Bringing the best
Tennessee’s finest compete at Tennessee Junior Sheep Expo
Story and photos by Jana Owen
At the 2026 Sheep Expo, 498 registered ewes, commercial ewes, and market lambs were exhibited by 175 exhibitors from 36 counties. Participating in the shows helps young people learn life skills that will serve them for years to come. Shown here are exhibitors competing in the Black Face Ewe Lamb Championship Drive.
Ask almost any farm parent, and they will probably agree that there is no better way to raise a child than in the livestock industry. The lessons and relationships gained by participants are unique, if not unparalleled.
The young exhibitors at this year’s Tennessee Junior Beef Expo exemplified the best qualities of today’s farming youth, not the least of which is the willingness to work hard. All the hours and late nights spent in the barn — washing, brushing, drying, feeding, and walking — provide valuable life skills that extend far beyond the show ring.
The Tennessee heat couldn’t stop Tennessee exhibitors from bringing their best to the 2026 State Sheep Expo! From August 13-15, 175 exhibitors from 36 counties gathered at the Wilson County - Tennessee State Fair to showcase nearly 500 head of sheep. Youth exhibitors competed in skillathon, showmanship, and premier exhibitor, as well as educational contests in career development, photography, poster, sales talk, and graphic design.
For Anderson County exhibitor Baylee Brown, what started as a family tradition has grown into a passion for the competition and the sheep industry. Baylee’s family brought a show string of about 25 head to Expo, which they will continue showing at county fairs throughout the year. Baylee had numerous registered, market, and commercial class winners at Expo, along with several bred-by champions. Among them were two of her Katahdins, the primary breed she shows. Baylee also placed in the top five in Level I Registered Ewe Showmanship.
While her accomplishments in the show ring are impressive, Baylee says her sheep project has taught her lessons and skills that reach far beyond competition. One of her proudest moments came last year when she was named reserve champion in showmanship at the North American International Livestock Exposition. That accomplishment motivated her to keep showing and working even harder to improve.
At home, Baylee helps care for a flock of about 200 head. Her experiences on the farm and in the show ring helped lead her to another achievement this year when she was named state winner of the Level I Sheep Project at 4-H Roundup in July.
Baylee’s friend, Alice Ogan, who is also on the Anderson County show team, has been exhibiting sheep for several years. Although she wasn’t showing this year, Alice was proud to support her friends from the sidelines and helped shear the team’s sheep for Expo.
The 2026 State Sheep Expo was a celebration of the dedication, hard work, and passion Tennessee’s youth bring to the sheep industry. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative congratulates every exhibitor on their accomplishments and the countless hours they put into their projects. We were proud to sponsor this incredible event and support the next generation of Tennessee agriculture.
Cutter Cobble (center) of Meigs County exhibits his lamb during the Junior High Division showmanship class. Cutter emerged as 4th overall in class.
Sheep Expo results: Breeding Ewe Showmanship Senior Level II — Ellie Hensley, Unicoi, champion; Alexa Hice, Bradley, reserve. Senior Level I — Brody Burgiss, Bradley, champion; Maggie Snapp, Hawkins, reserve. Junior-High — Lane Wyatt, Decatur, champion; Gracie Shults, Unicoi, reserve. Junior — Harris Barnes, Decatur, champion; Hatcher Yoest, Williamson, reserve. Explorer — Tyson Black, Macon, champion; Kimsey Shanks, Loudon, reserve. Market-Type Showmanship Senior Level II — Bryana Fisher, Decatur, champion; Colton Salley, Sullivan, reserve. Senior Level I — Mary Ella Blankenship, Macon, champion; Ian Johnson, Macon, reserve. Junior-High — Lane Wyatt, Decatur, champion; Maci Ballew, Montgomery, reserve. Junior — Harris Barnes, Decatur, champion; Owen Johnson, Macon, reserve. Explorer — Tyson Black, Macon, champion; Harper Hull, Trousdale, reserve.
Registered Ewe Show Dorper — Hollis Carter, Loudon, champion; Elyza Gratz, Loudon, reserve. White Dorper — Emmitt Bragg, Weakley, champion; Lawson Bragg, Weakley, reserve. Dorset — Lane Wyatt, Decatur, champion; Bryanna Fisher, Decatur, reserve. Dorset Advantage — Maggie Snapp, Hawkins, champion; Molly Wyatt, Decatur, reserve. Hampshire — Harris Barnes, Decatur, champion; Brody Burgiss, Bradley, reserve. Katahdin — Baylee Brown, Anderson, champion & reserve. Shropshire — Maggie Webb, Hawkins, champion; Callee Bryan, Coffee, reserve. Southdown — Molly Wyatt, Decatur, champion; Scout Ingram, Giles, reserve. Suffolk — Hatcher Yoest, Williamson, champion; Meredith McBride, Coffee, reserve. AOB Wool — Juna Loveday, Sevier, champion; Claire Lumpkins, Knox, reserve. AOB Hair — Maggie Gunn, Coffee, champion. Top Ewes — Harris Barnes, Decatur, grand champion; Lane Wyatt, Decatur, reserve grand. County Group — Bledsoe, champion; Loudon B, reserve; Loudon A, third; Coffee, fourth; Knox, fifth. Bred-By Registered Ewe Show Dorper — Elliott Weaver, Coffee, champion; Curtis Rowe, Coffee, reserve. White Dorper — Jackson Houser, Bledsoe, champion; Abigayle Houser, Bledsoe, reserve. Dorset — Maggie Snapp, Hawkins, champion & reserve. Dorset Advantage — Maggie Snapp, Hawkins, champion; Emilee Bradshaw, Wilson, reserve. Hampshire — Elizabeth Jenkins, Montgomery, champion & reserve. Katahdin — Baylee Brown, Anderson, champion & reserve. Shropshire — Hunter Robbins, Lawrence, champion. Southdown — Scout Ingram, Giles, champion; Baylee Brown, Anderson, reserve. Top Ewes — Scout Ingram, Giles, grand champion; Maggie Snapp, