Sheep
Superintendents | Telephone Number | Email Address |
|---|---|---|
Kim Giroux | 765–426–6679 |
MANUALS (Manuals are not required but can be used as resources.)
Level 1, Lambs, Rams, and You - Grades 3—5
Level 2, Shear Delight - Grades 6—8
Level 3, Leading The Flock - Grades 9 –12
Exhibit Options: Members may choose to exhibit any combination of live animals, a poster and\or present a Project Interact detailing some aspect of the project. The poster and Project Interact options may be in place of or in addition to the live animal exhibit. For information on Animal Posters please see the guidelines under the Animal Education project section of this handbook. Poster projects are entered during pre-fair judging weeks. Please refer to the pre-fair schedule for specific dates and times for Animal Education check-in. Members wishing to give a Project Interact are to setup a suitable time with the project superintendent(s).
GENERAL RULES
4-H members must enroll in the sheep project before January 15 on 4-H Online.
Each exhibitor must enroll their animals on the state 4-HOnline animal enrollment website to compete in any class at the county and/or state fair. This must be done by May 15, and stay under same continuous ownership through the sheep show, 4-H Fair Livestock Auction. 4-H exhibitors may enroll not more than 10 wethers, 10 yearling ewes and 10 ewe lambs on the State Enrollment form to be eligible for county and Indiana State Fair. These animals must be identified, owned, and under the care of the 4-H exhibitor prior to May 15 entry deadline. All sheep can go on same form.
All market lambs, going to the county fair only must be tagged with an RFID and a county tag, by the County Sheep Committee before the May 15 deadline. All commercial and purebred ewes going to county fair only, do not need to be tagged by the County Sheep Committee before the May 15 deadline. They must still be entered into 4-H Online, by May 15 deadline, using their registration/scrapie tag number.
All market lambs, commercial and purebred ewes, going to the state fair, must submit a DNA hair sample by May 15 and be tagged as shown in the picture examples below. Registered ewes going to state fair must have tag from registration paper, RFID tag and submit DNA hair sample. All commercial ewes must be identified with scrapie eartag and submit DNA hair sample. Scrapie tag must be in the ear before coming to May check in dates. Market lambs younger than 18 months of age may be identified using any form of permanent identification. Market lambs going to state fair, must be tagged with a yellow county tag, and RFID tag, and must submit DNA hair sample Communication will be sent to all enrolled sheep members designating the date and time for identification. Tags will only be distributed at the schedule tagging days.
All market lambs must be under 1 year of age on show day and still have their lamb’s teeth in tact.
All ewes shown in purebred classes must be eligible for registry.
Commercial ewes will be weighed along with the market lambs and will be shown by weight. Classes will be divided at the discretion of the superintendent. If you plan to sell a purebred ewe lamb (No yearlings) in the auction, we will need to weigh it at check in. Any purebred ewes not weighed during check in will not be eligible to sell in the auction.
A 4-H exhibitor may show a maximum of 6 ewes.
Fall lambs are any lambs born on September 1st to December 31st and Spring lambs are any lambs born on January 1st or later.
Breeding ewes may be shown in the ring by two exhibitors. If two exhibitors are used the 4-H exhibitor who owns the ewe being shown must hold the ewe’s head. Both exhibitors must be must be current 4-H members that show in Tippecanoe County. Market lambs are only allowed one exhibitor.
All market lambs and all slick shorn ewes must be shorn to a uniform length of 1/8” inch or less between hock/knee and ears. This includes wool/hair on top knot, face and below hock/knee can be kept at a length to comply with breed characteristics. NO belly wool is allowed. Anyone who enters the ring with belly wool will be disqualified and asked to leave the show ring immediately.
Exhibitors in the Market Lamb show may exhibit a total of four market lambs.
Market lambs must be ewe lambs or wethers. No rams will be shown.
Market lambs will be shown by breed and divided into weight classes at the discretion of the superintendent. A breed determination committee will decide class eligibility at time of weighing at county fair.
