Open Sheep – Purebreds and Commercial
Section II – Sheep
Martha Phillips – Department Superintendent
Lisa Kanney – Assistant Superintendent
Judge: TBD
Rules and Regulations for Open and Junior Divisions
ENTRIES
- All entries must be completed on the Fair Entry website https://www.fairentry.com by July 1. You will need correct ear tag numbers and birthdates to enter your animals. These will be required fields. Help information can be found at: https://www.rockinghamcountyfair.com/p/fair-info/fair-entry
- All exhibits in this department are subject to the general rules of the Rockingham County Fair Association and Show Ring Code of Ethics. See General Rules and Regulations for health requirements and barn area rules.
- After registration is submitted, no substitution of animals will be allowed without the approval of the Department Superintendents. NO substitution will be authorized after August 3, 2026. Once the show starts, there will be no discussion about changing ownership or classes. If you miss your class, that animal will be disqualified from pair and group classes.
- All exhibits must be in place and checked in by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2026, and remain in place until 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 14, or NO LATER than Saturday, August 15 at 7:00 a.m. – NO EXCEPTIONS!
- Check-in times will be 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2026, for all Open and Jr Breeding Sheep. If you do not check in your entries during this time period or make prior arrangements to come at a different time, you will be forfeited from the show.
- All entries are open to Rockingham County residents and, depending on space, out-of-county entries will be accepted by invitation only.
- Sheep Age Requirements: Yearling must be one year and under 2 years at the day of show; senior lambs must be born September 1 to December 31 of the preceding year. Intermediate lambs born January 1-February 15 of the current year and junior lambs born on February 16 and after of the current year.
- Commercial whether type entries will include ewes and rams that are purebred and crossbred.
- Entries are encouraged from juniors who have ewe lambs NOT showing in the market lamb divisions. The only tags that should be visible are the farm tag and their scrapie tag. All commercial ewes will be shown slick shorn. No ewe lambs exhibited in the Market Lamb Show will be eligible to show in the Breeding Sheep Show. (No cross entries)
- Only two animals per exhibitor will be allowed per class. Only one entry in pairs, a pen of 4 lambs (both sexes must be represented), and flock classes. A maximum of eight (8) head per breed, per exhibitor will be allowed for 2024.
- Any sheep with percentage papers will show in the Commercial class; for example: percentage Suffolk and Dorset Advantage, etc.
- Judging starts at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 13,2026.
- Exhibitors entering animals that are not brought to the fair will forfeit their pen space with no refund. Refunds will only be made with a veterinarian’s signed statement. Superintendents will reallocate extra pen space.
ARRIVAL/DURING THE FAIR
- Sheep must have been recently shorn prior to health papers to be written by a veterinarian and at the arrival at the Rockingham County Fair to accommodate inspections. Fleece length shall not exceed 1/4” at arrival for all Commercial and Southdown breeds and any other breeds showing slick sheared (exception provided for breeding sheep shown in fleece or with fitted fleece). Breeding sheep that will be fitted must be washed before entering the fair and rough cut out.
- No more than 2-3 animals per pen. Overcrowding will not be tolerated.
- Fresh water will be provided to sheep at all times by the exhibitor.
- Tack space will be eliminated to ensure proper housing for the animals. No tack will be allowed until after noon on Monday and will be assigned by the Superintendents. No more than one (1) day supply of feed and hay will be kept in the tack area. All bedding and extra feed must be kept in a trailer or brought from home each day. All tack, as space permits, may be shared by several exhibitors.
- Fitting areas will be located outside the barns or in a fitting area. No fitting inside the hoop barn, unless there is a vacant pen. All fitting areas are to be cleaned and free from trash and wool after each fitting session.
- Exhibitors will be responsible for disposing of wool to the designated area in the back of the barn (DO NOT PLACE WOOL AND WET BEDDING IN TRASH CANS)
- The judge’s decision is final.
- Any animal deemed unsafe will be asked to leave the fairgrounds, including but not limited to destruction of the pens or being a traveler from pen to pen.
- ALL animals, regardless of breed, will need to be halter or hand-broken to show. NO dragging or picking up sheep to and from the show ring – this will NOT be tolerated and will result in the entry being automatically disqualified. The show ring is not a breaking arena.
- Superintendents have the right to divide classes or cancel classes due to lack of entries or to adjust class ages.
HEALTH OF ANIMALS:
In keeping with our goal of maintaining the reputation of Virginia’s finest agricultural county fair, the sheep superintendents will require that any sheep not in good health, in good body condition, and properly groomed for public viewing be immediately removed from the fairgrounds.
