Dwight Loveday, Associate Professor
May 26-27, 2017
Hyder-Burks Sale Arena * Cookeville, TN
Sheep Conference will provide hands on learning experiences, as well as opportunities to meet and make new sheep friends from across the state. The location for Sheep Conference is the Hyder-Burks Sale Arena on the Tennessee Tech campus in Cookeville. Parents and volunteer leaders are welcome and encouraged to attend. Sheep Conference is especially beneficial to younger 4-Her’s getting started with their sheep project.
Sheep Conference will be conducted in two parts. For the older, more experienced project members (grades 8-12), a special Friday (May 26) evening training session is planned for you. The general theme for this training is Concepts of Sheep Reproduction. Youth will learn about ram and ewe reproductive anatomy, fetal development during gestation and technologies in sheep reproductive management.
During Saturday’s Sheep Conference schedule, 4-Hers will have the opportunity to receive training in showmanship, grooming, nutrition and health. Steve Edwards, a nationally known club lamb producer and judge that has conducted showmanship and fitting workshops throughout the southeast. Tennessee Farmer’s Cooperative nutrition experts will be on hand to discuss feeding your lambs. Nate Long will be conducting a grooming demonstration for those interested in fitting wool for lambs shown in the wool. Youth will have the opportunity to participate in a mock showmanship class; so it is desirable to bring a lamb from home. However, there will be a few lambs on hand for those that cannot bring a sheep. Also, each participant will have the opportunity to make a rope halter for their project.
We will continue to have skillathon training, table top exhibits and Quiz Bowl. New this year will be a team skillathon contest. Table top exhibits (a display board about your sheep project or sheep related topic) will be evaluated by age group.
A quiz bowl team consists of three (3) members from the 7-12 grades. To encourage county participation, a team with all three members from the same county will be awarded 10 points to start the quiz bowl. Tennessee Farmer’s Cooperative will be providing prizes for winners in these contests!
What???
2017 Tennessee 4-H Sheep Conference
Who???
4-H and FFA members, leaders and parents. This is a family conference, designed for the benefit of 4-H members and their families.
Where???
Hyder-Burks Sales Arena is located in Cookeville at 2390 Gainesboro Grade, Cookeville, TN 38501. Take Exit 286 from I-40 onto Willow (Hwy 135 N). Go 3.3 miles and turn left on 12th Street (Hwy 290 W). Go 2.2 miles and look for the large arena on the left.
When???
Friday and Saturday, May 26-27, 2017
Why??
To help 4-H members and parents learn more about the 4-H sheep project and ac- tivities.
Cost???
The registration fee is $10 per person and payable upon arrival. (Parents meal is $5)
Pre-Registration???
Please email Claudia Baney by May 23 to aid in meal planning and supplies). Lodging is on your own.
Tentative Schedule:
Senior 4-H Sheep Conference (8-12 graders as of January 1, 2017)
Friday, May 26, 2017
Hyder-Burks Sale Arena, Cookeville
- 6:00 PM – Registration
- 6:30 PM-Welcome and Program Orientation
- 6:40 PM-Concepts of Sheep Reproduction
- 9:00 PM-Orientation for Saturday
- 9:30 PM-Adjourn
4-H Sheep Conference (For all junior sheep producers and parents)
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Hyder-Burks Sale Arena, Cookeville
- 8:30 AM-Registration
- 9:00 AM-Welcome and Orientation
- 9:10 AM-Skillathon Training (breeds, feeds, meat ID, quality assurance, sheep reproduction, halter making, and structure)
- 10:45 AM-Feeding Your Lambs
Health Tips for Your Lambs
Pizza Lunch - 12:15 PM-Sheep Skill Development:
* Grooming
* Showmanship - 2:30 PM-Team Skillathon Contest
- 3:30 PM-Sr. Quiz Bowl
- 3:45 PM-Awards
- 4:00 PM-Annual Meeting of Tennessee Junior Sheep Producers Association and Elections
Sponsors
Tennessee Junior 4-H Sheep Conference is sponsored by Tennessee Farmer’s Co-operative, FACCT (Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee), Tennessee Sheep Producers Association and UT Extension.
