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Junior Sheep Competition


2025 JUNIOR SHEEP COMPETITION

SPONSORED BY:

Chair: Sarah Case

Sub-Committee: Melissa Emke, Shelley Barfoot-O'Neill, Jenean Lush, Shea O'Neill, Jim Young


Date: Saturday November 9, 2024

Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Lower East Annex Show Ring

Showmanship Judge: TBD

Conformation Judge: Irwin Jackson, Rockwood, ON

Competition Information

Entry Deadline: September 15, 2025

Entry Fee: $15.00 per youth participant

Arrival: Friday November 14, 2025, at 10:00 PM. Must be in place before Saturday November 15, 2025, at 7:30 AM.

Release: At conclusion of the show.

Exhibitors' Meeting: Saturday November 15, 2025, at 8:15 AM in the Lower East Annex Show Ring

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

  1. The 2024 Grand Champion Showperson and the exhibitor of the 2024 Grand Champion Lamb are ineligible to show in the 2025 Junior Sheep Show. Open to youth aged 9 - 21, as of January 1, 2025
  2. As with all RAWF Youth Acitivity events, 100% participation is expected by all participants.
  3. Entries shall be made online at www.royalfair.org via AssistExpo, RAWF's online entry system.
  4. No artificial colouring or breed type alterations may be used on any portion of the animal.
  5. Entries must be a EWE Lamb, purebred or commercial born after January 1, 2025.
  6. All lambs must have a proper CSIP tag, CSIP tags will be verified. CSIP tag numbers must be provided upon making entries and must match animal shown. Lambs without a valid and registered CSIP tag will not be permitted to show.
  7. The Royal will be following the CSBA tail length requirements. All lambs require a caudal fold that can be seen of felt and cover the anus.
  8. All sheep—including those exhibiting in the Breeding Sheep Show, Junior Sheep Show and Royal Sheep & Wool Ambassador Competition— will be reviewed by the Culling Committee. At the discretion of the Culling Committee and the RAWF, an official veterinarian appointed by the RAWF will conduct inspections for the presence of contagious and/or infectious diseases, as well as adherence to the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association (CSBA) tail length requirements. All sheep entered will require a caudal fold that can be seen or felt and cover the anus. A veterinarian will be directly assisting the committee during the culling. Any sheep deemed unfit for health reasons by the official veterinarian will be asked to leave the facilities immediately, however, Animals deemed not in compliance with CSBA tail length requirements will be disqualified from competition but not required to leave the facilities.
  9. All sheep shown in the Junior Sheep Show will be checked beginning at 7:45 AM, Saturday November 15, 2025, by the Culling Committee.
  10. All animals should arrive in show condition.
  11. A neat, tidy appearance is essential. BLACK SLACKS AND PROVIDED WHITE SHIRTS MUST BE WORN IN THE SHOW RING. This does not apply to the Junior Costume Class.
  12. Halters may NOT be used while in the show ring unless permission is granted by the Junior Sheep Show committee prior to the show.
  13. The following breeds must be shown in short fleece (staple not more than 1.5 inches or 3.8 cm): Cheviot, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxford, Suffolk and Texel. From this date forward, all Shouthdown sheep shown in Ontario run competitions will be shorn approximately two weeks prior to competition and have a consistent length of wool over the entire body, with leg and head detailing left to the show person's discretion.
  14. SHOWMANSHIP CLASSES will be divided as follows (age as of January 1, 2025):
    1. Novice: 9 - 11 years old
    2. Junior: 12 - 14 years old
    3. Intermediate: 15 - 17 years old
    4. Senior: 18 - 21 years old
  15. CONFORMATION CLASSES: Classes will be offered for the following breeds (Any breed class with less than five (5) exhibitors will be shown in the AOB class, at the discretion of the Junior Sheep Show Committee):
    1. A.O.B. Long wool
    2. A.O.B. Short wool
    3. Cheviot
      1. Cross-Bred / Commercial
    4. Dorset
    5. Hampshire
    6. Oxford
    7. Suffolk
    8. Southdown
  16. JUNIOR COSTUME CLASS: All children who are 5–8 years of age on or before January 1, 2025. Lambs must be shown on a halter.
  17. Ring Schedule: Showmanship classes will be first in the ring, followed by Conformation classes. First and second prize winners in the Showmanship classes will compete for title of Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Showperson. All first and second prize winners in the Conformation classes will compete for the title of Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Lamb.
  18. Classes may be split into heats or combined at the committee's discretion.
  19. The Junior Show welcomes out of province exhibitors. If you require a lamb to show, please contact entry@royalfair.org

Showmanship

Age as of January 1, 2024

Classes:

1.

