Creative Shearing Competition

Updated for 2024

Join us for our third annual creative shearing competition. Not everyone can shear a sheep, but even fewer folks have either incentive or opportunity to show their imagination and expertise. This competition is intended to reward the shearer’s creativity with awards and public acclaim. This competition aspires to re-direct the shearer’s mastery as sculpture, landscaping, haute couture, or a journey of craft and art. Judging will be based on artistry, originality, humor, and skill. Group efforts are permitted. Judging will be done on Saturday at noon in the Show Ring. Come see what our shearers have come up with!

To be avoided:

  1. Standard show ring conventionality of presenting a naked or nearly naked sheep in a beautiful, magazine-quality style.
  2. Heavy coloring, and especially dye, mousse, or paint that might be considered toxic. This is not a body-painting project.
  3. Any treatment that, although creative, causes discomfort to the animal. Embarrassment to the owner is okay.
  4. Entries mocking public figures and causing cultural division will be ineligible. Benign humor is, of course, what it’s all about.

Please have the majority of the shearing done before arriving on site by 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 6. Pens will be available if needed. Minor touch ups can be done if necessary that morning. Alternatively you can lead your masterpiece sheep in later as long as it arrives by 11:30 a.m. Please submit a script to Lizzy Miller or the Sheep Show Office adjacent to the Show Ring by 11:45 a.m. on Saturday that includes the title of your work, exhibitor’s name, and a brief description of your work.

All sheep must have approved interstate or Maryland health papers. See Animal Health Regulations.


Prizes:

1st – $250

2nd – $150

3rd – $75


How to enter:

Pre-registration is required. To register, send name of owner/artiste(s), location of farm, breed of sheep, name of sheep, and the title of your creation to Mara Mullinix, 5209B Green Valley Rd, Monrovia, MD 21770.

Registration deadline is April 20, 2024.

2024 Festival Gear Now Available

A selection of 2024 Festival Merchandise is now available. We have short-sleeved t-shirts, long-sleeved hooded t-shirts, three styles of bags, and two sizes of posters. Click "Read More" for details on how you can get yours!

Schedule of Events

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The Festival would not be possible without volunteer help. Please consider giving a couple of hours of your time so we can continue to make this the great event it is. Volunteer opportunities start with set-up day, continue through t-shirt folding during the week and everything that needs to be done on Festival weekend, and culminates with tear down on Sunday night. Head on over to the sign-up site at www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0945ABA72BAAFA7-49093365-2024 to choose the tasks and times that work best for you!Everyone who volunteers in advance to work on Festival weekend receives free admission to the Festival on the day they volunteer. Everyone who volunteers also gets a volunteer shirt, a unique souvenir which is NOT available to the general public.Additional information about volunteering can be found at sheepandwool.org/participate/volunteer/. #mdsw #mdsw2024 #volunteersrock ... See MoreSee Less
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We are excited to welcome Meagan Condon to Maryland Sheep and Wool this year. She is teaching several half-day spinning classes including Spin the Yarn You Need: Understanding Wheel Adjustments, What the Fluff? All About Loft, Drape or Disaster, Divide and Conquer- Deconstructing Double-Coated Fleece, What to Do with that Braid You Just Bought, and Why Does Wool Do That? Meagan is an internationally published writer and fiber artist with extensive experience teaching the art of making yarn. She resides on twenty acres outside of Kansas City where she has a fiber studio with space for growing dye and fiber plants and exploring her vast fiber interests including the microscopy of fiber, breed studies, and the science behind textiles. Over the last decade, Meagan has been making a name for herself teaching at fiber retreats and conferences across North America. Meagan is a prolific writer, and her articles have appeared in Ply, Spin-Off, and The Wheel magazines. Follow her on Social Media at Luthvarian Fiber Arts. Limited seats are available for her classes...sign up today at www.lessonface.com/arts-lessons/maryland-sheep-wool-festival#mdsw #mdsw2024 #marylandsheepandwoolfestival #handspinning #handspinningyarn #handspinningclass ... See MoreSee Less
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Information about this year's auctions is now available on our website:--Saturday auction of spinning and weaving equipment: sheepandwool.org/festival/auction-of-spinning-and-weaving-equipment/--Sunday auction of sheep equipment and supplies: sheepandwool.org/festival/auction-of-sheep-equipment-and-supplies/The auctioneer who has done the Saturday auction for the past several years is returning. He will be taking care of both auctions this year, and he will also be bringing a team which will be handling the entire process, from check-in to check-out. We have a new commission structure, and we've gathered some information from veteran attendees to help everyone get the most out of the experience:--Tips for Sellers: sheepandwool.org/tips-for-sellers-auction-of-spinning-and-weaving-equipment/--Tips for Buyers: sheepandwool.org/tips-for-buyers/I also hear that the Saturday auction is a great place to people watch, even if you aren't buying or selling! ... See MoreSee Less
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