Sheep tagging will be Saturday, May 2nd from  8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

 

RULES: Read pages 21-24 regarding General Animal/Exhibition Rules, Grooming Policy and the Indiana  4-H Quality Assurance policy.  The 4honline animal enrollment is due May 15 annually and FairEntry July 6, 2026. 

 

To be eligible for ISF, all sheep must have a Shearwell 840-RFID tag as well as a DNA HAIR SAMPLE.

1. All sheep entered in the 2026 4-H program must be owned by the 4-H exhibitor by May 15, 2026.
2. The show order will be posted at the west end of the sheep barn prior to the show.
3. To be eligible for Indiana State Fair, all market lambs, commercial ewes and registered ewes must be individually identified with a Shearwell 840-RFID tag, under the supervision of the County Extension staff on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the fairgrounds from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Entry of any sheep at the Indiana State Fair requires a Shearwell 840-RFID tag and DNA hair sample. Sample envelopes are available at the Extension office. For county show only, all market lambs require a 5-digit county tag. All commercial ewes must have either a 5 digit county tag or a farm flock tag. Registered breeding stock must have a tag correlating to its registration papers.
4. Using the online 4-H sheep enrollment process, registered ewes and/or commercial breeding ewes must be listed by flock tag number, tattoo number or county tag number.  Market lambs must be listed online by an official five-digit county tag number, which is placed in the ear the day of tagging. The cost of the county five-digit tag will be $2.00 per tag and a Shearwell 840 RFID tag is an additional $2.00 per head, and needs to be paid when ear tagging takes place.
5. All animals must have been enrolled using the official 4-H animal online enrollment process and be under the care of the 4-H exhibitor by May 15th. These animals must remain in the same continuous ownership and care until the Putnam County Fair, or until show day at the Indiana State Fair, if showing at State Fair.
6. An animal may be co-enrolled by siblings. The animal(s) only need to be listed on one sibling's 4-H animal electronic enrollment form.
7. A 4-H market lamb or breeding ewe enrolled in a particular breed may be changed to the commercial division on or before the published FairEntry deadline. 
8. All stall/pen entry forms with payment of $5 per pen are due in the County Extension Office on or before July 6th and must be completed. Pen forms will be emailed out by June 15th. Do NOT request Tack Pens.
9. All exhibits must arrive anywhere between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, July 17th or 7a.m.-10 a.m. Saturday, July 18th.  At this time all sheep may be inspected as they come off trailers and all market lambs will be weighed in.  Animals with questions about health and disease issues will be consulted  and may be asked to go home. Animals will be weighed and registrations checked at posted time.  Early release will be Friday morning, July 24th 12:01am-8 am.  Final release will be early Saturday morning from 12:01am - 8am.  All livestock and tack must be gone by 8am Saturday. 
10. 4-H exhibits must remain on exhibit at the Putnam County Fair until established release time, unless approved by the Superintendent and 4-H Youth Educator.  For any exhibit removed from display prior to the official release time, placing's and prizes (ribbons, medals, trophies, etc) will be forfeited.  The current year Achievement Program recognition for that project will be forfeited.
11. All lambs exhibited must have been dropped on or after September 1, 2025. Animals with broken mouth, evidence of yearling teeth, will show in a yearling class. Determination of yearling teeth will be at the discretion of the judge, whose decision will be final.
12. All sheep exhibited must meet health requirements as designated by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Indiana Hoosier livestock exhibitors will no longer have to present a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) at Indiana shows under state law.
13. All livestock exhibitors were required by the state to obtain premise identification. If you have not completed this premise identification, please contact the Indiana State Board of Animal Health www.boah.in.gov. For additional questions about Indiana's premise ID program, contact BOAH at animalID@boah.in.gov or 317-544-2381.
14. A halter may be used during the show.  The second showman in the show arena must be a Putnam County 4-Her.
15. Muzzles may not be used.
16. 4-H members may NOT show the same ewe lamb as both a market lamb and a breeding ewe in the 4-H sheep show at the Putnam County Fair or Indiana State Fair in any given year. A ewe lamb can, however, be shown as a 4-H market lamb one (1) year and then shown as a yearling breeding ewe the following year.
17. Cross-bred market lambs will be entered in black face cross or white face cross class.  Purebred market lambs must exhibit characteristics consistent with that breed. All class designations by the sifting committee are final and any class changes must be made on Fair-Entry by the published deadline.  Any market animal not meeting purebred requirements will be placed in appropriate black face cross or white face cross class. 
18. All Shropshire, Southdown, and Commercial ewes must be slick shorn for exhibition.
19. Exhibitors must furnish feed and bedding. They will be expected to keep pens, aisle areas and exhibits clean, presentable and in safe condition at all times.

