Black Sheep Gathering

SPINNER'S LEAD

The Spinner's Lead takes place in the Cascade Livestock Pavilion in the Sheep Show Ring, after the picnic dinner on Saturday night of the Gathering. Entrants wear their handspun garments or creations while leading a sheep, goat or alpaca.

The event is open to all producers and spinners of wool, mohair, alpaca. If you wish to enter, please read the rules carefully.

Complete the Entry Form and mail it to the address on the form.

Mail-in entries will be accepted until June 21; however, forms will be available at the Information Table until noon Friday. Onsite forms can ONLY be submitted at the Information Booth in the Willamette Events Center until 6pm on Friday, June 28, 2024. Any entry received after this time will not be accepted.

If you don’t have livestock entered in the Black Sheep Gathering animal shows, we can arrange for you to borrow an animal. However, these arrangements must be made in advance so we can find a match for you.

Spinner’s Lead Rules

  • Articles must be 100% handspun or felted, (commercial warp or canvas OK)
  • Entries may be hand or machine knit, hooked, woven, crocheted or felted.
  • The articles may have been completed at any time; it is not limited to items made in the past year.
  • Someone other than the entrant may make the article, although the maker of entered article must be identified in the entry form.
  • Articles must be at least 80% wool, mohair, alpaca, or rabbit.
  • Garments should represent the breed of the animal being led.
  • Entrant doesn’t have to own the animal used in the lead.
  • Only animals entered in the Gathering are eligible for the Spinner’s Lead.

Judging Criteria for Spinner’s Lead

Originality and difficulty of design   30 points
Color, fit and style   25 points
Suitability of garment to use of fiber   20 points
Handspun by entrant   5 points
Knit, woven, etc., by entrant   5 points
Overall appearance of entrant and animal   10 points
Animal owned by entrant   5 points

NOTE: In case of a tie, judges will award bonus points on the basis of originality.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MEET AT THE SHEEP SHOW RING BLEACHERS AT 7:30PM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 29 IN THE CASCADE LIVESTOCK PAVILION PRIOR TO THE EVENT.

SHEEP SHOW

Judge: Richard Jacobsen
Le Grand, California

I am a 4th generation sheep producer, primarily as a seed-stock producer. My grandfathers and dad raised competitive sheep here in California, going back to the 1940s.Read More.

ANGORA GOAT SHOW

Judge: Allen Mesick
Huntington Beach, California

Allen Mesick of Eureka! Mohair Farm, has bred and showed white and natural colored Angora goats for over 20 years. His Angora goats have brought home many Champion and overall Grand Champion awards. Read More.

FLEECE SHOW

Wool and Alpaca Judge: Dr. Geof Ruppert
Fairfield, Pennsylvania

Geof Ruppert has been judging sheep and fleeces since he was fresh out of veterinary school. Inspired in part by his mother's love of fiber arts, Dr. Ruppert began raising Corriedales in the 1970s.  Read More.

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FIBER ARTS AND YARN SHOW

Judge: Laura Todd
Neotsu, Oregon

Laura has judged fiber arts for county fairs, taught knitting since 2007, and has been awarded ribbons and multiple best-in-show awards for fiber arts at numerous festivals and fairs nationwide, including three Black Sheep Cups at BSG.Read More.