by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
LA PASSE — La Passe teenager Samantha Austin returned home with a prestigious title from the Royal Winter Fair Junior Sheep Show.
Ms. Austin, 16, was competing in the Ladies Lead and Wool competition, which is a top notch event at the fair. When the judges called out the numbers for third and runner-up, she knew those numbers weren’t hers.
However, she had to check her number when the Ladies Lead winner was announced.
“When they announced my number, I had to look to make sure I was hearing it right,” she recalled. “I was quite shocked. I was so excited, I started to cry. It was the best.”
The Ladies Lead and Wool Competition showcases the talents of young women who are furthering the promotion of wool. Each competitor will demonstrate their skills at handling a sheep while also showcasing a garment that they have made from wool.
It was great to win the award in front of her parents, Jeremy and Jennifer Austin, grandparents Evelyn Bonnett and Cathy Austin, and 4-H members and leaders, Ms. Austin said.
For the competition, Ms. Austin said the competitors had to submit a biography, make and wear something out of wool, have something made out of wool on their sheep and answer a question on-the-spot within two minutes. They also had to show their lamb in the ring.
“It’s like a sheep and person pageant,” she said.
For the outfit in wool, Ms. Austin worked with her grandmother Bonnett to make a dress. She also wore a wool hat that she purchased, and put a matching scarf, that she made, on Cinna, her lamb.
With her grandmother living in the Hamilton area, Ms. Austin said it was difficult to finish the dress on time.
“We finished right before the event (at the fair),” she recalled. “It was challenging,” not only because she’s never sewn clothes before, but because her grandmother lives far away.
There were eight competitors this year for the Ladies Lead and Wool. While
Ms. Austin didn’t know them all, there was one competitor she did know — Kyla Ness, also from Cobden. While Ms. Ness did not place in the top three, she did very well.
Ms. Austin noted the competitors are judged and given up to 25 points each on outfit and controlling the sheep and 50 on communication, meaning the biography and answering the question. The biography must include such things as where the competitor grew up, how long they have been involved in sheep showing and their plans for the future, she said.
Ms. Austin said the Ladies Lead and Wool event was held right after the Junior Sheep Show.
“There were about 200 people watching,” she said.
The women were accompanied into the ring by a bag piper and then had to make a few laps around the ring to show they could control their sheep.
They then lined up and were each asked a question regarding the sheep industry.
While waiting for the announcement of the top three, Ms. Austin said she had “no idea” where she placed.
When she heard her number, she was surprised.
Ms. Austin was presented with a crown, sash and jewelry box.
“The crown fits in the jewelry box,” she said.
Ms. Austin said she’s “really excited” for next year’s Royal Winter Fair, because she gets the opportunity to hand out ribbons and prizes in the sheep shows.
Ms. Austin said this was her second year trying out for the top spot and knows she was one of the younger competitors.
Since she won, Ms. Austin said she won’t be allowed to compete for this title again.
A Grade 11 student at Fellowes High School in Pembroke, Ms. Austin has been showing sheep for about five years.
