Sheep registration is online only this year, link will be posted here on or before March 31, 2026.
More info

SHEEP SHOW

Judge: Ken Gossard
Willow Springs, Missouri

Ken Gossard has made the sheep industry his life. He was raised in the Missouri Ozarks on a multi-generation farm; he has seen the change of the agriculture sector. He did his undergrad studies in Animal Science/Chemistry, then pursued a Masters in Food Chemistry and finished with a PhD in Meat Science.

Since his return to the family farm, he has taken over the family custom meat plant. During this time he has expanded the Romney sheep flock that call the hills their home. Today, he is running roughly 900 mature ewes out on intensive grazed pasture year-round. He markets his lambs in the ethnic meat market and local sales. The wool is sold in direct markets as well, to a blanket manufacturer and other woolen mills. In the mindset of waste not want not, he has a market for all the pelts that are taken at harvesting as well.

He has judged at many local, district and state fairs, and has been the official at many carcass competitions. He also supplies many 4H/FFA meat teams training them in his coolers using retail cuts for identification.

LOTS:

• A. Registered Navajo-Churro.
• B. Registered Shetland.
  
  • Award: The Northwestern Shetland Sheep Breeders Trophy for the Best Young Breeders Flock of Shetland Sheep.
• C. Registered Jacob.
• D. Registered and Recorded Valais Blacknose.
• E. Registered White Lincoln.
• F. White Registered Long, Medium and Fine Wool Breeds.
• G. Registered Gotland.
• H. Registered White Romney.
• I. BlueFaced Leicester (white and natural colored, 2 white and 2 natural colored allowed per exhibitor, per class).
• J. NCWGA Registered Primitive breeds.
• K. NCWGA Registered Long / Coarse Wool (48 and lower).
• L. NCWGA Registered Medium Wool (50-58).
• M. NCWGA Registered Fine Wool (60 and finer).
• N. Natural Colored Romeldale / CVM.
  
  • Award: Romeldale / CVM Award for Best Romeldale in Show and Romeldale / CVM Fleece.
• O. Registered Natural Colored Wool Breeds – non-NCWGA flocks.
• S. Natural Colored Lincoln.
• T. Registered Colored Romney.

Sunday – JUNIOR SHEEP SHOW – See Livestock Rule 17

• W. Registered Primitive Wool.
• X. Registered Long / Coarse Wool (48 and lower) Junior.
• Y. Registered Medium and Fine Wool (50 and finer) Junior.
• Z. Junior Showmanship – ages 5-10.
• ZZ. Intermediate Showmanship – ages 11-14.
• ZZZ. Senior Showmanship – ages 15-18.

CLASSES:

• 1. Yearling Ram – less than 24 months old.
• 2. Fall Ram Lamb – born September 1, 2025 - January 31, 2026.
• 3. Spring Ram Lamb – born February 1, 2026 and later.
• 4. Pair of Ram Lambs – bred and owned by exhibitor. Must be shown in class 2 or 3.
• 5. Yearling Ewe – less than 24 months old.
• 6. Fall Ewe Lamb – born September 1, 2025 - January 31, 2026.
• 7. Spring Ewe Lamb – born February 1, 2026 and later.
• 8. Pair of Ewe Lambs – bred and owned by exhibitor. Must be shown in class 6 or 7.

GROUP CLASSES:

• 9. Breeders Young Flock – 1 ram lamb, 2 ewe lambs bred and owned by exhibitor. Must have been shown in classes 2/3 and 6/7.

Classes for the following breeds only: Shetlands, Icelandics, Jacobs, Navajo-Churro, Gotlands and Valais Blacknose. Please note birthdates.

• 10. Two-year old Ram not born before January 1, 2024 (showing two-year old teeth).
• 11. Yearling Ram – less than 24 months (showing yearling teeth).
• 12. Ram Lamb – born January 1, 2026 and later.
• 13. Pair of Ram Lambs – bred and owned by exhibitor. Must be shown in class 12.
• 14. Two-year old Ewe not born before January 1, 2024 (showing two-year old teeth).
• 15. Yearling Ewe – less than 24 months (showing yearling teeth).
• 16. Ewe Lamb – born January 1, 2026 and later.
• 17. Pair of Ewe Lambs – bred and owned by exhibitor. Must be shown in class 16.

Breeder’s Young Flock – enter class 9. Lambs need to be shown in class 12 and 16.

BLACK SHEEP CUP

BEST YOUNG FLOCK OF SHOW: Winners of each lot to compete. This is a perennial trophy donated by the Black Sheep Newsletter.

GLEN EIDMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY

BEST SHEEP OF SHOW: Champions from each lot to compete. This is a perennial trophy in Glen’s memory donated by the Black Sheep Gathering organization.

LIVESTOCK BREEDERS

Promote your farm and support the BSG by donating your lamb or goat for the 2026 Black Sheep Gathering Potluck.