About the Sheep Project
The Sheep Project is designed for those 4-H members who want to learn more about raising sheep. Choose whether the project would be for wool, breeding or meat production. For more information => Sheep Project Level Overview & Tips
Members should purchase a sheep resource manual when they sign up for the sheep project.
| Boulder County Fair Sheep Project Superintendent |
| Staci Andersen ~ stacija12@gmail.com |
Record Books / e-Records
4-H Record Books are also called e-Records. Each project has its own record book that members are required to complete each year. Record books have a few times to be checked on progress throughout the year:
1. June- your 4-H leader will be sure your books are started and up to date.
2. Prior to showing at the Boulder County Fair, your record books will be checked by your superintendent to be sure they are up to date and complete as can be in order to participate and show at the fair.
3. Final animal record books are due to be received at the extension office by the second Friday in September. (please note: your 4-H Leader may need an earlier deadline for review and signatures.)
e-Records
4-H Livestock Resources
Manual
All project manuals are received through the Extension office. These will be distributed to 4-H members through their organizational leaders (club leaders) after enrollment is complete. For more information on enrollment visit Join 4-H.
Forms and Resources
- Market Sheep Nomination Form (Updated 02/13/2023)
- Market Sheep Tag-In Info (Updated 05/1/2023)
- Animal Care Form
- Breed Verification Form
- LSF Quality Assurance Form 2022 PDF | DOC
- Market Animal Budget Planner
- Common Animal Disease Chart
- Lost ID Protocol
- Colorado Scrapies ID Information
- Scrapies Fact Sheet
- Scrapie Requirements for Going to “The Show”
Events & Opportunities
Market Sheep Nominations for County Fair
For information on the Sheep Project at the County Fair.
Process:
- Fill out the tag-in form. It is also available at the 4-H Extension website.
- Tag Fees – There is a $4.00 fee for each tag. 4-H Staff will be collecting the fees and will be located mid aisle.
- Enter from the SOUTH fairground entrance to the Pole Barn
- Left at the Pole Barn and around the North side of Barn A
- LEFT on Midway down to BARN C
- There are 2 WEST side entry points
- Exit on EAST side when tag-in, paperwork, and fees are paid
If we are unable to tag or retail scan in vehicle or trailer there will be 2 pens setup to hold your market animal
Tag-In will proceed in the following order:
1. Nomination Forms/Cards:
Fill out one nomination form (county OR state) for each animal. State fair cards also qualify for county fair. You will need to know your project animal’s breed, sex and birth date.
Pay a $4.00 nomination fee per animal. Fee covers the cost of tags, tag equipment, scale equipment retinal scanning equipment and helps supplement funds for fair awards. Remember to include fee in your record book.
2. Ear Tags:
Establish the ownership of each animal. Each project animal is required to be owned and nominated to one specific exhibitor. In other words, siblings must specify ownership of each animal and may not share or swap animals after Tag-In. For example, goat 101 cannot be listed as John’s goat and later trans-ferred to his sister, Mary.
Fill out Tag Number on Nomination Form. After animal has been tagged by a volunteer, check that the correct tag number is now listed on the nomination card for that animal.
3. Weigh:
Push your animal(s) through the shoot to the scale. It is highly recommended that your animal have a halter or collar on when going through the scale.
Hand your completed Nomination Form to the volunteer at the scale. Check that the tag # on the form matches the tag # on the animal that is on the scale.
Note: Male market animals must be castrated or banded and all ewes and does must have scrapie tags in place by the May tag-in. Market goats must be dehorned or have horns “tipped” before exhibiting.
4. Retinal Scan:
Bring each animal individually to the designated pen for retinal scanning. Retinal scanning is required to be eligible for market sheep and goat classes at the Boulder County Fair and Colorado State Fair. Retinal scanning works like a finger print to provide precise identification of an animal in case a tag is lost or questions arise. All Champion and Reserve Market Goats and Sheep will be scanned at the Boulder County Fair to verify identity.
5. Final Paperwork review
Bring each completed form to the end of the barn and turn in. Please check your paperwork to be sure animals are identified correctly. This is your final chance for any updates. Take a photo of your completed paperwork for reference. Turn in paperwork to 4-H Staff members.
Scrapies Tags:
How do I get scrapies tags for my sheep or goats?
Request your FREE tags and tagger, just call 866-USDA-TAG 866-873-2824.
If you are planning on exhibiting/selling any female sheep/goats; sexually intact male sheep/goats OR own any sheep/goats older than 18 months old in Colorado you will need tags. It is recommended to have tags in place by Market Nomination day so you know you are good for fair and required to be eligible to show/sell goats or sheep at the Boulder County Fair.