Sheep

Rules

  1. General Rules - Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules and Regulations apply to this department. It is strongly encouraged that all exhibitors read and understand the Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules and Regulations and Livestock Health Requirements. These documents can be found at the Nebraska State Fair website. 
  2. Health Requirements - See Health Requirements for Animals Exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair for additional information. 
  3. Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) - Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). Refer to the Nebraska State Fair General Rules and Regulations for additional information. 
  4. Show Entry - For purposes of exhibition, an animal can be nominated for the State Fair in both 4-H and FFA but only shown in one organization or the other, not both. 
  5. Entry Deadline - All applications for an entry must be made online at www.statefair.org. All 4-H entries must be made through the State Fair website by 8:00 PM CT on August 10. 
  6. Number of Exhibits per Exhibitor - A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 4 sheep. 
  7. Show Schedule - See Nebraska State Fair Livestock Schedule for arrival, check-in and show times and dates. 
  8. Dress Code - When showing animals, exhibitors must wear the official State Fair 4-H shirt. No exhibitor number harnesses may be worn. Blue jeans are appropriate. Hats shall not be worn in the show ring. 
  9. Showmanship - All 4-H exhibitors are automatically registered but not required to show in Showmanship. Exhibitors must show their own animal, and the animal must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. See additional guidelines and information in the Showmanship section below. Review the Nebraska State Fair Schedule for times and dates. 
  10. Substitutions - Any animal may be substituted for an animal within the species that has been properly nominated on the exhibitor’s online nomination database list. 
  11. Substitutions - Any animal may be substituted for an animal within the species that has been properly nominated on the exhibitor’s online nomination database list. 
  12. Grooming - All beef, swine, sheep, and goats (showmanship, market and breeding) will be shown Blow & Go. Animals may be clipped, blown, brushed or combed to enhance their appearance. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products. Reference the Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules and Regulations for specific guidelines. 
  13. Toweling Protocol - All livestock will be subject to visual inspection and/or toweling for the presence of adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products. A toweling inspection will be incorporated for all 1st and 2nd place class winners (showmanship, breeding, market). The 3rd place class winner may be requested back if the 1st or 2nd place class winner does not pass inspection. All animals entering the Final Drive will be subject to a toweling inspection before entering the show ring. Toweling of the animal may include but is not limited to the topline, legs, chest, belly and flank. If, after inspection, the animal is found to have adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products applied it will be disqualified from competition. Any premiums (physical or monetary) will be forfeited, and no refunds will be made. 
  14. Showing & Handling Practices - The use of showing and/or handling practices that may be considered objectionable or abusive, such as striking or slapping lambs and exhibiting the lamb with its front feet off the ground, are not acceptable. The use of such practices may result in the lowering of a ribbon placing. (Lifting the lamb in a fluid motion to set the front legs prior to quickly setting the feet back on the ground is acceptable.) Spike collars are not acceptable and will result in the lowering of a ribbon placing. 
  15. Club Lamb Fungus Inspection - All sheep exhibits (breeding and market) may be checked by a veterinarian for evidence of club lamb fungus at any time during the fair. Exhibits determined to have "active" club lamb fungus will not be eligible to show and will be sent home or put in quarantine. 
  16. Awards - Exhibitors will receive awards for the Division Champions, Reserve Division Champions, Grand Champion Overall, Reserve Grand Champion Overall, and 3rd Overall. Only entries receiving a purple ribbon are eligible to receive champion and reserve awards. 
  17. Release of Exhibits - All animals will be released according to the Nebraska State Fair release schedule. 

State Fair Eligibility

  • Youth must be enrolled in 4-H by June 15 of the current year.
  • A 4-H member must be 8 before January 1, of the current year, or becomes 9 years of age during the current year. The last year of eligibility is the calendar year the member becomes 19.

Identification & Nomination

All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves. Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal. 4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on June 15, 2025.

Refer to the State Fair Livestock Identification and Nomination Requirements for additional information on exhibitor eligibility at the State Fair.

State Fair Entry Limit

A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 4 sheep.

