Junior Sheep Competition

2026 JUNIOR SHEEP COMPETITION

SPONSORED BY:

Date: Saturday November 14, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Lower East Annex Show Ring

Judge: Terry Burks, Scottsville, KY

Ringmen: Zac Goodacre & Shea O'Neill

Competition Information

Important Dates

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

1. The 2025 Grand Champion Showperson and the exhibitor of the 2025 Grand Champion Lamb are ineligible to show in the 2026 Junior Sheep Show. Open to youth aged 9 - 21, as of January 1, 2026
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. An exhibitor may only show one (1) lamb in the Junior Sheep Show in both conformation and showmanship.
5. No artificial colouring or breed type alterations may be used on any portion of the animal.
6. Entries must be a EWE Lamb, purebred or commercial born after January 1, 2026.
7. All lambs must have a proper CSIP tag, CSIP tags will be verified during the health check. Correct CSIP tag numbers must be provided upon making entries and must match animal shown. Lambs without a valid and CSIP tag will not be permitted to show. If you animal has lost their tag, please let the committee know - the deadline to update your CSIP tag is Wednesday November 11, 2026, at midnight.
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 14, 2026, by the Culling Committee.
10. All animals should arrive in show condition.
11. A neat, tidy appearance is essential. BLACK SLACKS AND PROVIDED 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. All Southdown sheep shown in Ontario 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, 2026):
    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. Southdown
    2. Suffolk
    3. A.O.B. Long wool
    4. A.O.B. Short wool
    5. Cheviot
    6. Cross-Bred / Commercial
    7. Dorset
    8. Hampshire
    9. Oxford
16. JUNIOR COSTUME CLASS: All children who are 5–8 years of age on or before January 1, 2026. Lambs must be shown on a halter.
17. Ring Schedule: Showmanship classes will be first in the ring, followed by the Junior Costume class, and finishing with the 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

Specials