7220 Wool Invitational

7220 Wool Judging Contest | 4H/FFA Contest Information

*Contest Rules adapted from National Western Stock Show*

Albany County Fairgrounds: 3510 South Third Street, Laramie, WY, 82070

LREC Wool Lab: 470 WY-230, Laramie, WY, 82070

**no lunch will be provided, please have teams eat before the contest begins

1. 1.     The 4H/FFA Contest will take place Tuesday, January 10^th, 2023 and will begin at 12:00pm. Contestants should report to the Albany County Fairgrounds between 11:15am and 11:45am.
2. There will be NO COACHES MEETING
   1. A practice will be held from 12:00pm – 6:00pm on Monday, January 9^th, 2023, at the LREC Wool Lab. At least 1 rail and 2 classes will be provided.
   2. Each County/Chapter may enter a maximum of two Wool Judging Teams comprised of a maximum of four (4) members and a minimum of three (3) members. The scores of the three (3) high scoring individuals on each team will be totaled for the team score.
   3. Each County/Chapter may enter an unlimited number of alternates not designated as part of that County/Chapter’s team(s). Alternates will be eligible for individual awards, but not team awards.
   4. Eligibility:
      1. Wool judging contestants cannot enter the floor of the judging area prior to the contest.
      2. Only officials of the contest will be allowed on the floor area of the contest. All others are required to have the permission of the Superintendent to enter the contest area.
      3. 4H and FFA will not be split into two separate contests and will compete for the same team and individual awards.
      4. d.    Contestants will be split into 3 divisions: Junior, Intermediate, Senior/FFA.
         1. i.       Junior: between 8-10 years of age as of December 31^st, 2022.
         2. ii.      Intermediate: between 11-13 years of age as of December 31^st, 2022.
         3. iii.       Senior: between 14-18 years of age as of December 31^st, 2022, or a participating as an FFA member.
         4. The Contest will be judged as follows
            1. Classes: Ten (10) minutes will be allowed for the placing of each class of four (4) fleeces. Contestants will be asked to stand back one minute at the beginning and one minute at the end of the class to observe.
               1. Three (3) classes of breed fleeces. Fleeces to be placed on the basis of breed requirements.
               2. Three (3) classes of commercial fleeces. Fleeces to be placed according to commercial requirements.
   5. Reasons/Questions
      1. Seniors/Intermediates: Two (2) sets of oral reasons will be given from 2 of the classes listed above; each set is worth up to 50 points.
      2. Juniors/Intermediates: Two (2) sets of questions will be asked on 2 of the classes listed above; each set is worth up to 50 points.
      3. Intermediates can choose whether to participate in the reasons or questions portions of the contest.
   6. Grading Rail: Fifteen (15) fleeces will be scored for grade (spinning counts), length, character, purity and yield. A maximum of forty-five (45) minutes will be allowed: (2) minutes per fleece and eight (8) minutes to re-examine any or all of the fifteen (15) fleeces. Contestants will submit their findings on an official grading sheet at the end of the rail. The Grading Rail is worth up to 300 points.
   7. A tie or ties for High Team or High Individual (overall) will be broken on the fifteen (15) fleece grading rail. Placing ties will be broken by reasons and total scores will break grading ties. Reasons will be broken on the lowest placing score, then on grading.