NAILE 2018 Results
North American International Livestock Expo held their annual livestock show in November 2018. All species of livestock were exhibited in the famous show ring on the prestigious GREEN shavings. Thousands of spectators viewed the shows at Louisville, Kentucky and many, many more watched from home on the live-stream web cast. The internet has brought a whole new aspect to the show world.
All of the Romney Junior Exhibitors received a pair of black track pants with the Romney logo on one side and NAILE show on the other, this is a gift for supporting and exhibiting sheep at our Romney show. Generous donations were received from youth supporters to help purchase the track pants and awards. Also we had a silent auction this year at our breed display, a Ketchum 5 foot A-frame feeder donated by the Plank Family and Lucky Ewe sheep mineral/Lucky Buck Deer mineral with hat donated by Mar-vo Mineral. Proceeds went to the youth show fund.
The Romney Junior Spectacular show was the first weekend of the sheep shows. The Romney’s were well represented with 38 head entered. Exhibitors were: Ethan and Caitlin Plank (MI), Teresa and Catherine Hromis (NH), Weston Pettit (OH), Lindsey and Malorie Schmoll (WI), Ava Jo Hayes (NJ), Andrew and Madison Feehan (OH), Courtney Lyman (MA), Callie Burgess, (OH), Taylor Young (TN). Judging the youth show was Tor Sorensen from Tucson, Arizona. Champion Ram went to Ethan Plank on his Intermediate Natural Colored ram lamb and Reserve Champion Ram was Caitlin Plank on a Fall born Natural Colored ram lamb. Champion Ewe went to Lindsey Schmoll on her White yearling ewe, Reserve Champion Ewe went to Catherine Hromis with her White fall ewe lamb. Best White Fleece on the hoof went to Lindsey Schmoll and Best Colored Fleece on the hoof went to Courtney Lyman. Best Romney Head went to Theresa Hromis on her Natural Colored ewe lamb. Ending of the Junior show was the supreme drive for the rams and ewes. In the ewe drive the Romney ewe was the only wool breed sheep to be pulled out in the top five for consideration. Although the Romney wasn’t chosen, she gave the judges a tough run for their money. What a thrill for the Schmoll girls.
The Open Show was held on Sunday, November 11, 2018. White and Natural Colored had their own divisions, 70 head walked over the green shaving and were judge by Chris Myers from IL. Grand Champion White Ram was a Yearling owned by Catherine Hromis and Reserve Champion went to Hayley Hares Spring Ram Lamb. Grand Champion Ewe was a Yearling owned by Ethan Kennedy and Reserve Champion Ewe was on a spring ewe lamb owned by Ethan Kennedy. Best White Fleece on the hoof was a winter ewe lamb owned by Ava Jo Hayes. Premier Exhibitor of White Romney went to Little Hooves Romney’s.
Grand Champion Natural Color Ram was a Spring born, owned by Ethan Kennedy and Reserve Champion Ram went to Ethan Kennedy on 2nd place Spring Ram lamb. Grand Champion Natural Color Ewe was a Spring born owned by Brooke Young and Reserve Champion Ewe was on 2nd place Spring born ewe lamb owned by Ellis Rincker. Best Natural Colored Fleece on the hoof was the Winter ewe lamb owned by Little Hooves Romney’s. Premier Exhibitor of Natural Colored Romney was Caitlin Plank.
Over all, the Romney show had higher entries than 2017. Super good set of sheep from top to bottom of all of the classes. In 2019, the Romney’s will be showing Thursday at the end of the week, all breeds are now on a rotation in showing.
This show is the one of the few premier livestock shows in the United States. The promotion of the Romney at this event is unmeasured. Romney’s are alive and well and have a lot to offer the sheep industry. It is up to all Romney Breeders to keep us in the fore front with a positive image, positive press and a positive bottom line.
Romney Superintendent of NAILE
Willis Plank