     A Herdsmanship Program will identify and recognize the accomplishments of 4-H members in a Junior Division, Intermediate Division, and Senior Division.

20. Fans must have proper safety-approved shrouds, and should all face East.
21. When 4-H members are showing  livestock in 4-H classes, the 4-H’ers clothing must not bear the name of a farm or their name, or advertising of any sort.
22. Forced feeding with any pumping source or drench gun is not permitted without superintendent or 4-H Youth Educator approval and supervision. Disqualification may occur if permission is not obtained.
23. The direct application of ice, alcohol, Freon or any other refrigerant to the hide of a lamb is strictly prohibited.  Use of any of the above will result in immediate disqualification.
24. Any sheep exhibitor using excessive abuse on their exhibit animals will be eliminated from the show (including slapping lambs on the rump during the show). All awards will be forfeited and the 4-H’er will be ineligible to show sheep at the Putnam County Fair the following year. Excessive abuse shall include burning, stabbing, gouging, punching, use of electric shocker or other treatment which is cruel and inhumane treatment to show animals.

**Especially note terms and conditions on tampering, misrepresentation, conduct, drugs, pumping, forced filling, etc. Animals painted or colored by any means that alter or misrepresent breed characteristics will be penalized under the fraud and deception rules stated in the Indiana State Fair 4-H /FFA Handbook / Premium List. Exhibitors should review the classification guidelines in the 2026 Indiana State Fair 4-H/FFA handbook exhibition section according to the General Terms and Conditions and Premium list for further clarification standards.

25. All sale animals must meet livestock department sale entry deadlines to participate in sale.
26. 4-H animals purchased, sold or offered for sale after the enrollment deadline and prior to the Indiana State Fair shall not be eligible to show in the 4-H show at the Indiana State Fair.
27. All animals must stay within the barn area.  They are not to be in the food court, camper or parking lot area at any time for any reason.

SCRAMBLE CLASS  Open to any 4-H member who is in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade and is a first year member in the 4-H Sheep project. ALL SCRAMBLE LAMBS MUST GO THROUGH THE 4-H AUCTION. Each 4-H Lamb Scramble Member will show only the one (1) market lamb in the 4-H sheep project (lamb may be entered in any open show). The market lamb will be donated to the 4-H member and will be obtained at the Scramble held on market lamb tag day at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Deadline for sign-up will be March 30th of the current year. Please contact the superintendent to sign up. 4-H SCRAMBLE MEMBERS MAY ENTER AND SHOW ONLY THEIR SCRAMBLE LAMB. Scramble lambs will be shown in their own separate class.  One may not also have any other species scramble animal.

SEE PAGE __21__ FOR THE PUTNAM COUNTY 4-H GROOMING GENERAL RULES 

SEE PAGE__23__FOR THE PUTNAM COUNTY 4-H SHOWMANSHIP GENERAL RULES

 

There will be classes for the following Sheep Breeds:

Code    Breed

AOB   All other Breeds

BC      Border Cheviot

CH     Columbia

CO     Commercial (Black Face X, White Face X)   

CR     Corriedale

DA     Dorset Advantage (Breeding animals only)

DO     Dorset

DR     Dorper

FN     Finnsheep

HP     Hampshire

HD     Horned Dorset

KA     Katahdin

JA     Jacob

MO    Montadale

NL     Natural-Colored

NC     North Country Cheviot

OX     Oxford

PP     Polypay

RB     Rambouillet

RM    Romney

SL     Shetland

SS     Shropshire

SD     Southdown

SF     Suffolk

TX     Texel

TU     Tunis

(Refer to the classification guidelines of the current Indiana State Fair 4-H/FFA handbook for specific breed requirements and disqualifications.)

4-H BREEDING STOCK SHOW

1. Except for commercial ewes, all breeding sheep including RAMS must be purebred and registered with the registration number recorded with the breed association and the papers (no photocopies or fax copies) in the possession of the exhibitor. No Crossbred RAMS will not be allowed to show.  The breeder’s tag/tattoo must be worn if required by the breed association.

     Registration papers will be checked. All commercial ewe lambs and yearling ewes will be weighed for class designations.

2. All exhibitors may enter and show a maximum of two entries in each of the classes listed, for each breed being exhibited.
3. A pair in any class must be entered in that class in one 4-H member’s name. Breeding stock pairs (e.g ewe lambs and yearlings) may be exhibited by up to three (3) 4-H exhibitors. Animals shown in pair classes must have been shown as individual ewe lambs or yearlings.
4. Flock defined: 1 ram (lamb, or yearling) 2 ewes (lambs or yearlings). Commercial flock must be shown with a purebred ram. A flock must be entered in that class in one 4-H member’s name, but can be a combination of entries owned and exhibited by 4-H members who are family siblings.
5. Animals exhibited in the ewe lamb classes must still have their lamb’s teeth intact. Lambs with broken mouths or showing evidence of yearling teeth, will show in a yearling class. Determination of yearling ewes’ teeth will be at the discretion of the judge.

