First Place:  4

Entry number: 713

Exhibitor: EmsoffLambs

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Nicewonger 416

Breed: Hampshire

Website: www.emsofflivestockcompany.com

.I'm starting 4 at the top of the class, not because of her superior size and frame, but because I find her to be the most complete female of the group when considering structure, muscle, style, balance, and feminity. 4 is on the plus side of medium frame.  She has a long neck protruding from the top of the shoulder.  She is long and level in her top and bottome lines.  She appears to be clean through the brisket area with width through the chest floor and she brings this width to the rear.  She is tremendously long in both her rack and hindsaddle with a long level hip.  She is full enough in the rear flank and she has correct rib shape.  When viewed from the rear she is square over the rack and loin, deep in the twist and shows evidence of inside and outside muscle in the lower leg.  She should make an exceptional brood ewe and if paired with the correct type ram should produce superior offspring.

Second Place:  1

Entry number: 656

Exhibitor: SheepnPygs

State: OH

Sheep name/number: Glenda

Breed: Hampshire X

Website: www.charlenesclublambs.com

I see ewe lamb one second in the class.  She is typical of medium framed sheep.  She does have a long neck properly placed.  She too is level in both her top and bottom lines and she appears clean through the shoulder.  She might be a little pinched at the hip/loin juncture, and, then again, this might be due to a little too much fill.  She sure has the proper rib shape and enough length of hip. From the rear she shows fullness through th twist with a tremendous  leg.  Again, she should make a good brood ewe.

Third Place:  3

Entry number: 707

I believe the most difficult placing was the bottom pair, 3 and 2.  Going back to structure as my number one critera when selecting breeding animals, I believe 3 is the most structurally correct of the bottom pair of females.

The way 3 is being presented, she appears to be a little down fronted, however, I believe this is due to the way she is being posed.  She has a medium length neck that is squarely placed.  She is fairly straight in both her top and bottom lines, however, she does slope off the hip and I would like to raise her a couple of inches in her dock.  She appears to be moderate in her muscle mass.

Fourth Place:  2

Entry number: 665

I see 2 at the bottom of the class.  I will admit her long neck sitting on top of her shoulder along with her exceptionally clean front did get my attention.  However, at the same time , her lack of bone density, shortness of hip, and narrowness through the pins also commanded my attention.  I do believe if she is paired with a ram strong where she is weak that she could produce  some nice lambs that could be easily marketed.

Again, I placed the class 4, 1, 3, 2 with cuts of 2, 3, 1.