Home > Exhibitors / Contestants > Sheep Information

Sheep Information

Champion Market Lamb Madison Rule from Hawarden, IA, Grand Champion Market Lamb scholarship/award $6,250 by Great Western Bank and Koepke Cattle Company

Reserve Champion Market Lamb Colby Williams from Mabel, MN, Reserve Champion Market Lamb scholarship/award $5,000 by Grand Island Hospitality Group

3rd Overall Market Lamb Sam Schmillen from Marcus, IA, 3rd Overall Market Lamb scholarship/award $2,100 by Edgar Reynolds Foundation

Market Sheep Show

All market sheep must be identified by a scrapies tag.
Market sheep, ewes and wethers are eligible have DNA sent in on.
Cryptorchid market sheep are not eligible to be nominated for the Show.
All market sheep that make the auction must go to harvest.
Decisions to send market sheep to harvest must be made at check-in.
Positive identification is required on all market sheep entries.
Positive identification is achieved by submitting DNA hair samples from all sheep that are being considered for exhibition forms by July 1^st.
Submission of DNA does not qualify as an entry.
Weight Declaration
- Exhibitors will self-declare the market sheep’s weight(s) utilizing a weigh-card system. All weigh-cards will be due at check-in.
- Show management reserves the right to re-weigh first, second and third place animals, randoms and/or division winners. A 5 lb. variance from the weigh-card weight will be allowed. Animals not meeting the 5 lb. variance either above or below the weigh-card weight will be disqualified and not be eligible for any champion awards.
- The minimum weight for market sheep will be 115 pounds with no maximum weight limit. Sheep weighing less than 115 pounds will be ineligible for further competition and will not receive a premium. These sheep MAY still be sold to harvest.
- Sheep must have all blankets pulled at the time of check-in.
- No changes will be allowed to the weigh-card once submitted.
Show Structure
- Market sheep classes, ewes and wethers will be shown together.
- Sheep will show light to heavy weight.
- Show program will be posted after check-in.
- Show management will re-weigh the first and seconds (possible additional). A 5 lb. variance from weigh-card weight will be allowed. Animals not meeting the 5 lb. variance either above or below the weigh-card weight will be disqualified.
- The top two animals from each class will compete for Division Champion and Reserve Division Champion. The Division Champion and Reserve Division Champion will compete for Grand Champion Market Sheep and Reserve Grand Champion Market Sheep. The Champion Lamb Challenge “Live” Sheep will compete for Grand Champion Market Sheep.
- Eight market sheep will be selected for sale in the Purple Ribbon Auction (eight head). They include; Grand Champion Market Sheep, Reserve Grand Champion Market Sheep, plus six head as lined up in the show ring by the official Judge with the support of the Stock Show Management
- Vet Check will be placed prior to the staging area of the Market Sheep Show and Breeding Ewe Show. Vets will be checking for Club Sheep Fungus. If fungus is found, the sheep will be ineligible to show.
- INSERT top 8 selection process.
Release Time
- Market sheep will be released at the conclusion of the Market Sheep Show. Any violation of release rules will result in all premiums withheld and may be barred from future competition.
Class
- Market Sheep
Visual Classifications
- Hamp, Suffolk, White Face, White Breed Influenced, Southdowns and Natural Color
Loadout
- Loadout time and location for market sheep will be posted at the livestock office.
- It is the responsibility of all exhibitors to ensure that sheep designated for harvest at check-in are put in the designated holding area to be loaded onto the trucks.
- Failure to comply with load out procedures will result in the withholding of premium monies and the exhibitor may be disqualified.

Breeding Ewe Show

To be eligible for exhibition, breeding ewes must be registered by the official breed association in the name of the youth by July 1^st.
All breeding ewes must be identified with an official USDA scrapie identification tag.
Registration papers should be presented at check-in. Animals whose registration papers are not approved or are still pending will show in the commercial class.
Only breeding ewes recognized as registered and eligible to show by their respective breed associations will be allowed to compete in the breed classes.
To be eligible for the commercial breeding ewe class, each ewe must have a known birthdate and be identified by an official USDA scrapie identification tag.
Exhibitor changes of an animal from a breed class to the commercial class will not be allowed after the official entry deadline.
Show Structure
- Entries in the Breeding Ewe Show will be divided by breeds and then by age within the breed. Class sizes will be determined by Show officials based on the number of animals at check-in.
- Any registered ewes not meeting breed requirements or other eligibility rules will go into the Commercial class.
- Breeds with less than five (5) head may all show in one class. They will enter the ring by age. Show management may combine classes until they reach a minimum class size deemed appropriate.
- The top two animals from each class will compete for Division Champion and Reserve Division Champion of their respective breed.
- Each breed’s Division Champion and Reserve Division Champion will compete for Supreme Champion Breeding Ewe, Reserve Champion Breeding Ewe.
- Vet Check will be placed prior to the staging area of the Market Sheep Show and Breeding Ewe Show. Vets will be checking for Club Sheep Fungus. If fungus is found, the sheep will be ineligible to show.
Release Time
- Breeding ewes will be release at the conclusion of the Breeding Ewe Show. Any violation of release rules will result in all premiums withheld and may be barred from future competition.
Class
- Breeding Ewe
Divisions
- Dorset, Dorset Advantage, Hampshire, Shropshire, Southdown, Suffolk, AOB, Commercial
Age Classifications (classes will be split based age range/number of entries)
- Yearling Ewes – January 1, 2019 – August 30^th, 2019
- Fall Ewes – Lambed September 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019
- Spring Ewes – Lambed January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020