Sheep handled and shown by Allen Hale and Elisa Ward were judged supreme champions on Wednesday during the sheep breeding show at the Washington Town and Country Fair.
Hale was a repeat supreme champion performer from a year ago.
Hale exhibited a Suffolk spring lamb ram that won its breed before earning supreme champion honors. Ward displayed an Oxford ewe lamb that captured breed honors before claiming the supreme prize.
Both Hale and Ward were multiple winners throughout the three-hour show.
Ward also earned top showmanship honors in the senior division, which is for handlers ages 14-18. Brittany Byram was awarded the junior showmanship award, which is for ages 8-13. Both girls received a belt buckle.
The number of total sheep entries was down from 2011. Forty-three animals were shown during the competition compared to 52 a year ago. In 2010, the number of sheep in the show was 71.
However, judge Adam Gatson of Vandalia said despite the lower numbers, the competition was strong.
“We had some really good animals at the top of the classes,” he said. “This was a good show.”
Gatson said he has been in the sheep business since 1976.
There was no Montadale breed represented this year, meaning sheep were judged in Dorset, Hampshire, Oxford and Suffolk breeds.
Winners in the 2012 Washington Town and Country Fair sheep breeding show were:
Cassidy Ward
•Dorset ram — champion and reserve champion, open division; champion and reserve champion, junior division.
•Dorset ewe — champion and reserve champion, open division; champion and reserve champion, junior division.
Blake Beeson
•Hampshire ram — champion, open division; champion, junior division.
•Suffolk ewe — champion, open division; champion, junior division.
Brittany Byram
•Junior division showmanship.
•Hampshire ram — reserve champion, open division; reserve champion, junior division.
•Hampshire ewe — champion and reserve champion, open division; champion and reserve champion, junior division.
•Suffolk ram — reserve champion, open division; reserve champion, junior division.
Allen Hale
•Suprere champion ram.
•Suffolk ram — champion, open division; champion, junior division.
•Suffolk ewe — reserve champion, open division; reserve champion, junior division.
Jonah Lasater
•Oxford ram, champion, open division.
•Oxford ewe — reserve champion, open division.
Elisa Ward
•Senior division showmanship.
•Supreme champion ewe.
•Oxford ram — reserve champion, open division; champion and reserve champion, junior division.
•Oxford ewe — champion, open division; champion and reserve champion, junior division.
