2009 Youth Conservationist Program

MS&W Judges

Initiated by Richard and Donna Larson of Old Gjerpen Farm and sponsored by the Festival, the Youth Conservationist Program is a way of enabling youth to experience the joys and responsibilities of conserving heritage wool sheep breeds. In 2008, 15 registered ewes were awarded to aspiring young shepherds.

Many Thanks to the Donors and Congratulations to Recipients for 2008!

*Designates breeds which may be uncommon in the United States but are not globally rare.

Breed	Donor		Recipient
Black Welsh Mountain	Rockbridge Farm	MG (Jerry) Jones	Joey Moore	Youngsville, NC
Blueface Leicester*	Beechtree Farm	Mark & Brenda Lelli	Joe Goodpaster	Palmyra, PA
Finn*	Stoe Creek Farm	Carol Winchell	Faith Dunbar	Wake Forest, NC
Hog Island	Mount Vernon Ladies Assn.	Mt. Vernon, VA	Blessing Whitmore	Candor, NY
Icelandic*	Ellen Anderson	Palmyra, PA	Olivia Dutton	Frederick, MD
Jacob*	Ivy Brook Meadows	Royal & Sue Unzicker	Ethan Green	Quakertown, PA
Karakul	Muddy Creek Lambscapes	Ramona Butt & Family	Lyndsey Youngen	Fresno, OH
Leicester Longwool	Colonial Williamsburg	Williamsburg, VA	Meaghan Griffin	Tioga Center, NY
Navajo Churro	Linda Cummings	Chambersburg, PA	Jarrod Ashley	Middlebury, VT
Scottish Blackface*	Braeburn Farm	Richard & Anne Gentry & Family	Wesley Dunbar	Wake Forest, NC
Shetland	Twin Springs Farm	Bill & Sandy Truckner	Eli Bowles	Blissfield, MI
St. Croix	Milfont	Robert & Linda O'Neill	Lauren Keefer	Swanton, OH
Tunis	Burdette & Nancy Schmidt	Collins, OH	Sarah Manning	Huntingtown, MD
Wensleydale	Crimson Shamrock Farm	David Moran & Lori Wall, Eglon, WV	Elena Bode	Nanjemoy, MD
Wensleydale	Crimson Shamrock Farm	David Moran & Lori Wall, Eglon, WV	Chris Toevs	Mechanicsburg, PA

Applications

Youth interested in applying for the 2009 Youth Conservationist Program must be between 9 and 18 years old, and must submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2009 that includes:

1. An essay which introduces you, your experience with animals, explains your interest in sheep and answers the question: "Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep."
2. The applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a particular breed or for any of the breeds available.
3. Each applicant must include a letter of recommendation from their 4-H advisor, FFA Advisor, veterinarian, teacher or clergy.
4. The total application/essay should be no more than 2 pages in length.

The application must include address, phone and if available, email address. Interested young people should contact Elaine for an updated list of breeds available, then submit their letter of application/essay to:

Requirements If Selected

• Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday, May 3, 2009.
• Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2009 at: 1) a county fair or local sheep show and 2) the State Fair in the state where the recipient lives.
• Must breed the ewe to a registered ram in the fall of 2009.
• Must either use the ewe's fleece to personally make a wool item or sell the fleece to a spinner, felter or weaver.
• Must submit a one to two page report, with pictures, to the donor breeder by April 30, 2010.