Kim Vanosdall, Superintendent
Jamie Koepke, Josh Koepke, and Stan Nathan, Assistant Superintendents
Awards:
Nathan Club Lambs (Justin, Torie, Stan, and Cindy Nathan, Hoskins) – Grand Champion Breeding Ewe
Rod Gilliland Family – In Memory of Bill Greve – Reserve Grand Champion Breeding Ewe
Northeast Nebraska Cattlemen – Grand Champion Market Lamb
Elkhorn Valley Bank and Trust - Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb.
Wayne County Farm Bureau - Champion Feeder Lamb
Blue Ribbon Winners 4-H Club - Reserve Champion Feeder Lamb
Premiums:
Sheep, Wool, and Club Pen Premiums: Purple $10.00, Blue $8.00, Red $6.00, White $4.00
Return Breeding Yearling Premiums: Purple $15.00, Blue $12.00, Red $9.00, White $6.00
General Information:
A. Animals should enter through the WEST GATE.
B. See 4-H/FFA Animals-General Rules and Animal Health Requirements, for specific health requirements and other rules pertaining to livestock entries.
C. Market lambs will not be divided by breed but may be divided according to weight into a reasonable number of animals to be determined by the Superintendent.
D. Entries must be made to the Nebraska Extension-Wayne County Office prior to the fair. See 4-H/FFA Animals-General rules.
E. All market sheep and breeding ewes must be tagged with a Scrapie tag. Registered breeding ewes must be identified with the tag/tattoo required by the various national sheep breed associations in their ears that coincide with registration papers to comply with State Fair rules. Exhibits must be owned by the club member showing. Each member must show his exhibit before the judge unless the Superintendent approves a substitute showman. Each individual exhibitor must have their own lamb for showmanship.
F. A ewe may be shown in the market class OR the breeding class but not in both classes.
G. Grooming – All beef, swine, sheep, and goats (showmanship, market, feeder, and breeding) will be shown Blow & Go. Animals may be clipped, blown, brushed, or combed to enhance their appearance. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products.
H. Market lambs may be ewes or wethers. Members are limited to three market lambs, one pen of three market lambs, three breeding sheep entries plus three feeder lambs. Maximum weight in the feeder lamb class is 94 pounds. Any animal 95 pounds or over will be shown in the market lamb class.
I. Exhibitors must indicate to the SCALE CLERK which lambs belong to them prior to final weigh-in.
J. Exhibitor may show all the pen of three lambs as individuals for a total of three market lambs. All three lambs must be market lambs.
K. Lambs may be shown either as market or breeding but not both.
L. Short Scrotum, cryptorchid, or ram lambs are not eligible for market classes. Wethers and ewes only.
M. Incentives for returning with previous year’s project - Any breeding yearling shown at the Wayne County Fair in 2026 will receive an additional 50% increase in premiums if the same sheep animal was shown at the 2025 Wayne County Fair as a breeding lamb. The ID forms must be marked RETURN to receive the increased premium.
Market Lambs
All market lambs will be in one class regardless of breed. Classes may be divided at the discretion of the superintendent. All market lambs are required to be born on or after December 1, 2025.
G-031-910 Market Lambs
G-031-940 Pen of three market lambs
(owned by one 4-H member; may be performance and/or market lambs)
G-031-960 Feeder Lambs
Market Lamb Club Pens
G-030-012 Club Pen of three fat lambs (owned by at least 2 exhibitors). Each club may have up to four pens.
Registered Breeding Classes - Registration papers must be shown to superintendent at check in. The registration paper must show the exhibitor’s name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family. For the State Fair they must also be listed with the online nomination in the official online database. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted for the State Fair and County Fair. Will be shown by breed.
G-032-901 Ewe Lamb (Born on or after 9/1/2025)
G-032-902 Yearling Ewes (Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025)
G-032-904 Ram Lamb (Born on or after 9/1/2025)
G-032-905 Ram over 1 Year (Born on or before 8/31/2025)
Grade or Crossbred Breeding Classes-Animals will be judged solely on their commercial meat’s traits. Breed type will not be considered. All breeds or crossbreds in this class shall compete against each other.
G-032-910 Ewe Lamb, grade (Born on or after 9/1/2025)
G-032-920 Yearling Ewes, grade (Born 9/1/2024 to 8/31/2025)
G-032-930 Ram Lamb, grade (Born on or after 9/1/2025)
G-032-940 Ram Lamb, over 1 year, grade (Born on or before 8/31/2025)
Wool-No lamb fleeces may be shown in wool class
G-032-921 One Fleece of Wool per member
SHEEP SHOWMANSHIP
Awards:
Klein Electric (Mark Klein, Wakefield) - Champion Senior Sheep Showman
Elaine Greve, Wayne - Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman
Farm Credit Services of America - Champion Junior Sheep Showman
Hoskins Mfg. Co., Inc. - Reserve Champion Senior, Intermediate and Junior Showmanship
Premiums: Purple $4.50, Blue $4.00, Red $3.50, White $3.00
General Information:
A. Exhibitors must show his or her own animals in showmanship and must show within designated age classes. Age divisions are as of December 31, of the previous year.
B. Dress Code: See 4-H/FFA Animals-General Rules. Tennis shoes are acceptable.
C. Grooming – All beef, swine, sheep, and goats (showmanship, market, feeder, and breeding) will be shown Blow & Go. Animals may be clipped, blown, brushed, or combed to enhance their appearance. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products.
Sheep Showmanship classes:
G-030-009 Junior Showmanship (8, 9 and 10 yrs. old)
G-030-010 Intermediate Showmanship (11, 12 & 13 yrs. old)
G-030-011 Senior Showmanship (14 yrs. & older)