Show Sheep Beginnings

[Margali]

Cassandra will be 6 mid August and desparately wants to show sheeps. I am willing to help her show Mocha, our new registered Katahdin ewe.

This thread will follow our progress. We are starting with getting Mocha used to us handling her all over. I found plenty of videos about leading sheep and posing them. I need advice on the admin side:
-How do you tell how old child needs to be at a show?
-A terminal or auction show means sheep don't come home. Are there any other terms to avoid?
-Does AOB mean All Other Breeds? Is it worth trying to show a katahdin in that class?
@Show Sebright @Ridgetop @Legamin @BrahmerQueen

1ST SHOW: GAIL CHRISTIAN LEGACY BUCKLE SHOW Oct 29th, Stephenville Texas
COSTUME DESIGN

 

[Ridgetop]

Rules are different depending on whether you are referring to Fairs, market livestock, and breed shows. Each organization regulates itself.

You need to check with your local fair rules and also with the state and county rules governing fairs in your state and county. You can do this either online, or request a printed copy of the rues from the different Fairs.

Most fairs will not allow a child to show large livestock under 9 years old. The child must turn 9 by the first of the year that the show is held. Small stock can be entered by children age 5 and older.

Large livestock classifications are sheep, goats (market and dairy), cattle, equines, etc.
Small stock includes poultry and rabbits.

4-H will not allow youth under 9 to show large livestock. FFA is middle school and high school so have no worries there. Grange has different age limitations but all organizations and fairs must abide by the State, County and Local Rules, whichever is stricter.

All work, feeding, pen cleaning, moving the animal, shearing, hoof clipping, etc. in a youth show MUST be done by the child. If the parent needs to shear the animal do it at home before bringing the animal to the Fair. If parents fit the animal at the Fair, or are doing the work, it can be grounds for a complaint and disqualification.

Breeding shows are governed by the breed/species organizations putting on the show. They do not have age rules about exhibitors as long as the child can physically restrain the animal. Breeding shows are for registered animals of that species or breed. However, remember that the exhibitors at breeding shows are there to win because this increases the value of their animals. They will be less receptive to a child that can't control her animal or upsets the show. Large breed shows in some species are business for some of these breeders. However, many of these breeding shows also have youth shows where children can enter and are cut some slack. They also often have showmanship tips and seminars.

At this point, I would encourage Cassandra to halter break the 6 month old ewe and work with her. Have her do as much of the sheep work as possible since that will get her familiar with doing it when she goes to an actual show.

One problem with sheep shows is that they only have 3 age classes for sheep. Early lambs, late lambs and yearlings. Occasionally they have a stud ram class. Ewes are expected to be in the field lambing after yearling age. Dairy goats and cows have a much longer show life since most of their judging points are based on dairy structure and udder development - which can't be judged until they are in milk.

Go ahead and work with Cassandra on showmanship with her ewe since everything she learns now will be used when she goes to a show with other registered sheep. To find sheep shows, go online. Most of them are advertised. There is a large livestock show in Fort Worth every year and lots of other sheep shows around TX so start taking her to shows to watch the exhibitors and how the sheep are shown.

By the way, market lambs are shown without a halter by only the exhibiting child. Breeding sheep shows allow 2 persons in the ring - one to lead the lamb on halter and stack it up in front, the second to stack the rear legs and help. Go figure! LOL

 

[Show Sebright]

How do you tell how old child needs to be at a show?
Raven show I’ll have a rule book that states the age.
-A terminal or auction show means sheep don't come home. Are there any other terms to avoid?
Yes, those shows are for market animals only. You will not get your sheep back. Make sure you enter in shows with the correct class. Some shows are hair only and others are all breeds.
-Does AOB mean All Other Breeds? Is it worth trying to show a katahdin in that class?
Not sure about this one. I do market lambs.

Winch you kid is so younge you can show the lamb with a halter on for her to have a easy way to grab hold. When she gets older or more competitive she can’t use a halter.

