Sheep

Each year, approximately 1,300 sheep are shown by their exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Visit them in the Sheep & Goat Barn or the Compeer Financial Discovery Barnyard.

Read on below to learn more about sheep terminology and the type of competitions they are shown in during their stay.

Sheep Breed Montadale

Sheep at the Wisconsin State Fair

Quick Sheep Facts

Key Sheep Terminology
  • Ovine: the scientific name for sheep
  • Ram: a male sheep
  • Ewe: a female sheep
  • Lamb: a sheep less than one year in age
  • Wether: a castrated male sheep
  • Flock: refers to a group of sheep
Common Breeds Shown at State Fair
  • Border Leicester
  • Cheviot
  • Columbia
  • Dorper
  • Dorset
  • Hampshire
  • Long Wool
  • Montadale (shown in photo above)
  • Oxford
  • Shropshire
  • Southdown
  • Suffolk
  • Targhee
  • Tunis
Sheep Lead Class Event

Sheep Event Descriptions

All sheep shows are held in the Sheep & Goat Barn Show Ring with the exception of the Grand Champion Drive on Aug. 12 held in the Case IH Coliseum. Click through the boxes below to see what happens in each of these judging events.

In order for sheep to be eligible for this class, the exhibitor must have owned the sheep’s mother and raised the sheep from youth.

The sheep are then evaluated on the overall correctness of their body proportions and how well their characteristics match the standard for their breed.

Sheep are evaluated on the presence of desired maternal attributes, the overall correctness of their body proportions, and how well their characteristics match the standard for their breed.

The exhibitor is evaluated on their use of sheep wool to create versatile fashion items for themselves and their sheep.

Sheep are evaluated on their idealness for meat production, the overall correctness of their body proportions, and how well their characteristics match the standard for their breed.

This competition culminates at the State Fair with a visual appraisal ranking of each sheep.

In addition, each sheep is also rated on its weight gain over a set period of time along with the overall body composition in terms of lean muscle to fat ratio.

In this event, the exhibitor is evaluated on their knowledge of and their ability to handle and maneuver their animal.

Sheep are evaluated on the condition of their wool (length, density, crimp, lanolin oil, etc.), the overall correctness of their body proportions, and how well their characteristics match the standard for their breed.

The judge selects an overall champion across all types, breeds or genders of sheep.

The judge selects an overall champion within a specific type, breed or gender of sheep.