Division: Breeding Ewes 

Class

Ewe Lambs (Born 9/1/2024 and after) 

  • G032020 - All Wool Breeds 
  • G032040 - Dorset Ewes 
  • G032060 - Hampshire Ewes 
  • G032080 - Southdown Ewes 
  • G032100 - Suffolk Ewes 
  • G032150 - All Hair Breeds 
  • G032120 - All Other Registered Meat Breeds 
  • G032140 - Commercial Meat Breeds 

 Yearling Ewes (Born 9/1/2023 to 8/31/2024) 

  • G032021 - All Wool Breeds 
  • G032041 - Dorset Ewes 
  • G032061 - Hampshire Ewes 
  • G032081 - Southdown Ewes 
  • G032101 - Suffolk Ewes 
  • G032151 - All Hair Breeds 
  • G032121 - All Other Registered Meat Breeds 
  • G032141 - Commercial Meat Breeds 
Rules
  1. Breeding Sheep Identification Requirements - All breeding sheep to be shown at State Fair must be tagged with a USDA official scrapie ID, owned by the exhibitor, completed the online nomination with payment through the official online database, and have the DNA collector envelope with hair sample submitted to their County Extension office by June 15. 
  2. Age Classification of Breeding Ewes - Ewes born September 1, 2024, or after are classed as lambs. Ewes born between 9/1/2023 and 8/31/2024 will be classed as yearlings. Ewes born prior to 9/1/2023 are ineligible to show. All ewe lambs must have all temporary teeth present. Yearling ewes can have yearling teeth but cannot have two-year-old teeth. All breeding ewes may be subject to mouthing to verify age. Breeding ewes found to be in violation will be disqualified. Any premiums (physical or monetary) will be forfeited, and no refunds will be made. 
  3. Dual Eligibility (Market and Breeding) - Ewes may be eligible as both market and breeding, provided a DNA collector envelope with hair samples have been submitted to the County Extension office, and the completed online nomination with payment includes all required identification information for both a market and breeding animal by June 15. This option does not allow the animal to be shown in both market and breeding at the same show. 
  4. Classes may be divided at discretion of show management.  
  5. ORIGINAL REGISTRATION PAPERS MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF CHECK IN. The registration paper must show the exhibitor's name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor's family and is listed with the online nomination in the official online database. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted. Original registration papers or electronic documents presented using a tablet or smart phone will be accepted if pulled up from their respective breed website. NO PRINTED PAPER COPIES OR SCREENSHOTS ACCEPTED. If registration papers are not presented, entry will be moved into the commercial division. 
  6. Minimum Entries for Breed Classes - Ewes of a breed with less than three eligible entries (including both yearlings and lambs) will be combined in the All Wool Breeds or All Other Registered Meat Breeds. 
  7. Show Order for Breeding Ewes - 4-H Breeding ewes will be shown by breeds in a rotating schedule. The breeds will show in the following order for 2025: 
    • All Wool Breeds
    • Dorset Ewes
    • Southdown Ewes
    • All Other Registered Ewes
    • All Hair Breeds
    • Hampshire Ewes
    • Commercial Ewes
  8. Weigh Cards - Exhibitors will declare weights of all commercial meat breed ewes (an official weigh-in will not be conducted by show officials). Weigh cards must be completed and turned in during the designated check-in time and location. The weight listed on the weigh card will become that animal’s official declared weight to be used for assignment to a class and for weigh-back purposes. 
  9. Weigh Backs - A weigh back will be incorporated for all 1st and 2nd place purples in each commercial breeding class. A 5% variance from the declared weight at check-in will be allowed. Animals not meeting the 5% variance above the declared weight at check-in will be lowered one ribbon group and will not be eligible for any champion awards. The 3rd place purple may also be requested to weigh back if the 1st of 2nd place purples do not meet the 5% variance requirement. 
  10. Wool Length Requirements - All registered and commercial meat breed breeding sheep must be shorn sufficiently short  to allow inspection for club lamb fungus by State Fair Veterinarians at any time of the fair. Wool may be left on the legs ONLY below the knees and hocks. All registered and commercial wool breed sheep may be shown in the fleece. 
  11. Champion Selection - A Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for each registered breed including All Wool Breeds, Dorset, Hampshire, Southdown, Suffolk, All Hair Breeds, and All Other Registered Breeds. A Champion and Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe will be selected from the top two in each of the three commercial ewe divisions. The final drive for selection of Overall Breeding Ewe, Reserve Champion and 3rd Overall Breeding Ewe will include all champion and reserve champion breed winners and the champion and reserve champion commercial breeding ewe

