First Place:  3

Entry number: 1502

Exhibitor: EmsoffLambs

State: CA

Sheep name/number: Emsoff 543

Breed: Hamspshire X

Website: www.emsofflivestockcompany.com

In a really competitive class of two to four month old ewes, I find the most Hampshire appearing ewe to rise to the top fairly easily. From the side she is the most captivating. Her neck comes high out of the top of a properly angulated blade, and from there she is driven high in her chest floor. Her top and underline run parallel and she is super attractive about her hip and hind leg. From behind she is still the most impressive. She is round and robust in her rib design, the biggest ended, and the most cracked open underneath.

Second Place:  2

Entry number: 1469

Exhibitor: Sheepherder07

State: OK

Sheep name/number:

Breed: Hamspshire

Website: www.coleclublambs.com

I went back and forth several times in the middle pair, but eventually settled on the two ewe in second. I felt that of the pair, she offers the most width through her center skeleton. She is a bigger footed, who is bolder centered, bigger topped, and works more shape through her hip. I will be the first to admit, I need to see this girl more upfronted. I want to elevate her at the base of her chest and redesign her underpinning. Furthermore, she has a little more set to her hock than what I prefer.

Third Place:  1

Entry number: 1378

I wouldn’t blame anyone for switching this pair in favor of the blue pelted ewe, but I still leave her third. I am a fan of her silhouette from the side. She is neat chested, smooth shouldered, jet level hipped. But her view up high is what limits her to third in my mind. Of my top trio, I read her as being the flattest through her center body and the most closed up in her foundation. I would still like to see more width at her pinset and more dimension through her stifle. In my mind she also needs to set her rear two down more squarely at the surface.

Fourth Place:  4

Entry number: 1504

I round the class off with the four ewe. If I had to guess, I would probably say she is the youngest of the class and she will no doubt get better with time. The length of her cannon bone suggests that she is going to be a large statured female in her own right, however for me she simply gives up too much power and mass to the three above her. She reads flatter through her ribcage, and rounder out of her hip.