Shetland Sheep Return to NAILE
Heather J. Ludlam, DVM
NASSA VP & Education
The North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) is the world's
largest all-breed, purebred livestock exposition. It is one
of the most prestigious livestock events in the United States and the world.
Nine different types of livestock compete in the exposition and the purebred
beef and sheep events are the largest in the world. NAILE is held annually at
the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
With the sheep events at NAILE being so important and numerous,
the availability of new open breed shows is strictly limited.
Basically, a breed of sheep must withdraw from NAILE before
a new breed show can even be considered. Last
year the Shetlands were accepted for the first ever Open Shetland Sheep Show
at NAILE! With over 80 head of Shetlands participating
in 2006, we have been invited back this year for an Open
Shetland Sheep Show and a
Shetland Junior Show and a Shetland Wool Show have been added to the program!
The NAILE Shetland Junior Show will be Sunday, November 11th. The
Shetland Wool Show will be judged Monday, November 12th.
The NAILE Open Shetland Sheep Show will be held on Tuesday,
November 13th at 5:00 pm. The arrival dates for the Open
Show are November 7th, 12:00 noon through November 9th, 6:00pm.
The release date for the Open Show is November 16th, 3:00pm.
Joe and Nyla Catanzaro are our Shetland Breed Superintendents,
and Mr. David Smith of Indiana has agreed to be the Judge.
Mr. Smith is a NASSA Certified Shetland Sheep Judge and is
extremely informative for both the audience and the breeders
in the show ring!
A minimum of 50 head of Shetland Sheep are required in order
to maintain the Open Shetland Sheep Show at NAILE. This is
a fantastic opportunity for our Shetland Sheep to remain
in the National spotlight and NASSA is hoping for a very
big turnout at this event again in 2007. It will be excellent
exposure for the breeders who choose to participate and for
the Shetland Sheep as a breed. The time has come for the
Shetland Sheep to enter "the big time" in the livestock
arena and to compete with "the big sheep!" NASSA
is encouraging as many breeders to attend as possible- we
are hoping to see many excellent representatives of the breed
in competition!
The Shetlands remain a probationary breed this year, and
the Shetland Shows will be funded by NASSA and through sponsorships. We
are hoping that after two years of enthusiastic participation
by the Shetlands, NAILE will begin to assist with funding
for our shows. NASSA is hoping to have the Shetland Shows
at NAILE completely funded by sponsorships and NAILE itself
within the next two years. Please contact Heather Ludlam
at hludlam@wmis.net or 269-793-7311 regarding NAILE sponsorship
for 2007!
More complete information about NAILE can be found on the website www.livestockexpo.org 2007
Premium Books and Entry Forms will be available on the website now. Entry deadline
is October 1, 2007.
Hope to see many of you in Kentucky this fall at NAILE 2007!
2007
NAILE Sponsors
