82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 14, 2000
'Ewes' Flaunt Their Best
Looking Good Is Their Specialty
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Ewes in an array of
white and natural-colored hues
were combed to look their
woolly best for the Keystone In
ternational Livestock Expo
(KILE) Leadline Competition,
Harrisburg, last Saturday.
Leading the showy ewes were
girls between the ages of 10-18.
They, too, were dressed in their
woolly best with fashionable
outfits designed to portray the
beauty and versatility of the nat
ural fiber wool.
Not only were the girls and
their ewes judged on appearance
but also on the contestant’s skill
in leading a sheep around the
show ring. Stubborn, unpredict
able, and frisky ewes add to the
difficulty of the contestants
maintaining poise and control
under the watchful eyes of three
judges and the audience.
Many of the contestants have
competed at local and regional
shows. Some have placed at the
annual KILE competition in
other years. Despite past suc
cesses, the contestants are never
quite sure how their sheep will
rflftftLand how judges will inter
nSplheir abilities to maintain
control under pressure.
This year’s senior division
winners went to Emma Little,
first; Bethany Tuhacek, second;
and Shelby Harrison, third.
Emma made a three-piece co
ordinated wool ensemble to take
first place. Her stunning outfit
featured hand-dyed wool pieces
appliqued with a wool blanket
stitch on her fully-lined jacket
and slacks.
Only 14, Emma has placed
first for three out of the six years
at competition. Emma has been
sewing since second grade.
Accompanying Emma was
Daphne, a registered Cotswold
yearling ewe. Emma said that
the Cotswold is an ancient breed
dating back to the Roman
Empire. Each year, her
Cotswold produces 10-12 inches
oflustro
Emma Little, right, made a three-piece wool ensemble
and led a registered Cotswold yearling ewe, for first place
in senior competition at the KILE leadline. Bethany Tuha
cek, left, and her Dorset ewe Maggie placed second.
In addition to the Cotswold,
Emma raises Jacob and Border
Leicester sheep on her parents’
Harford, Md. farm.
Emma is a sophomore at Har
ford Technical High School
studying agricultural science in
preparation for a career in large
animal science.
She is president of the Har
ford County 4-H Shepherds
Club, a member of the 4-H Live
stock Club, an FFA member,
and is the Maryland Lamb and
Wool Princess.
Bethany Tuhacek wore a
black worsted wool jacket and
pants outfit, which she made to
take second place in the senior
division.
The 18-year-old led Maggie,
her Dorset ewe, wearing a leop
ard-print scarf that matched
Bethany’s sleeveless fitted top.
On her parents’ Harleysville
farm in Montgomery County,
Bethany raises Dorsets for
breeding and market lambs and
natural colored crossbreds for
wool. She also has a belted Gal
loway heifer and market hogs.
Bethany is a freshman at Del
aware Valley College, majoring
in large animal sciences. She is a
member of the Block and Bridle
Club, animal science club, and a~
community service club.
Bethany will attend the Na
tional 4-H Congress in Atlanta.
For a third-place win, Shelby
Harrison, Saegertown, Craw
ford County, led a Tunis ewe.
The natural brown shading of
the Tunis coordinated with
Shelby’s dark brown jacket
trimmed in herringbone tweed
cuffs and collar with matching
skirt.
Shelby’s jacket was accented
with a sheep pin that she made
from wool, hand spun using a
drop spindle..
Shelby, 14, raises market
lambs and is a six year member
of the Coon’s Comers 4-H Club,
where she is secretary and news
reporter. She is also a 4-H am
bassador and a freshman at
Cambridge Springs High
School.
She enjoys art, sports, hunt
ing, hiking, and haying. She
plans to pursue animal and
wildlife studies with a possible
career as a veterinarian.
In the intermediate division,
Laura Hunter, Stockton, N.Y.,
placed first; Megan Van Wie,
Clayton, N.Y., placed second;
and Alice Phillips, Perkiomen
ville, placed third.
Twelve-year-old Laura
Hunter modeled a navy blue
doubled-breasted wool blazer
and matching tailored pants.
She lead a yearling ewe from her
flock of Polled Dorsets.
Laura is in seventh grade at
Cassadaga Valley High School,
where she plays volleyball and
basketball, is a member of
chorus, and plays the French
horn in the Junior Band.
She is active in church and
enjoys showing horses, downhill
skiing, reading, and just being a
(Turn to Pago B 3)
in the intermediate division, L aura Hunter, right, led a Polled Dorset yearling ewe to
show the attractiveness of the breed, and modeled a wool pants suit to show the classi
ness of wearable wool. Third-place winner Alice Phillips, Perkiomenville, led a Corrie
daie yearling ewe outfitted with a saddle and carrying Alice’s doll dressed in a matching
outfit.
Not everyone comes to show animals, some like the Maleski family come to buy. From
left, Paul, 6; Angela, 13; Cecilia, 8; Jacinta, 11; and Loretta, 9; compare the different
breeds and decide they want to purchase a Suffolk. Their grandpa Matthew Maleski,
Carbon County, brought the children to KILE because it’s a great place to see the best of
each breed.
Junior champion Lindsay Beatty captured points for her
flattering wool outfit and for maintaining poise and control
while leading Vanna, a Polled Dorset yearling ewe around
the show ring.
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