Division: Market Lamb

Class
  • G031010 - Dorset Market Lambs 
  • G031020 - Hampshire Market Lambs 
  • G031030 - Natural Color Market Lambs 
  • G031040 - Southdown Market Lambs 
  • G031050 - Suffolk Market Lambs 
  • G031060 - White Face Influence Market Lambs 
  • G031090 - All Hair Breed Market Lambs 
  • G031080 - AOP (All Other Purebred) Market Lambs 
  • G031070 - Crossbred Market Lambs 
Rules
  1. Market Lamb Identification & DNA Requirements - All market lambs to be shown at State Fair must be tagged with a USDA official scrapie ID, owned by the exhibitor, completed the online nomination with payment through the official online database, and have the DNA collector envelope with hair sample submitted to their County Extension Office by June 15. 
  2. Minimum Age Requirement - All market lambs are required to be born on or after December 1, 2024. 
  3. Minimum Weights for Market Lambs - Crossbred and classified (Dorset, Hampshire, Natural Color, Southdown, Suffolk, White Face Influence, & All Other Purebred) market lambs weighing less than 100 lbs. at check-in will not be eligible for a purple award or shipping. All Hair Breed Market Lambs breeds weighing less than 70 lbs. at check-in will not be eligible for purple award or shipping. No re-weighs will be allowed. 
  4. Dual Eligibility (Market and Breeding) - Ewes may be eligible as both market and breeding, provided a DNA collector envelope with hair samples have been submitted to the County Extension office, and the completed online nomination with payment includes all required identification information for both a market and breeding animal by June 15. This option does not allow the animal to be shown in both market and breeding at the same show. 
  5. Minimum Entries for Market Classes - Market lambs will be divided by breed up to 7 divisions. Any breed without at least 3 animals exhibiting in their breed will show in the All Other Purebred (AOP) division. Classes will be broken by weight at the discretion of the superintendents.  
  6. Market Lamb Show Order - Market lamb classes will be judged lightest to heaviest weight within each breed division. Market lambs will show in the following order for 2025: 
    • White Face Influence Market Lambs
    • AOP (All Other Purebred) Market Lambs 
    • Dorset Market Lambs 
    • Hampshire Market Lambs
    • Natural Color Market Lambs
    • Southdown Market Lambs
    • All Hair Breeds Market Lambs
    • Suffolk Market Lambs 
    • Crossbred Market Lambs  
  7. Weigh Cards - Exhibitors will declare weights of all market lambs (an official weigh-in will not be conducted by show officials). Weigh cards must be completed and turned in during the designated check-in time and location. The weight listed on the weigh card will become that animal’s official declared weight to be used for assignment to a class and for weigh-back purposes.  
  8. Weigh Backs - A weigh back will be incorporated for all 1st and 2nd place purples in each market class. A 5% variance from the declared weight at check-in will be allowed. Animals not meeting the 5% variance above the declared weight at check-in will be lowered one ribbon group and will not be eligible for any champion awards. The 3rd place purple may also be requested to weigh back if the 1st or 2nd place purples do not meet the 5% variance requirement.  
  9. Definition of Market Lambs - Wether and ewe lambs are eligible for market classes. Short scrotum, cyptorchid or ram lambs are not eligible as market lambs.  
  10. Wool Length Requirements - All market lambs must be shorn sufficiently short to allow for inspection for club lamb fungus by State Fair Veterinarians at any time of the fair. Wool may be left on the legs ONLY below the knees and hocks. 
  11. No Withdrawals - Animals selected as division champions and reserve division champions cannot be withdrawn from the grand champion drive. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification and the exhibitor may be barred from future participation at the Nebraska State Fair. 
  12. Sale of Market Lambs - The Grand Champion Market Lamb and Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb cannot be withdrawn from championship, and are automatically consigned for harvest. Other market lambs weighing at least 100 pounds, may be signed up to be shipped if a buyer is available. 
  13. Champion Selection - A Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for each classified breed including Dorset, Hampshire, Natural Color, Southdown, Suffolk, White Face Influence, All Hair Breeds, and All Other Purebred (AOP). A Champion and Reserve Champion Crossbred Market Lamb will be selected from the top two in each of the three crossbred divisions. The final drive for selection of Champion Market Lamb, Reserve Champion Market Lamb and 3rd Overall Market Lamb will include the champion and reserve champion crossbred lambs and the champion and reserve champion for all classified market lamb divisions (Dorset, Hampshire, Natural Color, Southdown, Suffolk, White Face Influence, All Hair Breeds, and All Other Purebred (AOP).
Breed Classifying

Market lambs will be classified according to the breed standard set forth by the All-American Junior Sheep Show and/or the respective breed association as they are being weighed and identified. Market lambs wishing to compete in the crossbred division will not be required to go through classification but will still need to come be identified to the USDA official scrapie ID entered. Market lambs entered as crossbred may have the option to go through classification and switch divisions based on the decision of the Classifier. Market lambs in all other divisions will be classified to the standard of the breed they were entered. If an animal is disqualified from the entered breed, the Classifier will determine the final placement. The opinion of the classifier is final, and lambs must show as assigned or be disqualified. Classifier may rule to allow youth every opportunity to show his/her own lambs. Classification cannot be disputed after the close of check-in. 

