BLACK SHEEP GATHERING RULES

1. All entries and consignments must be in place at their assigned times.
   
2. The Black Sheep Gathering, Inc., is not responsible for damage or loss while on the Fairgrounds.
   
3. All decisions of the Black Sheep Gathering Committee are final.
   
4. ALL sheep and goats must have Scrapie Identification as required by the USDA. For information, contact Barbara Palermo toll free 1-866-873-2824.
   
5. NO DOGS allowed in any building.
   
6. Animals may not be housed in the parking lot in trucks or trailers. All animals housed in the barns must be accompanied by a completed entry form and are subject to entry and show or sale fees.
   

Livestock Consignments & Show

• Entries will close June 1st or upon receipt of 600 entries.
• No refunds will be given after June 1, 2024. All payments must be completed by June 1, 2024. Pen assignments and preferential barn placement will be made in order of receipt of entries.
• Entries not postmarked by June 1, 2024 or received after maximum number of entries has been reached, will be returned.
• Fees: $8 for each sheep or goat to be shown or sold.
• Farmer’s Market Pens will be allowed in the Livestock barn for a fee of $75. See Livestock Show and Sale Entry Form. Only farm-raised and produced goods are allowed to be sold. Each booth must be reserved by the exhibitor whose items will be sold. Only exhibitors with two or more animals may reserve Farmer’s Market Pen space. Each booth will receive one pen space. Exhibitors who do not reserve and pay for a farm display pen or farmers’ market pen will be asked to take down any displays in their assigned animal pens.
• Cashmere goats and Pygora goats will be allowed one pen each, through their respective associations, to exhibit and sell animals. These pens will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to space limitations we are not able to accommodate other livestock.
• All animals, show and exhibit alike, must be in place by 8am, Friday, June 28, 2024.
• Sales will be by private treaty.
• Release time: 4pm, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Any exceptions must be cleared with a Black Sheep Gathering committee worker. All animals must be removed from the grounds by 6pm.
• Awards: Ribbons awarded to 6th place. Prizes awarded for Champion and Reserve Champion male and female of each lot.

