General Rules – Sheep Show
A. Number of Entries per Individual – An exhibitor may show a maximum of 6 sheep, limit of three entries per class. Showmanship and pen of three classes do not count as an entry.
B. Identification and Pre-Entry
Note: All ewes (market and breeding) and rams must be individually identified with USDA Official ID (part of the scrapie eradication program). This is in addition to the official 4-H ear tag. Each family must have their own tags. Tags cannot be shared with other exhibitors.
Market Sheep – All market lambs must be ear tagged with the official 4-H ear tag/scrapie tag and if going to State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben have DNA envelopes and online nomination. Contact the Extension Office for this. All identification of market sheep must be documented on a Sheep Pre-Entry/ID form and submitted to the Extension Office by June 15.
Breeding Sheep – All breeding ewes must be ear tagged with the official 4-H ear tag/scrapie tag or be tattooed and if going to State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben have DNA envelopes and the online nomination completed. A Sheep Pre-Entry/ID form must be submitted to the Extension Office by closing June 15.
C. Health Requirements – See General Animal Requirements
D. Showmanship – See General Animal Showmanship Rules. Also see Round Robin Rules. 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 feet off the ground, are not acceptable. Exhibitors displaying such practices may be given one warning. A second offence may result in the lowering of a ribbon placing or forfeit of class premiums.
E. Dress Code – See General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
F. Certification of Drug Use and Withdrawal – See General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
G. Livestock Quality Assurance (YQCA) See General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
H. Grooming Rules – See General Livestock Rules and Regulations.
1. All sheep must be slick shorn within the last 30 days of the show.
I. Market Sheep Rules
1. General Rules – See above General Rules – Sheep Show.
2. All market lambs (ewes and wethers) must be born after January 1 of the current year.
3. Weight Eligibility – To be eligible to show in the market class, lambs must weigh 90 pounds or more on entry day. A lamb weighing less than 90 pounds must show in the feeder class and is not eligible to show for champion market lamb.
4. Wether and ewe lambs will show together depending on numbers. Short scrotum, cryptorchid or ram lambs are not eligible as market lambs. Male lamb cannot be intact (meaning the sack has fallen off)
5. Market lamb classes will be divided into light, medium and heavy weights.
6. A Champion and reserve champion market lamb will be selected from the class winners or division champions.
7. Class breaks will be determined by weight. Market lambs will be judged from lightest to heaviest.
J. Breeding Sheep Rules
1. General Rules – See above General Rules – Sheep Show.
2. Ewes or rams born January 1 or after of the current year are classed as lambs. Ewes born during the preceding year are classed as yearlings.
3. Grade and commercial animals will be shown together.
4. No individual sheep may show in both a breeding and market class.
Sheep Showmanship
SF) G130910 Senior Division – 14 years and older
SF) G130920 Intermediate Division – 11 to 13 years
SF) G130930 Junior Division – 8 to 10 years
Market Lambs
SF) G131910 Feeder Lambs (All Breeds) (89 lbs or less)
SF) G131920 Market Lambs (All Breeds) (90 lbs or more) ewes
SF) G131925 Market Lambs (All Breeds) 90 lbs or more) wethers
C) G131930 Pen of 3 Market Lambs (Must be from the same exhibitor)
Ewes (Commercial/Registered)
SF) G133910 Spring Lamb Ewe (Born January – May, this year)
SF) G133920 Fall Lamb Ewe (Born June – December of last year)
SF) G133930 Yearling Ewe (Born January – May, last year)
SF) G133940 Yearling Ewe (Born June – December 2 years ago)
C) G133950 Aged Ewe (2 years & older)
C) G133980 Family Flock – one ram lamb, one ewe lamb and one yearling or aged ewe
Rams (Commercial)
C) G135910 Ram Lamb (under 1 year)