First Place:  1

Entry number:920

Exhibitor: Arlambs

State: AR

Sheep name/number: 1127

Breed: Hampshire

Website: www.cgfarms.homestead.com

I chose to start the class with the 1 lamb. He is the wether that offers the most balance and extension when viewed from the side. Of the four, he is straighter and more correct in his topline, and smoother in his transitions down his top. From the rear, I like the squareness he carries from hip to hock to ground, and I also see him as being the most expressive in his leg muscle. I would like to see him more expansive through his rib and shallower through his chest. However, 1 is the lamb that offers the most in terms of quality, balance, and structural correctness.

Second Place:  3

Entry number: 992

Exhibitor: sheepsnpygs

State: OH

Sheep name/number: BS1

Breed: Cross

3 is the wether that most closely follows 1 from a design standpoint. He is elevated in his front and offers a balanced look from the profile. 3 is the neatest made sheep through his shoulder and chest, and is very proportional from the side. Where he falls short of the 1st place lamb is when you get behind him. In comparison to the class winner, he needs to be wider based and thicker and more expressive in his leg and stifle.

Third Place:  4

Entry number: 1004

I thought 4 was the logical choice to put in 3rd. Although he doesn't balance as nicely as the top two lambs, he excels the 4th place sheep in length and levelness of rump, as well as width and dimension of leg. From the profile, 4 needs to be shallower chested and deeper flanked. He also tends to be somewhat rougher in his topline than the top two lambs in class. From the rear, I would like to see him thicker rumped and wider pinned to match the extra fullness and expression he has in his leg and stifle areas.

Fourth Place:  2

Entry number: 947

I elected to round out the class with the #2 wether. 2 is a sheep that is square and correct on his feet and legs. He stands on adequate bone and is above average in the amount of muscle he carries. He is a lamb that needs to balance better from the profile. He tends to break some behind the shoulder, doesn't hook up as smooth in the hip-loin junction, and is not as level hipped as the higher placing lambs in class. He also needs to be smoother in his shoulder to move up in class today.