Howman receives ewe through Youth Conservationist Program
Taylor Howman, 10, of Wooster is getting to know the Border Leicester ewe, Alisa, which was awarded to her at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival May 6. The ewe will be part of Taylor’s 4-H project. Last year she borrowed sheep from her grandparents to show. This year she will have her very own sheep.
Taylor applied for the ewe through the Youth Conservationist Program. This program is a way of enabling youth to experience the joy and responsibility of conserving the Heritage Wool Sheep Breeds. These sheep breeds are not very common in the United States. Taylor had to write an essay addressing the question, “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep?” Her fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Fortune, wrote the required letter of recommendation. After submitting the application, Taylor had to wait more than three weeks to find out if she was a winner. She said, “I was so excited when I got the call.”
As a ewe recipient, Taylor has several requirements to complete in the next year. This news article is one of them. The sheep is to be part of her 4-H project and she will show her at the Ohio State Fair and the Wayne County Fair. When the wool is shorn, Taylor is to use it or sell it to a hand spinner. The Border Leicester wool looks a lot like mohair and makes beautiful yarn. In the fall, the ewe will be bred and hopefully have ewe lambs in the spring. Over the course of the year pictures will be taken to put in a scrapbook. The scrapbook will then be displayed at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival next year.
Taylor will submit another news article in the spring to encourage youth to apply for a Heritage Breed Wool Sheep. This year there were 13 different breeds of sheep donated to 15 young people. Some breeds had more then one sheep donated. Bear Hollow Farm from Newark donated the Border Leicester ewe.
The Border Sheep is the breed of sheep on Mr. Hoggett’s farm in the movie Babe. The National Border Leicester Sheep Show and Sale was held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds May 26 and 27. Sheep arrived from as far away as Montana.
Taylor applied for the ewe through the Youth Conservationist Program. This program is a way of enabling youth to experience the joy and responsibility of conserving the Heritage Wool Sheep Breeds. These sheep breeds are not very common in the United States. Taylor had to write an essay addressing the question, “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep?” Her fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Fortune, wrote the required letter of recommendation. After submitting the application, Taylor had to wait more than three weeks to find out if she was a winner. She said, “I was so excited when I got the call.”
As a ewe recipient, Taylor has several requirements to complete in the next year. This news article is one of them. The sheep is to be part of her 4-H project and she will show her at the Ohio State Fair and the Wayne County Fair. When the wool is shorn, Taylor is to use it or sell it to a hand spinner. The Border Leicester wool looks a lot like mohair and makes beautiful yarn. In the fall, the ewe will be bred and hopefully have ewe lambs in the spring. Over the course of the year pictures will be taken to put in a scrapbook. The scrapbook will then be displayed at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival next year.
Taylor will submit another news article in the spring to encourage youth to apply for a Heritage Breed Wool Sheep. This year there were 13 different breeds of sheep donated to 15 young people. Some breeds had more then one sheep donated. Bear Hollow Farm from Newark donated the Border Leicester ewe.
The Border Sheep is the breed of sheep on Mr. Hoggett’s farm in the movie Babe. The National Border Leicester Sheep Show and Sale was held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds May 26 and 27. Sheep arrived from as far away as Montana.
Published: June 6, 2012
