WEST FRIENDSHIP, Md. — Delaware youth Shane Dury, 10, and Elizabeth Handlin, 16, were selected to receive sheep as part of the 2022 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival’s Youth Conservationist Program.

Shane received a white Border Leicester ewe.

“I was introduced to sheep and had been raising a few smaller crossbred sheep through my 4-H leader for a couple of years. After having sheep for a few years, I decided to put in my application to see if I would be selected to receive a Border Leicester ewe,” he said. “My big sister has a small flock of Border Leicesters, and I really love the breed. They have a great temperament (and) are friendly, calm and docile, hearty, and have beautiful wool.”

He went on to explain his focus.

“Border Leicester come in two different colors, white and natural color. I wanted to focus on the white colors,” he said. “I named my ewe ‘Ember,’ and we completed six shows in multiple states. She won me a few Grand Champion ribbons against some tough competition, and the family who selected me to receive her watched me show her online.”

Ember keeps Shane busy, he added.

“I handle all her daily care and needs, and we worked very hard on preparing for our shows this past summer. She was bred to a registered Border Leicester ram back in the fall and is due to have her first lamb at the end of March. I’m super excited.”

Elizabeth has been showing livestock since age 2.

“I got my first breeding ewe when I was 10. She was given to me by my 4-H leader. I had a great start, but I wanted to raise more competitive sheep. While showing, I saw a natural-colored Border Leicester and fell in love with their curls and personality.

“My Border Leicester ewe (Zinnia), I received from the Youth Conservationist Program, (and she) is now pregnant and is due April 2. When I was with Zinnia at a show called Stars and Stripes, I won Supreme Showman. I then got invited to a New Jersey agriculture convention and am doing a display about the YCP program. I’m so glad to have her, and she is a great addition to my flock.”

The Youth Conservationist Program allows kids ages 9-18 to write essays saying who they are as an individual, their knowledge with sheep, their flock goals as shepherds, what breed(s) they are interested in raising and why the conservation of breeds is important.

The program has many breeders that come together to donate yearling ewes, or 1-year-old female sheep, from their own flocks. In 2022, the effort had 11 heritage breeds that were donated to get kids started on their own flocks.

Once the essays have been received, the breeders are given the writings from kids that are interested in their breeds and make their selection on who receives their ewe.

The children then attend the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, held the first weekend in May, where they meet the family who donated the sheep and participate in an award ceremony to receive ownership.

By accepting the sheep, they agree to:

• Show the sheep at least twice.
• Breed the ewe to a registered ram of the same breed.
• Utilize the fleece by either crafting or selling.
• Promote the Youth Conservationist Program and their breed in an article in their local paper.
• Hand in a report the following year to their breeder, showcasing how the first year went.