- A clean bill of health must accompany all sheep being shown and signed by a licensed veterinarian and must be present at check-in. Animals are not to be unloaded until a Superintendent has checked health papers and approved unloading. Sheep diagnosed with lamb fungus, sore mouth or any other contagious disease will not be allowed on the fairgrounds. A notation on the health paper is required from the veterinarian if any fungus or sore mouth is no longer contagious. All animals must be identified with an official USDA tag. (Scrapie tag) upon arrival at the fair.
- Any animals not meeting entry requirements and/or found to have an active case of an infectious or contagious disease or condition will be eliminated from the show and will not be permitted in animal stalling or exhibit areas and may be required to return to the premises of origin.
- Club Lamb Fungus: Sheep must be free of clinical symptoms of club lamb fungus (ringworm). Any healed club lamb fungus lesions must demonstrate healthy skin. Sheep with active lesions will not be permitted on the fairgrounds, animal stalling, or exhibit areas. An animal that has had a contagious disease and has been successfully treated but still has physical evidence of the disease must be accompanied by a note from an accredited veterinarian on that animal’s health certificate regarding the successful treatment of the disease. If no notation is made on the health certificate, a veterinarian will be called to elevate and rewrite the certificate at the owner’s expense.
- Sheep must be free of clinical signs of sore mouth, foot rot, and Caseous Lymphadenitis. Animals showing clinical symptoms of these conditions will be moved from the exhibition grounds. Regarding caseous lymphadenitis, “clinical symptoms” are used to define lymph node abscesses, whether draining or not.
- Any animal that shows evidence of prolapse will be excused from the fair and asked to be taken home. This will forfeit the animal to be shown in its class, pairs, pens, and flock classes. Should the animal be taken into the ring, it will immediately be excused and disqualified from all other classes.
- NO muzzles on sheep.
RELEASE:
- Open Breeding Sheep leaves Friday, August 14 at 8:00 p.m. or NO LATER than Saturday, August 15 at 7:00 a.m.
- Use caution with the traffic in the loading and unloading areas.
PREMIUMS:
- Premiums less than $10.00 per exhibitor will be paid in cash
- Cash payments will be issued beginning Tuesday, Sept 1 from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. You will have until Nov 1 to pick-up cash premiums.
- Checks will be issued Tuesday, Sept 1 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. After Sept 3 they will be mailed.
- All monies not claimed by Nov 1, will be returned to the department budget for the next year.
- Prizes will not be paid if not listed in the catalog. There are no prize monies for Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champions, Grand Champion, Reserve Champions, Ole timers and Showmanship’s. Those awards are donated by generous sponsors and from the Rockingham County Fair
Premiums are as follows:
1st place$14
2nd place$12
3rd place$10
4th place$8
5th place$6
2026 Open and Jr. Breeding Sheep Show
9:00 a.m.
SHOWMANSHIP-must be pre-entered. (Please indicate on entry if you are participating and your birthdate)
Class 1 – Pee Wee Showmanship – Judged (Anyone 8 and under)
Class 2 – Jr. Showmanship (9-12 years old)
Class 3 – Intermediate Showmanship (13-16 years old)
Class 4 – Sr. Showmanship (17-21 years old; Must be 21 or under on day of show)
**Classes and Divisions may be split after all entries are received, depending on entries**
BREEDING SHEEP SHOW (Immediately Following Showmanship)
Eligible Breeds:Commercial, Cheviot, Dorset, Suffolk, Southdown, Hampshire
Class No./Name of Class
1- Yearling Ram 1 year, under 2
2- Senior Ram Lamb- born between September 1 and December 31
3-Intermediate Ram Lamb-born between January 1 and February 15
4- Junior Ram Lamb-born February 16 and after
5- Pair Ram Lambs
Champion and Reserve Champion Ram
6- Yearling Ewe 1 year, under 2
7- Pair Yearling Ewes
8- Senior Ewe Lamb-born between September 1 and December 31
9-Intermediate Ewe Lamb-born between Jan 1-Feb 15
10-Junior Ewe Lamb born February 16 and after
11- Pair Ewe Lambs
Champion and Reserve Champion Ewe
13- Pen of 4 Lambs, both sexes represented
14- Flock, Ram under 2 years, 2 yearling Ewes, 2 Ewe Lambs
SUPREME DRIVE-Overall Ram and Ewe
OLE TIMERS SHOWMANSHIP- Best class, last class!
Calling all kids, husbands, wives, grandma, paw paw and anyone who wants to have a good time at the fair – Open to anyone over the age of 21. Grab a sheep and show the young ones how it’s done!