Wool
Exhibitors must be 4-H members during the current year. Fleece entries must be made in the Exhibit Hall at the same time scheduled for other non-perishables. Each exhibitor may exhibit no more than two fleeces per class.
Fleeces will be placed in the proper lot by the wool judge.
IMPORTANT: Fleeces need to be 12-month growth. Short staple wool of less than 12 month growth is too short to be judged and will be lowered a ribbon. The wool market requires at least 2 ½ inches of wool staple for carding and 2 3/4th inches for combing wool. Fleeces must be left on display during the entire fair.
SCORE CARD FOR WOOL JUDGING
Estimated Clean Wool Content (yield and shrinkage) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
High yield per fleece is desirable. Small amount o flight-colored yolk as free from
adhering sand, dirt and vegetable matter as possible. Cut heavily if tied with any
twine other than paper.
Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ….. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Should be combing or staple length for the grade: i.e., fine, 3 in.; ½ blood, 3 ½ in.;
3/8 blood, 3 3/4 in.; 1/4 blood, 4 in.; low 1/4 blood, 4 1/4 in.; braid, 4 ½ in.
Lengths more than ½ inch greater than this are of no additional value except
increasing the yield and grease weight.
Quality or Fineness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . . . . . . . 10
Should fall clearly in one of the grades according to fineness; i.e., fine, ½ blood;
3/8 blood; 1/4 blood; low 1/4 blood; braid. Uniformity of fineness particularly
desirable. Cut heavily for hairy britch.
Soundness (strength) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . 10
Fiber should be strong throughout and free from breaks.
Purity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . . . . 10
Free from hair, kemp, black or brown fibers. Cut heavily for black or brown
fibers and coarse, hairy britch.
Character and Color (crimp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . . . . . 10
Evenly crimped or wavy from base to top. Crimp should be distinct. Free from
frowsy wool. Soft and springy to the touch. White to cream, bright color most
desirable. Should be free from stains and with an even distribution of yolk.
Total 100