Livestock Rules

1. All sheep will be judged 60% on wool, 40% on conformation. THE LENGTH OF WOOL SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO SHOW OFF THE QUALITY OF THE FLEECE FOR EACH PARTICULAR BREED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FINE WOOL SHEEP HAVE 1½ INCHES OF WOOL, MEDIUM WOOL SHEEP 2 INCHES  AND LONG WOOL SHEEP 3 INCHES. BELLY  SHEARING  OR  DEFUZZING  OF  BELLIES  IS  NOT  ALLOWED. All sheep must have been sheared within the last 365 days.
2. ALL sheep entered must be registered with their appropriate association with the exception of Shetland lambs under the age of 12 months. Proper registration is required for show participation. In the case of unregistered Shetland lambs, sire and dam's papers must be presented. If exhibitor's breed association does not allow animals to be registered until a certain age, then exhibitor must bring a certificate from the association stating that the entered animal is eligible for registration. If exhibitor's breed association allows registration of the animals that are brought to the show, then they must be registered. You may fill in "pending" under registration number on entry form. However, animals must be registered upon arrival at the show; registration certificates will be inspected upon check-in. Ear tags with Scrapie numbers are required.
3. Animals entered in the show or sale must have been legally transferred into the exhibitors' name at least 30 days prior to the show. An exhibitor is defined as a farm or an individual. Two people using the same farm name are still one exhibitor. Animals must be properly registered in the exhibitors' name, which must also be the owner's name stated on the registration papers. If a family farm is involved, it may read farm name, but must also include the junior exhibitor's name on the animal's registrations papers.
4. All goats must be registered with their appropriate association. Proper registration is required for show participation. White Angora goats will be judged according to the American Angora Goat Breeders Association Standards. Colored Angora goats will be judged according to Colored Angora Goat Breeders Association standards. To boost entries, we have opened the registered white Angora Goat Show to include animals registered with either AAGBA or CAGBA. All goats must be sheared in the year of the show.
5. Each lot needs 5 or more exhibitors and a minimum of 20 animals entered to qualify for a separate lot. Any lot without the required numbers will be combined with another division at the discretion of the sheep show coordinator. Exhibitors with the required numbers may request a separate division but must do so by April 1, 2024.
6. Individual animals may be shown in ONLY one lot, including Junior Show lots. An exhibitor may enter only two sheep or goats per class. Each class must have at least two exhibitors and three animals entered or it may be deleted. (Entries in deleted classes will be moved to other classes. Entry fees will not be returned once accepted.)
7. All animals must be sound and healthy and free of external parasites. Show and sale entries must be under two years of age except for the following breeds: Shetland, Jacob, Icelandic, Navajo-Churro and Gotland, Valais Blacknose and Angora goat does and bucks entered in the aged doe and aged buck classes. The Black Sheep Gathering committee reserves the right to require the removal of any animal judged unhealthy or unfit to be displayed. This includes sheep not sheared in the last 365 days, goats not sheared in the year of the show, as well as any fleece deemed unfit for exhibit.
8. All sheep and goats coming from out of state are required to have health certificates.
9. All exhibitors must keep their pens and barn aisles clean and provide a sufficient amount of clean bedding in each animal pen.
10. Every effort will be made to give exhibitors the number of pens requested; exhibitors may receive fewer pens than requested due to limited space. If space allows, there will be communal tack pens made available. Aisles must be kept clear, and feed and equipment stored in trailers or assigned areas. Every effort will be made to pen exhibitors with others of their breed and with requested exhibitors; however, such placement cannot be guaranteed.
11. Exhibitors must provide their own water buckets and feed. Straw may be purchased with your entry.
12. Please identify animals for sale in some easily recognizable way.
13. ANIMALS ENTERED FOR SALE OR EXHIBIT ONLY CANNOT EXCEED 25% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMAL ENTRIES FROM ONE FARM.
14. Farm Display Pen (FDP): If you wish to put up a table or an elaborate display, you need to order a FDP ahead of time, on the Livestock Show and Sale Entry Form. Displays may not intrude into the aisle. The cost is $25. It is the size of one animal pen. The FDP pen may contain up to 2 sheep or 3 goats, tables, chairs, large signs or items, examples of farm products, etc.; however, NO SALES of farm products other than animals are allowed in the barn unless exhibitors order a Farmer’s Market Pen. FDPs are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis AFTER all animal spaces are secured. FDP pens must be paid for at time of animal entry
15. Farmer’s Market Pen (FMP): Farm sales pens will be available to those showing animals for $75/farm sales pen, on a space-available basis. It is the size of one animal pen. Exhibitors must sell only value-added farm products and farm products. Displays may not intrude into the aisle. Sales of products, other than animals, can only be made from a Farmer’s Market Pen. FMPs are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis AFTER all animal spaces are secured. Please include $75 with your entries. No sales of raw fleece or mohair allowed in your Farmer’s Market Pen.
16. No raw wool or mohair fleeces may be sold on the grounds except through the Fleece Show and Sale.
17. Junior Sheep Show — This show is open to anyone up to 18 years of age and all breeds of sheep, both white and colored. All sheep entered must be registered with their appropriate association to the actual junior exhibitor who will be showing the sheep. Junior exhibitors may have the assistance of other youth ages 18 and under if they have more than one entry per class. Animals showing in the Junior Sheep Show may not have been shown in the Senior / Open Sheep Show. All General Rules and Livestock Rules apply.
18. Junior Showmanship classes are open to all junior exhibitors under age 18. Exhibitors need not own their showmanship animal, nor does it have to be registered in their name. Senior exhibitors may enter an extra animal to be shown by a junior exhibitor. Please list the Junior's name and age on your entry.

• THE STEVE MENDENHALL MEMORIAL TROPHY will be awarded to the top achiever in Junior Showmanship.