NCWGA 2008 National Show
Tentatively, September 8,9, & 10, 2008
About the Fair:
The Kansas State Fair is held annually beginning the Friday following Labor Day and lasts for 10 days at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas. The largest single event in the State, the Fair annually attracts approximately 350,000 people from all 105 Kansas counties and several other states. The Fair offers tremendous opportunities for commerce with over 1,000 commercial exhibit locations; for competition, with over 30,000 entries in various competitive exhibit departments; for education, through its Kansas' Largest Classroom field trip program; and for entertainment with strolling and stage entertainment in addition to the national acts performing at the Grandstand. Visit www.kansasstatefair.com for more information.
2007 NCWGA National Show
Our 2007 National Show was held on Saturday, June 23rd at The Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene OR. As usual, the show was packed with exhibitors and visitors alike and thankfully the weather cooperated with mild temperatures and no rain. The animal show was especially crowded. Approximately 567 sheep and 120 goats were entered for show and or sale. About 35 NCWGA members from OR, WA, CO, CA and TX showed approximately 120 sheep in the three NCWGA lots first thing on Saturday morning with judge Letty Klein from Kalamazoo, MI. Thanks to the generous donations from our members, we were able to provide beautiful awards for class and supreme winners as well as participant ribbons and a lovely commemorative pin for every member who participated in the show. Awards for the open show and junior show included: All Champion Rams and Ewes received the BSG trophy along with a National Show commemorative lead halter. Best fleece winners won an embroidered sheep coat donated by Rocky Payne. The Supreme Ram and Ewe in the open show won a beautiful engraved picture frame and banner made and donated by Mist-O-Morn Farm. The Supreme Ram and Ewe in the Junior show received metal hanging feeders donated by Shaul’s mfg, Best Flock winners received a sheep crook and banner, and Supreme Fleece won an embroidered sheep coat donated by Rocky Payne and a commemorative lead halter.
Our National Junior Show was held Sunday morning, June 24th with judge Maria Rooney from Silverton OR. Ten junior members showed about 30 head in the two NCWGA Junior lots. The junior show was a big hit and several juniors and adults asked if it would be possible to have a junior NCWGA show again next year. This proposal will be presented to the BSG committee at the next board meeting.
Wool Show - Due to the immense size of the wool show at BSG it was decided that we would take the highest placed NCWGA member fleece in each appropriate class and an overall Champion and Reserve Champion fleece would be picked from that. The overall Champion NCWGA fleece was Maria Rooney of Silverton OR. Maria received an embroidered sheep coat donated by Rocky Payne and a commemorative lead halter. The Reserve Champion NCWGA fleece was won by Janet Heppler from Covelo, CA. Janet received an embroidered sheep coat donated by Rocky Payne.
Our T-shirts were very popular, they sold out on Friday! We should have ordered twice as many as usual but we had no idea that they would go so fast! Thanks to Shaul’s mfg for selling the shirts at their booth for us. The annual meeting was held in the bleachers at the show ring right after the junior show. Two board members were able to attend the meeting, Ann Snyder and Jan McMahon making a total of 30 members in attendance. The microphone was passed around and each member introduced themselves, said where they were from and what their NCWGA flock number was. Again, thanks to the generous donations from our members, we were able to provide many wonderful door prizes. The most coveted prize, a metal hanging feeder donated by Shaul’s mfg was won by Debra Chrinstensen. For complete details on the Annual Meeting see the meeting minutes on page________. After the meeting was adjourned, our members met to enjoy a light lunch, 30th anniversary birthday cake, and some social time.
The BSG was a great venue for our show. In addition to the sheep show a person could watch fleece being judged, see a sheep to shawl competition, view the fiber arts show, take a workshop, attend the Sat. night potluck and entertaining Spinner’s Lead, shop, shop, shop, or just sit and spin, knit, or relax! Thank ewe to all who contributed their time, money, and or goods. It was truly appreciated!