 
Exhibitor/Classifier Guidelines for Breed Classification

The following are descriptions of the visual appearance necessary for breed classification. Also listed are visual attributes whose presence may result in an animal not qualifying for the breed division and instead being placed in the crossbred or white breed influence division at the classifier’s discretion:  

Dorset - An open, completely white face with pink nose pigmentation. The body should be completely white and practically free of dark fibers or pigmentation. A moderate wool cap and wool below the knees & hocks should be present 

3 of the following will result in disqualification:

  • Any dark colored spots in the hair or wool 
  • Large drooping ears 
  • Fine textured, silky hair covering 
  • Absence of hair covering in typical areas 
  • All solid black hooves 
  • Dark colored septum (dividing tissue between the nostrils) 
  • Dark colored lining of the nose or mouth 
  • All-black, colored, or spotted lambs 

Hampshire - An open face with ears covered with a dark brown or black hair and free from wool. The face should be dark in color, and practically free of wool from the eyes down. A wool cap should extend from the neck over the forehead 

3 of the following will result in disqualification:

  • Broken wool cap 
  • Very fine or thin hair on face or legs 
  • Scurs/horns 
  • Excessive white hair on the jaw (more than 25%) or excessive white wool on the legs (more than 25%) 

1 of the following will result in disqualification:

  • Excessively dark or blue hide 
  • Inadequate wool covering on head and legs 
  • Speckled face so that lamb appears to be a “brockle” 

Natural Colored - Any animal that is at least 35% Natural Colored excluding the head and legs is acceptable 

Southdown - A moderate face and ear that can range in color from brown to grey. Wool should extend onto the face and the back of the ears, as well as below the knees & hocks. Nose should be dark pigmented. 

3 of the following will result in disqualification:

  • Solid white hair color on the muzzle 
  • Pink nose 
  • Excessive white on face, ears, or legs 
  • Completely slick ears 
  • Pink or striped hooves 
  • Black spots on the fleece 
  • Open pool on the head 

1 of the following will result in disqualification: 

  • Speckled face or legs 
  • Horns or solid scurs 
  • Solid black lambs 

Suffolk -The head should be black, hornless, and well covered with a thick black hair coat. The muzzle should be long and deep, with legs being black. Belly should be covered with wool. Wool should not extend below the knees and hocks. 

1 of the following will result in disqualification:

  • Excessive black fiber in the wool areas 
  • White speckling or splotching on the bellies, inner legs, 
  • neck, or jaw 
  • Wool covering below the hock and knee or on the head or face 
  • Scurs/horns 

White Face Influence - Includes white-faced breeds and/or speckles that range from white-faced with black spots to black-faced with white spots, with a minimum of 30% of hair areas (face, ears, legs below knees and hocks) having white coloring. 

Dorper - An ideal Dorper and White Dorper sheep should be symmetrical and balanced where the height, width, length and depth of body are proportionate. Dorper and White Dorper sheep should maintain a 60:40 ratio of height to body and legs giving the sheep maximum carcass capacity. 

Katahdin - A medium-sized sheep with a hair coat and an alert appearance; head erect, and legs squarely placed. Tail length is variable; preferably undocked, except for market lambs. A variety in facial characteristics is expected. Polled-ness is preferred, but horns and scurs are acceptable. The eyes are wide set, and ear carriage is horizontal. There is no hair coat discrimination made as to color on any part of the body. The coat shall preferably consist of hair rather than woolly fibers, though hair texture will vary. 

Crossbred - Lambs not meeting breed distinctions, characteristics, or color specifications of other classes

Division: Sheep Showmanship

Class
  • G030009 - Junior Showmanship (ages 8 to 10 before January 1 of the current year) 
  • G030010 - Intermediate Showmanship (ages 11 to 13 before January 1 of the current year) 
  • G030011 - Senior Showmanship (ages 14 to 18 before January 1 of the current year) 
Rules
  1. Showmanship - All 4-H exhibitors are automatically registered but not required to show in Showmanship. Exhibitors must show their own animal, and the animal must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. Review the Nebraska State Fair Schedule for time and dates. 
  2. Eligibility - After an exhibitor receives champion in showmanship, they are no longer eligible to compete in that age division of that species. If a junior exhibitor wins in that species, they will automatically move up to the intermediate division the following year. If an intermediate exhibitor wins in that species, they will automatically move up to the senior division the following year. Once a senior division exhibitor wins champion, they are no longer eligible to compete in showmanship in that species. 

Superintendents

For questions, contact: 

4-H Fairbook | Nebraska State Fair