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Sheep 4-H Project Area

The 4-H Sheep project area consists of three project manuals. Each manual covers three years of activities.  

Four 4-H Sheep Project Manuals from Shop4H
    • Rams, Lambs and You (Sheep 1) introduces you to a wide variety of fun and challenging activities including identifying parts, selecting a project lamb, preparing for lambing, identifying lamb cuts, feeding and showing a sheep.
    • In Shear Delight (Sheep 2), you will practice presenting oral reasons, determine yield grades, compare digestive systems, explore a feed tag, practice management skills, deliver a lamb, treat parasites and discuss ethical decision-making.
    • Leading the Flock (Sheep 3) features activities related to judging, budgeting, web surfing, understanding reproduction and genetics, surveying consumers, exploring careers, marketing products and teaching others.

    If a member completes the 9 years of project manuals, they can work with their county Extension professionals to determine their learning opportunities for their remaining 4-H years.


    Scoresheets

    Each year, 4-H members should complete 7 activities in the project manual as well as the planning pages at the beginning of the manual.

    There are not separate documents with the scoresheets for the sheep project series. Scoresheets can be located inside the Record Guides on page 2.

    Record Guides

    Youth who has selected a Sheep 4-H project typically are raising an animal as part of their project work. A project record guide is part of the animal science project experience.  If you enroll with an animal, you will need to select the Breeding Livestock Record Guide (4-H Breeding Sheep) or Market Livestock Record Guide (Market Lamb) to accompany this project. Record guides are available in both a print and electronic format.

    Paper Record Guides

    Market Livestock Record Guides (ages based on Jan 1st of current 4-H year)

    Breeding Livestock Record Guides (ages based on Jan 1st of current 4-H year)

    Supplemental Sheet for the Breeding Livestock Record Guides

    For most species, the supplement records are lifetime production records, so the 4-H member updates these each year that an animal is a part of their project. Members will need to complete a supplement sheet for each animal included in their record guide. These supplement records will be available online only.

    Electronic Record Guides

    Sheep-less Sheep Project

    If you enroll in this project area without an animal, check with your local Extension professional for approval and guidelines.

    Exhibit Ideas

    • Most youth in this project area will exhibit an animal at a livestock show.
    • Poster, Story, and/or Model on one of the following topics:

      • Sheep 1 - identifying parts, selecting a project lamb, preparing for lambing, identifying lamb cuts, feeding and showing a sheep.

      • Sheep 2 - oral reasoning, determine yield grades, compare digestive systems, explore a feed tag, practice management skills, deliver a lamb, treat parasites and discuss ethical decision-making.
      • Sheep 3 - selection and judging, budgeting, reproduction and genetics, consumer surveys, careers, and marketing products.

    • Examples of Blue Ribbon Exhibits

    How Do I Sign Up?

    Screenshot of 4-H ZSuite enrollment page to select project
    The first step is to create an enrollment in our ZSuite website.

    Enroll in 4-H ZSuite

    When you get to the CLUBS tab of the enrollment, you will want to ADD PROJECT.

    For Sheep, you should search for:
    • RECORD GUIDE - BREEDING LIVESTOCK / BREEDING SHEEP YEAR 1 - RAMS, LAMBS, & YOU
    • RECORD GUIDE - MARKET LIVESTOCK / MARKET LAMB YEAR 1 - RAMS, LAMBS, & YOU

    Project Videos

    Coming soon!

    Related Events & Camps

    No events available at this time.

    Animal Health & Quality Assurance (AH&QA)

    Youth exhibitors required to complete the online quality assurance training must do so starting April 1st and no later than June 30th in order to exhibit at any fair, festival or show taking place the remainder of that calendar year in West Virginia.

    College & Career Pathways

    Vet showing students how to examine a dog

    Pre-Veterinary

    WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

    WVU Potomac State College - 2 year program

    The bachelor of science program in Animal and Nutritional Sciences, is designed to provide students with the academic requirements for entry into professional schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.

    Careers

    • Veterinarian
    • Medical Doctor
    • Dentist
    • Medical research
    Pre-Veterinary Major Information
    Student in WVU t-shirt posing with a horse at a farm

    Animal & Nutritional Sciences

    WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

    WVU Potomac State College - 2 year program (Animal Science)

    So, you love animals but don’t want to be a veterinarian. The bachelor of science in agriculture in animal and nutritional sciences is for you. 

    Careers

    • Agricultural production
    • Agribusiness Management
    • Animal and food science sales
    • Research and development
    • Animal pharmaceutical sales
    Animal & Nutrition Sciences Major Information
    Ag. Ed student teaching FFA members

    Agricultural & Extension Education

    WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

    WVU Potomac State College - 2 year program

    Agriculture remains an important component of educational programs across the U.S., and the Davis College prepares students for a variety of careers in the field.

    Careers

    • Agriculture teaching
    • Extension agent
    • Production and technical agriculture teaching
    • Professional employment in government, industry or entrepreneurship
    Agricultural & Extension Education Major Information
    Student in the barn with produce

    Agribusiness Management

    WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

    WVU Potomac State College - 2 year program

    The general agricultural economics area or concentration provides a basic background for a variety of careers related to agriculture.

    Careers

    • Agricultural business manager
    • Farm loan officer
    • Purchasing agent
    • Grain merchandiser
    • Agricultural marketing specialist
    • Government inspector
    • Farm equipment sales/service rep
    • Commodity broker
    • Financial consultant
    • Credit loan officer
    • Agricultural chemical sales
    • Dairy plant manager
    Agribusiness Management Major Information
    A Potomac State College student works with an animal.

    Potomac State College

    Veterinary Medicine
    Agribusiness Management
    Agriculture & Extension Education
    Animal Science
    Potomac State College Two Year Majors