Attending sheep shows is among the things that Manitoba Sheep Association vice-president Ingrid Stahlman credits on her journey to become a better farmer.
“I absolutely love it,” she said. “I have learned a lot by attending, showing and networking with others.”
Stahlman was one of many volunteers that helped put on the MSA’s annual show and sale in Minnedosa Aug. 10-11.
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Why it matters: The sheep sector has been identified as an expanding industry in Manitoba, with more than 600 producers, according to Manitoba Agriculture.
Stahlman is a relatively recent addition to the faces behind Manitoba’s livestock shows. She and her husband run about 450 head on their commercial sheep farm near La Broquerie, Man., but, while she’s grown to love attending events and showing her sheep, it’s only been a year since she threw her hat in the ring.
“When we started talking about putting on last year’s show, I told them I was happy to help, but that I was clueless,” she said.
In her view, shows were for purebred breeders. As a commercial producer, she had never attended such an event. After agreeing to help organize the 2022 show, however, she entered some of her sheep.
“I brought what I thought were great animals, but I had no idea how it would work. It was a big learning curve,” she said. “I learned a lot, but I was also very confused and very lost.”
Fast forward one year and, after getting one more show under her belt at last fall’s Manitoba Ag Ex in Brandon, Stahlman says she knows much more about showing.
“My placings were really good this year,” she said.
On the schedule
The main events for the annual show are the ring and pen judging and accompanying sale, but the event also included shearing demonstrations, a stock dog workshop and demonstration and a junior show.
The junior show, in particular, is a big part of the event’s family-friendly atmosphere, and it plays an important role in preparing the next generation of sheep farmers, Stahlman said.
“You really want the kids to enjoy where they’re at, and for them to participate brings excitement to their level.
Animals entered by children don’t end go into the sale.
“We want the kids to be able to bring their lamb to the show and bring it back home. A lot of them are attached to the animal.”
And while the exercise is fun for the youngsters, it also teaches lessons about showmanship and the importance of a work ethic.
“They do have to put effort in, and it really pays off when they go into the show ring,” said Stahlman. “Usually, you can tell those who put a lot of effort in.”
The main show includes both commercial and purebred classes, including unique breed classes should there be enough entries. This year’s event included a Canadian Arcott, a Dorset and a Suffolk class.
“The rams are really what you’re looking for at these events,” said Stahlman. “One ram can service a lot of females. That’s where the genetics really carry through.”
Attention now turns to the upcoming 2023 Ag Ex in Brandon’s Keystone Centre Oct. 25-28. It will be the second year that the sheep sector and Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba (which organizes Ag Ex) have joined forces to highlight the industry.
“We had our own barn last year, and we will be there again with a bigger space,” Stahlman said.
Last year, the Ag Ex schedule expanded to include EweMania, a counterpart to the show’s usual cattle-focused MooMania. It is an agricultural education initiative to connect students in the area to the sector.
A producer panel and sheep facial identification technology demonstrations also drew producers.
The Brandon event focuses more on the commercial side of the industry as opposed to the purebred side that dominates the MSA annual show.
“It’s a unique event, a completely different event than the one we just did,” said Stahlman.
