How to Show Sheep as a 4-H Project

4-H is an agricultural youth organization for children in third through twelfth grade. Children learn how to breed, raise, and train a variety of animals including sheep, cows, horses, rabbits and pigs. The children are responsible for the care and well-being of their assigned animal throughout the year. Sheep are shown at local shows and competitions. County and state fairs are the primary places that children show and display their animals. Sheep can be raised for either the 4-H sheep-breeding project or for the market lamb project.

Things You'll Need

  • Sheep
  • ID tag
  • halter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Become a member of your local 4-H organization. Members attend regular meetings and classes to learn about the care, development and characteristics of sheep.

    • 2

      Purchase or lease a sheep for your 4-H project. Sheep must be over four months and less than two years of age to be eligible.

    • 3

      Obtain the proper identification and vaccinations for your sheep. Your sheep must have a rabies vaccine. Additional vaccinations are required in certain localities. Sheep must also have a permanent ID or scrapie tag in their ears. For the sheep-breeding project, members are responsible for the care of the sheep until they are about 14 to 16 months old.

    • 4

      Spend time exercising and training your sheep.
      Sheep should be walked for at least 15 minutes per day. Your sheep should also be halter broke. Use a halter to tie your sheep to a post to secure him during bathing. You should always bath and shear your sheep before presenting him at a show.

    • 5

      Present your sheep to be judged at a local competition. Your sheep should brace when he is being inspected by the judge. His head should be erect and his feet placed squarely under his body and flat on the ground while his body, head and neck form a straight line. Do not obstruct the judge's view when he is examining your sheep. Sheep are judged on appearance, behavior, physical characteristics of the particular breed, plus the relationship between the animal and the handler. Judges will evaluate the grooming, coloring, body size, structural correctness, muscle structure and stance of the sheep.