 

The following is a Class List for each of the above breeds. When making FairEntry please indicate breed, section number and class.

Sec.      Class

SP 01  Single Fall Ewe Lamb (born Sept 1-Dec 31 2025)

SP 02  Pair Fall Ewe Lambs

SP 03  Single Spring Ewe Lamb (born Jan 1-Feb 28)

SP 04  Late Spring Ewe Lamb (born March 1 & later)

SP 05  Pair Spring Ewe Lambs

SP 06  Single Yearling Ewe

SP 07  Pair Yearling Ewes 

SP 08  Single Ram Lamb (Purebred only)

SP 09  Pair Ram Lambs (Purebred only)

SP 10  Single Yearling Ram (Purebred only)

SP 11  Flock

 

4-H ALL-BREED MARKET LAMB SHOW

1. All Market Lambs must be brought to the fair “slick shorn” no longer than 5 days growth (NO EXCEPTION) and may not be penned until examined by the proper authorities.
2. Weigh in time will be announced.  Sifting for purebred market classes will occur at a TBD time.  4-H member or parent should be present to weigh-in the lamb.

3. Wether and ewe lambs from all breeds may be exhibited, but ewe lambs shown in this market lamb show are not eligible to show in breeding stock classes.
4. Classes will be broken by weight with a maximum of 10 entries per class — ties broken by the superintendent.
5. 4-H members market lambs need not be of the same breed as their breeding stock entries.
6. All breeds will be the same for market and breeding sheep with the exception of Dorset Advantage.  Any breed of market lamb must have three (3) to make a breed class or it will show in an AOB class.
7. 4-H members may enter and show a total of six (6) market lambs in any combination, not limited to breed.
8. Market lamb pairs will not show by breed but only as pairs as a 4-H member would like to enter.  Each member is allowed to enter one (1) pair in the pair of market lamb class. 
9. Animals shown in pair classes must have been shown in an individual market lamb class.
10. The total weight of the pair will determine the class they show in.
11. All market lambs must be under one (1) year of age on show day and still have their lamb’s teeth intact . Those sheep whose lamb’s teeth are not still intact will be disqualified.
12. Each 4-H member, except Scramble Exhibitors, is entitled to enter one lamb in the 4-H carcass class.
13. 4-H members will be required to pay for processing and take care of carcass meat.

 

There will be ten placings for “Live Carcass Lamb”.

There will be ten placings for “On Rail Carcass”.

Sponsored by the Putnam County Sheep Association.

 

The following is a Class List for the 4-H Market

Lamb Show. When making FairEntry please indicate

breed, section number and class.

Sec.       Class

SP13 Individual Market Lamb

SP14 Pair Market Lamb

SP15 4-H Carcass Lamb (note rule 12)

SP16 Scramble Class Market Lamb

 

 

Trimming and Fitting Contest— Time TBD

4-H Sheep project members may compete in the sheep trimming and market lambs fitting contest. There will be four divisions

Sec          Class

SP 21 Junior Fitting Individual

SP 22 Junior Trimming Individual

SP 23 Senior Fitting Individual.

SP 24 Senior Trimming Individual

 

Junior Participants will be 4-H members in grades 3rd through 7th on January 1st of the current year.

Senior Participants will be 4-H members in grades 8th and above on January 1st of the current year.

1.) Participants are to provide their own lamb for the contest. 

2.) Lambs used for fitting may not have been trimmed or fitted in any manner prior to the contest.

3.) Participants will trim the sheep without assistance or advice during the contest.

4.) Time will be limited to one hour for all divisions.

5.) Participants will be judged for handling, trimming, appearance of the fitted animal and conditioning of the fleece in accordance with 4-H “A Score Sheet for Sheep Trimming.”

Judge(s) experienced in fitting for show will score the contest.

 When making FairEntry please indicate the section number.

 

Lead line Classes– Date and Time TBA

 

Putnam County Wool Show

Wednesday, July 22nd, Show Arena

1. Fleece should not be purchased.
2. Fleece entries will be accepted at the west end of the   sheep barn from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. the day of judging.
3. Exhibitors must be 4-H members during the current year.
4. Each 4-H exhibitor is limited to three fleeces. Fleeces will be placed in the proper class by the wool judge.
5. Fleece should be placed in a clear plastic bag.
6. Champion Fleece & Reserve Champion Fleece will be selected.
7. Fleeces will be displayed in Harris Hall until the end of fair week.

 

Wool Classes:

Sec.            Class

SP30     Fine Market Wool

SP31     Medium Market Wool

SP32     Coarse Market Wool

SP33     Common/Braid Market Wool