County 4-Hers do well showing sheep

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Six Vermont 4-H sheep members and two dairy goat members last month had the opportunity to compete at Eastern States Exposition, in West Springfield, Mass.
Representing Vermont in sheep events were Jarod and Raymond Bushey, both from Addison; Rebecca Moriarty, Jericho; and Gabrielle and Riley Ochs and Siri Swanson, all from Orwell. Bridget Denio, Waterford, and Lillie Tuckerman, South Woodstock, participated in dairy goat contests, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
In addition to fitting and showmanship and conformation classes, the sheep delegation participated in skill-a-thon, general knowledge, quiz bowl and sheep blocking and fitting contests. Vermont’s quiz bowl team, which included Raymond Bushey, Gabrielle and Riley Ochs, and Siri Swanson captured first place.
Vermont 4-H’ers also earned the highest score in each of the three age divisions in Skill-a-thon, a competition that tested their knowledge of sheep and the sheep industry. Siri Swanson won the senior division (ages 16 and older), Gabrielle Ochs, intermediate (ages 14-15), and Rebecca Moriarty, the junior division (ages 12-13).
One exhibitor from each of the New England states also was recognized with the Individual Shepherd Award. In Vermont Gabrielle Ochs received this award, given to an individual who demonstrates outstanding teamwork and commitment to his or her 4-H project. The delegates vote by secret ballot to select their state’s winner.
For the dairy goat show, the Vermont delegation had the first-place tabletop exhibit. Lillie Tuckerman was named the Vermont Herdsperson as well as was recognized as the Overall Herdsperson Champion for the second year in a row.
The 4-H sheep members and their individual achievements were:
JAROD BUSHEY: Intermediate Showmanship–wool breeds, fifth. In the Other Breeds–wool conformation classes, Jarod’s junior ewe lamb placed second. In the Natural Colored breed classes, he earned first place for best fleece while his pair of lambs, junior ram lamb and junior ewe lamb all came in second. He also had the Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Ewe.
RAYMOND BUSHEY: Senior Showmanship–wool breeds, fifth. In Other Breeds–wool his junior ram lamb placed third.
REBECCA MORIARTY: Junior Showmanship–wool breeds, sixth. In the Natural Colored breed classes Rebecca’s yearling ewe took first and also was named Champion Ewe. She also entered Lincoln sheep, winning firsts for her junior ram lamb, junior ewe lamb, yearling ewe, pair of lambs, exhibitor’s flock and best fleece. She had the Champion Ram, Champion Bred and Owned Ram, Champion Ewe, Reserve Champion Ewe and Champion Bred and Owned Ewe.
GABRIELLE OCHS: Intermediate Showmanship–wool breeds, third. Both her Romney yearling ewe and junior ewe lamb placed fourth in their respective classes. Gabrielle earned Best in Show for the best fleeced animal.
RILEY OCHS: Junior Showmanship–wool breeds, fourth. Riley exhibited Border Leicester sheep, taking several firsts including for her yearling ram, yearling ewe and best fleece and several championships including champion ram, Champion Bred and Owned Ram, Champion Ewe and Champion Bred and Owned Ewe.
SIRI SWANSON: Senior Showmanship–slick shorn, first. In the Market Lambs division, her entry took first. In the Southdown classes her junior ewe lamb and yearling ewe both came in third and her exhibitor’s flock, second. In Other Breeds–wool, she earned first place for her junior ram lamb, pair of lambs, junior ewe lamb, exhibitor’s flock and best fleece and a second for her yearling ewe. She also had the Champion Ram, Champion Bred and Owned Ram, Reserve Champion Ewe, Champion Bred and Owned Ewe and Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Ewe. In addition, she earned a Best of Show award, Supreme Champion Bred and Owned Ram.
The two dairy goat members who qualified for Eastern States placed as follows:
BRIDGET DENIO: Junior Fitting, eleventh. Junior Showing, twelfth. She placed sixth in the dry doe over two-years-old class.
LILLIE TUCKERMAN: Junior Fitting, thirteenth. Junior Showing, third. Lillie entered two goats in the Non-registered Dairy Goat Division. Her milking yearling under two-years-old and dry yearling both took first. Her milking yearling was named Senior Champion.

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