:
Attendance at educational programs – three meetings, 10 points apiece – 30 points
Average daily gain (ADG) calculated from date of getting the sheep to check in date of fair – 20 points
Lottery Sheep Showmanship (Show day) – 25 points. The judges will assign points at their discretion with a maximum of 25 points. It is possible for more than one animal to receive 25 points.
Interview highlighting what was learned through the project. – 10 points. It is possible for more than one youth to receive 10 points.
Live placing in show ring – 15 points. The judge will assign points at their discretion with a maximum of 15 points. It is possible for more than one animal to receive 15 points.
Lottery Sheep classes will be determined after the sheep have been weighed in on entry day. Champion and Reserve Champion of lottery sheep division will qualify for the regular market sheep show and compete for the overall Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Market Sheep.
G031000 Lottery Market Sheep
SHEEP SHOWMANSHIP
Purple, $3; Blue, $2; Red, $1.50; White, $1
Each showman must show his own animal and will enter the class corresponding to his age. The animal shown must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. The judge has the right to ask the showman to exhibit abilities to fit the animal.
*G030008 14 years and older (4-H age)
*G030007 11-13 years old (4-H age)
*G030006 8-10 years old (4-H age)