Keystone Lead Line Event Features Creativity t: 4KNONAL L i s */ /''f/W - # First place junior-aged winner in the 1996 Keystone Lead Line competition is Emma Lynn Little, who shows her win ning outfit, while holding the halter of her Jacob breed year ling ewe. The intermediate-age division champion stone Lead Line competition is Jaime Fought, who shows her outfit and yearling Dorset, Sunshine. Some of the Junior-aged contestants in the Keystone Lead Line competition stand before the table of Judges. VERNON ACHENBACH, JR. Lancaster Fanning Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Creative and sensible uses of wool in apparels were displayed Saturday during the 1996 Key stone Lead Line Contest held at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg in conjunc tion with the Keystone Internation al Livestock Exposition (KILE). There were 29 contestants divided into three age classes com peting for the titles in the youth only competition. It is open to any one between the ages of 9 and 21, as of Oct. 1, the year of the show. According to show rules, the entrants are judged on the mode of dress selected, which must be appropriate, attractive, and lend dignity to the show class, which is part of the KILE sheep program. While the youth don’t necessari ly have to make their own wool outfits, the rules state that they must furnish their own outfit and it must be at least 80-percent wool. The competition provides a con test with the goal of educating par ticipants and observers about the uses and methods of handling wool for clothing. Judges for the contest have three areas of concern to score with a possible perfect total of 100 points: the appearance of contestant and outfit 40 points; control and pre sentation 25 points; and appear ance of ewe. 35 points. Each contestant has to present a registered yearling ewe, trained and properly prepared for the show ring, as well as fulfilling health requirements for show animals. The specific age divisions are made after the entries are all post ed. The reason for that is to try to ensure equal size age groups. The show demonstrates the con testants’ abilities to select a wool dominated outfit that, as in other wardrobe competitions, shows balance in selection of texture, col or, accessories, and Other related factors, as well as the ability to handle the ewe. Many contestants add some matching accessories to then sheep, such a small scarves, or similar dressings. In the junior division, Emma Lynn Little, of Jeff and Kim Little, of Churchville, Md., took first place, with an outfit of a calf length plaid dress with a short overvest with a lamb applique. At halter she showed a yearling ewe Jacob breed, an archaic, small statured. Old World spotted wool breed that her family raises. Brandon Winebark, of Myer stown, took a second place out of the field of nine contestants, with a brown, wool vest over a longs leeve, white turtleneck shirt, brown wool pants with a cuff, and a woolen felt, brimmed hat. Aman da Miller, of Mertztown took third. In the intermediate-age divi- Musser, daughter of Donald and sion, Jaime Fought, daughter of Musser, of New Middle- John “Speedy” Fought, of Carlisle, town » Ohio, placed first with a who showed her yearling Dorset, double-breasted jacket over a Sunshine. turtle neck shirt, and wool skirt. Taking second was Emily Rut- She showed a Suffolk ewe. ledge, of Jairettsville, Md., while second place in the senior Tiffany Harward. of Forest Hill, division was Shelly Patton, of Md., placed third. Waynesburg, while Christy Lucas, In the senior division, Andrea Englishtown, NJ., took third. LIVESTOCK Andrea Musser is the first place winner in the senior-age division of the 1996 Keystone Lead Line competition and she Is also the 1996 Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen. Lead Line Champion Andrea Musser Becomes Wool Queen HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Nineteen-year-old Andrea Musser was named the 1997 Lamb and Wool Queen at the 40th annual Keystone International Livestock Exposition held at the Farm Show Complex in Harris burg, Oct. 2-7. A freshman at Ohio State Uni versity, Musser represented Beav er, Butler and Lawrence counties at the contest She is the daughter of Donald and Mary Musser, New Middletown, Ohio. She also won first place in the senior division of the Keystone lead line competi tion a day earlier. Her family has a flock of 35 registered Suffolk, which they show at county fairs. She has shown at the National Junior Suf folk Show, the Ohio State Fair, and the North American Interna tional Livestock Expo. She has shown at KILE for eight years. A member of 4-H for 10 years, Musser said that the sheep indus try has had a major impact on her life. She said she hopes to help in crease the market for fresh Penn sylvania lamb, through a grass roots campaign of education. Named alternate was Shelley V 1 I Patton, Waynesburg, sponsored by Greene County Sheep and Wool Growers. Seventeen-year old Patton is a senior at Waynes burg Central High School, and plans to major in international communications. She has spent nine years in 4-H, with projects in market lambs, breeding sheep, market hogs and market steers. She also participated in the lead line competition for 12 years. This year she placed second in the senior division. Her parents are Rick and Janice Patton. Jenna Svonavec, 17, also parti cipated in the contest. She is the daughter of Joseph and Rosemary Svonavec, and is a senior at Rock wood Area High School. She plans to study to become a nurse anesthetist. She showed the Somerset County Champion Home Grown Lamb in 1994 and showed the lamb which won the Rate of Gain contest at the Fair in 1995. She has attended regional and state 4-H Fashion Revue with outfits she constructed from wool. Musser will represent the state’s lamb and wool industry in many promotional activities dur ing the coming year.