Senior Showmanship

Ages 18 - 21

2.

Intermediate Showmanship

Ages 15 - 17

3.

Junior Showmanship

Ages 12 - 14

4.

Novice Showmanship

Ages 9 - 11

Junior Costume Class

Classes:

1.

Junior Costume Class

Ages 5 - 8

Conformation

Classes:

1.

AOB Longwool

2.

AOB Shortwool

3.

Cheviot

9.

Cross-Bred

4.

Dorset

5.

Hampshire

6.

Oxford

7.

Suffolk

8.

Southdown

Specials

Homestead Acres Suffolks Trophy (Perpetual)

Presented to the Champion Novice Showperson. Sponsored by Len & Barb Riebot

Benlock Livestock Challenge Trophy (Perpetual)

Presented to the Reserve Champion Novice Showperson. Sponsored by Darryl & Kim Hopkins

Brian Beath Challenge Trophy (Perpetual)

Presented to the Champion Junior Showperson

Growmark Challenge Trophy (Perpetual)

Presented to the Reserve Champion Junior Showperson

Young Associates Trophy (Perpetual)

Presented to the Champion Intermediate Showperson

Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Trophy (Perpetual)

Presented to the Reserve Champion Intermediate Showperson

Jack Wilson Memorial Challenge Trophy (Perpetual)

Donated in memory of Jack Wilson by Wanda Gray. Presented to the Champion Senior Showperson.

Bill Mactaggart Memorial Trophy

Donated in memory of Bill Mactaggart by his family. Presented to the Champion Suffolk Ewe.

Congratulations to our 2023 Champions!

ROYAL JUNIOR SHEEP SHOW
GRAND CHAMPION SHOWPERSON

Brock Bartlett, Strathallan Strudel 2L

ROYAL JUNIOR SHEEP SHOW
GRAND CHAMPION LAMB

Mia Westergaard - Bellacres Lad 18-101F


JACK PEMBERTON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BURSARY

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, in partnership with 4-H Canada, is pleased to offer the Jack Pemberton Youth Development Bursary to a senior 4-H member in Canada with a keen interest in agriculture and a desire to attend The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

Jack Pemberton was a Past President and Honourary Life Governor of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Mr. Pemberton created this opportunity to travel to Toronto to visit The Royal firsthand, as he felt it is a wonderful experience for anyone who is interested in agriculture.

The 103rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs from November 7 to 16, 2025.

The successful applicant will be awarded a $3,000 bursary.

  • $2,250 of the funds will be used to cover the cost of travel to and within Toronto (airfare and all transportation between the airport, hotel, and The Royal grounds).
  • $750 as a bursary award towards the recipient’s post-secondary education.

In memory of Mr. Pemberton, The Royal will provide General Admission passes and up to three nights of accommodation (double occupancy), for the winner and a guest. The Royal staff will also provide a suggested itinerary of events to attend, including some VIP opportunities. The itinerary will be put together based on the interests expressed in the winner’s application.

BURSARY AMOUNT: $3,000

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

  • Canadian 4-H member in good standing.
  • Will be entering their final year of high school in September 2025.
  • Have plans for post-secondary education in an agriculture-related program.
  • Have demonstrated involvement in agriculture.

NOTE: Preference will be given to those who have not attended The Royal Agricultrual Winter Fair before.

APPLICATIONS TO INCLUDE:

  • Cover letter, to explain why you are excited about and deserving of this opportunity.
  • Your resume.
  • Letter of recommendation from a 4-H Leader or other relevant agriculture group leader.

The winner will be notified no later than September 30, 2025.

For more information please contact the 4-H Canada Program Department at program@4-h-canada.ca.

Applications open August 8, 2025 and close September 15, 2025 at 11:59 ET.
Submit your application online at https://apply.4-h-canada.ca/

Jack Pemberton was born in Toronto and lived there until he and his wife Lillian bought farm property near Georgetown, Ontario. Jack discovered his passion for horses and carriages while in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and was able to pursue this hobby now that he had some land. He taught himself how to drive, and became very skilled at restoring carriages, often showing at fairs around Canada and the United States - even becoming a Royal Champion. Jack has supported many associations and fairs throughout the world. As a past President and member of the board, Jack's influence on The Royal has been, and will continue to be, greatly valued.