ST. PAUL — Mower County 4-Hers won blue and purple ribbons at the 2017 Minnesota State Fair. There were 399 sheep shown at this year ‘s 4-H Breeding and Market Lamb Show held on Aug. 25.

In Breeding Ewes, Kylie Stafford of the Southside 4-H Club won a blue ribbon in Southdown, Registered-February Ewe Lamb. Grace Bergstrom of the Red Rock Rangers won blue in Commercial Black Face-January Ewe Lamb. Ryan VanPelt of the Enterprise 4-H Club won purple in Commercial White and Speckle Face-January Ewe Lamb.

In Market Lambs, Brody Erickson of the Racine Ramblers won blue in Class 13 Black Face: Lightweight Market Lamb and purple, while placing fifth, in Class 14 Black Face: Lightweight Market Lamb. Skyler Scott of the Red Rock Rangers won blue in Class 16 Black Face: Middleweight Market Lamb. Owen Carol of the Enterprise 4-H Club won blue in Class 18 Black Face: Middleweight Market Lamb.

In Class 19 Black Face: Heavyweight Market Lamb, three Mower County competitors won blue: McKenzie Boehm of the Racine Ramblers, Chloe Anderson of the Red Rock Rangers and Sally Peterson of the Windom 4-H Club.

In Class 10 Market Lamb: Speckle Face, Bailey Anderson of the Red Rock Rangers won purple while placing second.

Breanna Winfield of the LeRoy Wide Awake 4-H Club won blue and placed third in Class 8 Market Lamb: White Face.
Contest wrap-up

The Grand Champion Market Lamb this year was exhibited by Brett Neel of Freeborn County with his Champion Middleweight Market Lamb. The Reserve Champion Market Lamb was exhibited by Riley Arthur of Steele County with his Champion Lightweight Market Lamb.

Parker Benda of Jackson County and his Registered Suffolk Yearling Ewe received the coveted title of Supreme Champion Breeding Ewe. The Reserve Supreme Ewe was Gabriel Gieser of E. Otter Tail County with his Registered Other Breeds Yearling Ewe. The third place Supreme Ewe was shown by Izabella Stender of LacQui Parle County with a Registered Dorset Ewe Lamb. Mitchell Bobendrier of Pipestone County was fourth overall with his Registered Hampshire Yearling Ewe and Moriah Geiser of E. Otter Tail County was fifth overall with her Registered Columbia Yearling Ewe.

The Grand Champion Fleece exhibitor this year was Matthew Rheingans from Swift County. Tracy Rheingans from Swift County was the Reserve Grand Champion Fleece exhibitor.

In addition to a quality animal, 4-H youth must demonstrate their knowledge about the sheep industry. 4-H’ers learn important development and leadership skills throughout their involvement with their projects and communities.