First Place:  2

Entry number: 600

Exhibitor: admoser

State: IA

Profile - Excellent.  Neck fully extended, hand placement on head excellent. Head held straight, muzzle level.  Lamb applying pressure to the exhibitor's inner left thigh resulting in correct amount of brace.  Proper set to front and rear feet and legs.  Lamb fully extended but not overly stretched, resulting in proper balance.  Rear hock perpendicular  to declaw/pastern.  This is correct placement of the feet and legs.

Front view - Front legs set straight with proper distance apart, permitting judge to view width of chest floor.  Both hands wrapped under jaws.  This enables exhibitor to extend the neck, but, hold head and neck straight with muzzle held level.  Exhibitor's body is in proper relationship to the sheep with exhibitor's feet set even.

Rear view - Again, proper placement of exhibitor's hands on sheep head.  Neck fully extended, head and muzzle held level.  Exhibitor is permitting lamb to lean into exhibitor's left inner thigh.  Rear legs set square and wide apart.  Excellent presentation of lamb.

Second Place:  4

Entry number: 872

Exhibitor: farmtown8kid

State: MN

Profile - Proper placement of  exhibitor's body in relation to that of the lamb.  Neck fully extended.  Proper hand placement.  Muzzle held a little too high.  Lamb does  appear balanced, however, is a little too extended.  Needs  to have rear legs moved forward about one inch which would result in the hock/dewclaws being perpendicular.

Front view - Exhibitor standing correct.  Would like to see muzzle held a little more level.  Does have proper placement of front legs permitting view of chest floor.  Rear legs appear to be set a little to far forward making the lamb appear to hock.

Rear view -  Proper placement of exhibitor's hands under ears with full extension of neck.  Needs to level muzzle just a tad.  Rear legs set square and wide apart which is correct.

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 784
Exhibitor: animalluv34
State: TX

Profile - Exhibitor has their body positioned correctly in relation to lamb body.  Hands correctly placed under ears and jaw bone fully extended neck with muzzle held level adding to balance of lamb.  Lamb's rear legs set too far back.  This can cause break over hip/loin juncture.  Hock should be perpendicular to declaw/pastern.

Front view - Exhibitor needs to be a little closer to the lamb with body positioned even with the lambs left, or, right shoulder depending on which side exhibitor is standing.    Exhibitor needs to be holding head and neck straighter. Exhibitor needs to be holding muzzle more level.  Proper placement of front legs.

Rear view - Proper placement of exhibitor's body in relation  to lamb.  Exhibitor does have lamb leaning into exhibitor's inner left thigh.  Does have neck fully extended and is holding head/neck straight. Correct placement of rear feet and legs.

Fourth Place:  1

Entry number: 594

Exhibitor: Hughey

State: NC

Profile view - Cannot determine much as the photo angle does not provide much information.  I would prefer both hands be placed around the head under the ears with a full extension of the neck on the profile.

Front view - Chest floor would appear wider if front legs were set wider apart.R right rear leg is not square with left rear leg.

Rear view - Too much pressure applied to brace resulting in hump in back which takes away from balance.  Rear legs placed wide, however, too much brace pressure causes hocked appearance of rear legs.  I do like the body position of the exhibitor and the exhibitor's attentiveness.

I believe all four exhibitors are doing a good job presenting  their lambs.  They show attention to detail and present themselves correctly.

I placed this showmanship class 2, 4, 3, 1 with cuts of 3, 2, 1.. Thanks to the four exhibitors and the photographers for taking the time to make this a competitive showmanship class that allowed me the opportunity to judge each contestant in an objective manner. Attention novice exhibitors:  Please take the time to study each individual showman to gain knowledge and skill in showing your sheep project. Good luck. Gail Christian