 

[BrahmerQueen]

Cassandra will be 6 mid August and desparately wants to show sheeps. I am willing to help her show Mocha, our new registered Katahdin ewe.

This thread will follow our progress. We are starting with getting Mocha used to us handling her all over. I found plenty of videos about leading sheep and posing them. I need advice on the admin side:
-How do you tell how old child needs to be at a show?

At 4h shows here you have to 8 on September 1st. At jackpot shows they will kids younger than Cassandra show and they are allowed to use a halter but I'm not sure about help in the ring if you can find shows that you would go to now and get the rules, that way you know if she is old enough, if she has to be in 4h to show at this one even if it's an open class etc

-A terminal or auction show means sheep don't come home. Are there any other terms to avoid?

Not any that I can think of you would be entering your sheep in a open/jackpot/breeding show

-Does AOB mean All Other Breeds?

Yes

Is it worth trying to show a katahdin in that class?

I'm not sure. It depends on the quality of your sheep. If there is a hair ewe class by all means enter her in that if AOB is the only option then do that. And some shows don't do divisions just ewe show so she might be going against black face cross ewes depending on what show it is.

@Show Sebright @Ridgetop @Legamin @BrahmerQueen

 

[BrahmerQueen]

@Poka_Doodle

 

[Margali]

I was looking at this one that close by.

Junior Lamb Show

www.ntfair.com

The registration doesn't ask for age and neither does rules. The sanctioned group just says <9 as novice. 🤷‍♀️

 

[BrahmerQueen]

I was looking at this one that close by.

Junior Lamb Show

www.ntfair.com

The registration doesn't ask for age and neither does rules. The sanctioned group just says <9 as novice. 🤷‍♀️

I don't see why you couldn't do it but if you are you need to start working with the ewe now if you haven't already

 

[Ridgetop]

$45 per head/class is pretty high entry fee. Sounds like a big show. And hot in the middle of summer. Breeding shows are also held during the spring and fall when the weather is more pleasant. For her first show you might want to look for a smaller show or wait a year while she learns to handle and show the ewe. Hate to see the little ones get discouraged or worried about going into the ring alone at a big show without experience or training. It can often turn them against livestock shows. If you have never shown livestock, I suggest you check with 4-H clubs or FFA groups near you with older kids that show who can help her with showmanship instruction before going to any show. Showing is fun but can be stressful for you as well as her.

You will need a "sheep sweater" to put the sheep in after bathing. It helps keep them clean since you can't bed on straw in most Fairs and they often eat the shavings since you don't free feed them at shows. Other equipment to take will be shovels, rakes, muck buckets, water buckets, and hay feeders, etc. Also folding chairs, and a cooler with plenty of water bottles for yourselves. Also lunch since Fair food is expensive and not always good. You may be required to clean out your pens after the show and certainly will want to clean out the pen during a multi day show.

Or you can just go to a couple Fairs and shows first to see how things are done. Take chairs, water, food and have fun.

 

[Margali]

@BrahmerQueen Opps, I didn't mean have her show there in August. I meant go watch this year and plan to try next year/ similar shows later this year. That was example of rules and the shows I was finding local-ish.

@Ridgetop We've tried going to the local 4H group for multiple meeting this spring. Introduced ourselves, helped setup/ teardown tables and chairs. Unless I cornered someone, no one would talk to us. 🤷‍♀️ And the summer meeting were basically role call of who went where and what they won. This school year we are going to try next town over...

 

[Show Sebright]

@BrahmerQueen Opps, I didn't mean have her show there in August. I meant go watch this year and plan to try next year/ similar shows later this year. That was example of rules and the shows I was finding local-ish.

@Ridgetop We've tried going to the local 4H group for multiple meeting this spring. Introduced ourselves, helped setup/ teardown tables and chairs. Unless I cornered someone, no one would talk to us. 🤷‍♀️ And the summer meeting were basically role call of who went where and what they won. This school year we are going to try next town over...

Maybe you have a local online 4h? We have 2 in orange county