2011 Junior Sheep & Wool Skillathon

Sixty-five youth from several states and many Maryland counties competed in the 2011 Junior Sheep & Wool Skillathon, held May 8 at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. The youth competed according to their age as of January 1. There were 12 juniors, 25 intermediates, and 28 seniors. Teams of 3 or 4 youth from the same county competed for top team honors.

Caleb Boden from Frederick County, Virginia, was the first place junior. Caleb scored 416 points out of a possible 450. The average junior score was 305. Nicole King and Rebecca Herriots from Howard County placed second and third, respectively. The first place junior team was the Frederick County Maryland team composed of Kallan Latham, Karianna Strickhouser, and Laura Dutton.

Helen King from Queen Anne's County was the first place intermediate. Helen scored 409 points out of a possible 500. The average intermediate score was 305. Charles Sasscer from Calvert/St. Mary's County was the second place intermediate. Katie Burroughs from Calvert County placed third.

The Howard County team composed of Maggie Goodmuth and Dean and Audrey Bennett was the first place intermediate team. The Frederick County, Maryland team placed second. Its members included Brietta Latham, Ian Sanville, and Ray Martin. The team from Frederick County, Virginia was third. Its team members included Cody Boden, Courtney Wall, and Ceara Richards.

In the senior competition, Julia King from Queen Anne's County was the winner. Julia scored 465 points out of a possible 500. The average senior score was 354. The second place senior was Christine Herriotts from Howard County. Tyler Thorne from Charles County was the third place senior.

The team from Charles County was the first place senior team. Its members included Tyler Thorne, Brett Bucci, and Colby Mohler. The St. Mary's/Calvert team composed of Sarah and Josiah Manning and Shelby Sasscer placed second. In third place was the Carroll County team whose members included Ryan, Ashley, and Brianne Hevner.

Top individuals in contest
(L-R) Julie King, Helen King, and Caleb Boden.

First place senior team: Charles County
(back row, L-R): Colby Mohler, Brett Bucci, and Tyler Thorne.
Also pictured (front row, L-R) are Caitlyn Olejnik and Cody Thorne.

Second place intermediate team: Frederick County, Maryland
(L-R) Ian Sanville, Brietta Latham, and Ray Martin

First place Junior team: Frederick County, Maryland
(L-R) Laura Dutton, Benjamin Sanville, and Karianna Strickhouser

The 2011 skillathon included the following stations:

Equipment ID
Forage and Feed ID
Breed ID
Meat ID
Fleece judging
Sheep judging (Merino yearling ewes)
Hay evaluation
"You be the vet"
Written test (10 Qs for juniors, 15 Qs for intermediates, and 20 Qs for seniors).
Senior team problem: marketing

2012 Sheep & Wool Skillathon

Each year, the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival hosts a Junior Sheep & Wool Skillathon. The Festival is always held the first full weekend in May at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland. The skillathon is held on Sunday of the Festival. Registration starts at 8 a.m. The contest begins at 9 a.m. Results are announced at approximately 2 p.m.

A skillathon provides youth with the opportunity to blend knowledge and skills acquired in livestock judging, demonstrations, and care and exhibition of animals into a single activity. It consists of a series of stations where youth are tested on their knowledge and abilities related to livestock.

The Junior Sheep and Wool Skillathon is open to any youth between the ages of 8 and 18. Individuals and teams (of 3 or 4) from any county, state, or province may compete. Youth compete according to their age as of January 1st of the current year. Youth ages 8 to 10 compete as juniors; youth ages 11 to 13 compete as intermediates; and youth 14 to 18 compete as seniors.

The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival provides ribbons and premiums to the top ten individuals in each age division and Festival t-shirts to the members of the top three teams in each age division. The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is a committee of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association. Additional awards are provided by the Small Ruminant Extension Program of the University of Maryland.

The 2012 Junior Sheep & Wool Skillathon will be held on Sunday, May 6. Pre-registration of individuals and teams is requested by May 1.

For more information or to pre-register, contact Susan Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 x343 or sschoen@umd.edu.