Things To Consider Before Taking A Sheep Project

Think about how much space is required to house a lamb.  Do you have enough physical space and the proper shelter?  Are you aware of feed costs, and have you budgeted for them?  Are you prepared to invest the money and time involved in caring for, grooming, and walking a lamb or multiple sheep to train them to be ready for the fair? Are the youth and parent(s), guardian(s), or other adult helper(s) prepared to make the time and financial commitment?  Sheep projects are very rewarding but are also time-intensive.

2026 Sheep Calendar of Events

• 2026 Sheep Calendar of Events

Sheep Project Books

• The books listed below can be ordered through your 4-H club advisor, purchased directly from the Wayne County Extension Office, or ordered online at extensionpubs.osu.edu
• Sheep Resource Handbook (194R) - Order this book once and use it for several years. Contains essential subject matter information for members taking a market lamb or sheep breeding project. An excellent resource for skillathons. Use with 198 Market Lamb Project and Record Book and 199 Sheep Breeding Project and Record Book.
• Sheep Breeding Project and Record Book (199) - Complete this required project book every year a sheep breeding project is taken. Use with 194R Sheep Resource Handbook.
• Market Lamb Project and Record Book (198) - Complete this required project book every year a market lamb project is taken. Use with 194R Sheep Resource Handbook. 

Sheep PRoject Guidelines and Forms

• 2026 Wayne County 4-H Sheep Project Guidelines - published annually, this document provides an overview of the most important things youth and parents should know about taking a dairy project, including important dates, deadlines, animal ID, and Junior Fair information.  This document is usually updated each November or December with information for the new year.
• 2026 Sheep Bred, Born, and Raised Form
• Breeding Sheep Project Judging Form
• Market Sheep Project Judging Form
• Questions about Sheep projects can be directed to your club advisor, Diane Johnson at the Extension Office, or by contacting Sheep Committee Chair Geoffrey Zimmerly. 

Sheep Animal ID Requirements

2026 Sheep Animal ID Help Sheet - overview of how to enter Sheep Animal ID in 4-HOnline and lists which fields and forms are required and which are optional.

Sheep Clinic / Educational Resources

• June 9, 2026, starting at 7 pm in the Coliseum, Wayne County Fairgrounds

Sheep Carcass Contest

• 2025 Sheep Carcass Contest Rules
• 2025 Goat & Lamb Carcass Letter
• August 29 - Carcass Lamb Live Show - 9:00 am, Goat / Sheep Arena, Weigh in 8:00 - 8:45 am
• September 2 - Carcass Lamb Results Show - 6 pm at 3D Meats, Dalton
• Results

Sheep Outstanding Exhibitor Awards Program

• 2026 Outstanding Exhibitor Award Criteria

Sheep Outstanding Record Books

• The Outstanding Record Book Awards are designed to recognize youth who take time to thoroughly complete their record books, adding in details and financial, feed, and health records from throughout the entire project, including final market auction price and calculating their profit or loss for those taking market projects.  Youth wishing to have their record books judged should turn them in to the Extension Office by October 2, 2026.  Awards are presented at the Fall 4-H Recognition Banquet.
• Breeding Sheep Outstanding Record Book Award Rubric
• Market Sheep Outstanding Record Book Award Rubric

Sheep Junior Fair Information

• Click here to be directed to the Wayne County Jr Fair website

Sheep Committee

• The Wayne County 4-H / FFA / Jr. Fair Sheep Action committee are volunteers who are responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out the Sheep program in consultation with and under the authority of OSU Extension and the Wayne County Agricultural Society (Senior Fair Board)
• Our 2024 Sheep Committee is made up of the following individuals: Geoffrey Zimmerly (Chair), Nikki Beeman (Vice Chair), Clay Johnson,  Abbey VanTyne (Secretary, FFA), Morgan Johnson, Craig Simmons, Elyssa Lengacher, Lisa Gwin, Tina Vodika, Amber Opliger, Mike Gerhart and Russ Johnson (Senior Fair Board), Diane Johnson (OSU Extension) and Junior Fair Board members Aubree Cain, Charlie Gortner, Kate Johnson, Elena Plessinger, Brynn Shearer, Mallory Johnson, and Cassidy Stoller

Wayne County 4-H Sheep Facebook Group

Be sure to join our Wayne County 4-H Sheep Facebook Group, where we share reminders, announcements, and other educational content related to the 4-H Sheep program.  Check us out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2455465891220701