As many of you know, Honey Run is home to a large family of sheep that live on the rolling green hills above our honeycomb suites. They’re practically family, each with names and personality quirks that keep our staff and guests entertained year round.
Last week, a few of our flock were shown at the Ohio State Fair by our friends Ashley Craun and Olivia Brown. Ashley is a professional sheep fitter from Staunton Virginia and Olivia is the daughter of Linda Whitenack, our Director of Guest Services here at the Inn. Linda and Olivia are in charge of the flock from birth to the show ring.
It was a great year for the Ohio State Fair and our flock did exceptionally well across the board!
Here’s a run-down of our champions;
- Rupert won his class of January Ram.
- Violet won the Late Yearling Ewe Class and was overall Reserve Grand Champion Ewe.
- Sadie placed 6th in the Early Yearling Ewe Class and was sold to Shadybrook Farms in Brookville Ohio after the show.
- Edith Ann was 4th in the Late yearling ewe class.
- Dewey won the March Ram Lamb Class
- Annie won First Place amongst the January Ewe Lambs.
- Ruthie won the March Ewe Lamb Class
Beatrice is one of this year’s lambs that was selected by Ruby Stack to be in her show string for the summer. We wish her success in the future with Beatrice!
With the exception of Violet, all of these lambs were born this past spring. The sheep have been undergoing training and conditioning since early May in anticipation of fair season. Winning these kinds of events increases the overall value of our flock and most of these sheep come from former champions. Judges are looking for the most desirable traits for healthy reproducing, so by winning the competition, the value of each sheep increases. Of course the win gives us bragging rights over other breeders too!
Results and media from last weekend’s competition are posted on the Ohio State Fair website and will be published in the Banner Sheep Magazine.
We’re exceptionally proud of our flock here at the Inn at Honey Run. Our show sheep can be seen in competition at these upcoming shows and fairs:
~The Wayne County Fair in Wooster Ohio – September
~Keystone International Livestock Competition in Harrisburg Pennsylvania – October
~North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville Kentucky – November
If you’re interested in getting some interaction with the sheep the next time you visit the Inn, ask our front desk about the Bell Wether amenity package. It’s a behind-the-scenes, all-access pass to tour the barn and speak with our handlers who will explain the positive traits that judges look for in competition and the training process the gets them ready for the fair. Guest are able to handle, lead, and feed the flock to get the full experience of raising and showing these magnificent animals.
Just hoping showing was just that….no selling to be killed.
None of our sheep are sold to slaughter. When we do sell them, they are sent to other farms for breeding stock.
Once a honey run lamb, always a honey run lamb. 🙂
How very exciting! They are such gorgeous sheep. We departed the Inn yesterday having stayed 3 nights… a very lovely 3 nights and 4 days. We have been coming to the Inn since its opening. We come from Wooster to just hang out and be waited upon in beautiful surroundings with a superb staff. Many thanks to all for another delightful stay.