From
sheep shearing competitions to wool shows and sheep lead contests to breeding
sheep exhibitions, the National Western Stock Show offers a variety of
events to showcase one of the largest segments of the western livestock
industry.
Known for their ability to graze in poor conditions, sheep are popular
with farmers in the arid, almost desert-like, climates of the western
United States. In addition to producing two marketable products, meat
and wool, they also are raised with a lower overhead budget than most
cattle.
A standard at the National Western Stock Show since it first years, sheep
and wool events continue to make up a major segment of the West's premier
livestock exhibition.
The 2009 National Western breeding sheep show features nine popular wool
and meat breeds exhibiting their best quality stock of rams, ewes and
lambs.
Columbia, Corriedale and Rambouillet breeds show Jan. 24, while Southdown, Dorset, Hampshire and Suffolk breeds exhibit Jan. 25. Also included in the sheep competition are Natural Colored Sheep and White Hand-Spinning Sheep, which are judged both on conformation and wool Jan. 24.
The sheep lead contest, where a sheep and its exhibitor are judged on
appearance, is Jan. 24.
The International Open Sheep Shearing and Junior Sheep Shearing contest is Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. on the lower level of the Stadium Hall.
Contestants are judged on time, condition of fleece, absence of second cuts in fleece, manner of handling sheep, absence of cuts on sheep, appearance of shorn sheep. Each professional contestant shears four sheep, and each junior shears three sheep. The international contest draws the top shearers from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The competition originated in Chicago in the early 1940s and moved to
the National Western Stock Show in 1975 from Indiana State Fair, where
it had been held for several years.
(Exhibitors may visit the Exhibitor Premium Book page for entry information)