Commercial market lambs will show as white face/mixed or blackface/mixed commercial class. .
Each exhibitor is responsible for keeping pens and aisle area clean at all times
Lambs sifted out due to lack of proper breed characteristics will show in the Commercial Breed Class.
All market lamb exhibitors are encouraged to enter the Rate-of-Gain Contest complying with the following rules: Lambs will be weighed at the time of nose printing and again at the fair weigh in. The total pounds of weight gained divided by the number of days between nose printing and the fair weigh in will determine the average daily gain. The lamb with the best average daily gain will be declared the winner.
Each member may show only those animals listed on his/her form, except under adverse conditions, as determined by the superintendent.
Tampering, misrepresentation, conduct, drugs, pumping, forced filling, etc. are not allowed. Animals painted or colored by any means that alters or misrepresents breed characteristics will be penalized under the fraud and deception rules. Artificial hair is not allowed. The use of drench guns for hydration purposes is allowed.
Muzzles are not allowed.
All lambs must stay within 50 feet of the barn at all times.
A whiteface commercial market lamb must be the offspring of at least one whiteface parent (either the sire or the dam). The lamb must show white hair on its head (including the ears), and show some evidence of speckling pattern on its ears, face, jaw, flank or legs.”
Bedding in the sheep barn must be straw or wood shavings, preferably wood shavings. Tan bark IS NOT allowed as a bedding substance. Mulch is allowed.
Each 4-H member must declare his/her sheep when entered at check in. Ownership must remain the same through the 4-H sheep show, the 4-H livestock auction.
Each member may show only those animals enrolled on his/her form, unless they have multiple sheep in the same class or under adverse conditions, as determined by the superintendent. 4-H members must show their own animals in showmanship.
A pen fee will be charged at check in, as set forth by the Exhibit Association. The amount will be announced prior to check in.
Superintendents have the right to address issues concerning the health and well-being of all involved in the sheep project.
All medications, oral or injected, must be approved by the superintendents prior to being given. If found to be given without approval it will result in immediate automatic dismissal from the show and auction/pool and the 4-H member will be unable to participate in the sheep program the following year(s). Superintendents, in conjunction with the Executive committee and 4-H educator, reserve the right as a group to finalize or clarify any previous stated rule. Each situation will be handled individually in a professional manner.
A born and bred division will be offered for Purebred Ewes. White face and black face commercial ewes are not eligible. Champion and Reserve Champion Born and Bred Ewe will be chosen. This selection will take place directly following the ewe day show, before market lambs. Ewe must place 1st-5th in class to be eligible to compete for Born and Bred Champion. Exhibitor will be informed if they are eligible. The Champion and Reserve Born and Bred Ewe will not show for Overall Top 5 Ewes unless it has already been selected for an individual breed champion. No registration papers for ewes are required.
The process to enter this division is as follows:
Exhibitor must indicate on Fair Entry the ewe is entering the Born and Bred division and also confirm with the superintendent at fair check-in you are entering the division. The ewe must have been born on your farm.
SHEEP BARN CURFEW
The sheep barn will be closed at 11:00 pm and will open at 5:00am the two days prior to the Sheep Show. If anyone is found in the sheep barn between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am on above listed days, without prior superintendent approval, it will result in immediate automatic dismissal from the show for the exhibitor(s) impacted. Special arrangements must be made with ALL superintendent’s approval and notification. Emergency situations will be handled on a case by case basis
AWARDS
Herbert D. McCormick Memorial 4-H Shepherd Achievement Award. To be presented to the 4-H member (5th year and higher in the 4-H Sheep project) scoring the best on the formula devised by the McCormick Family. The formula takes into account placings and number of classes entered. A weighting system is utilized as a balance for number of animals exhibited. Mr. McCormick and Family has sponsored this award since 1957.
Shining Star Award - In Honor of Braylie Kellogg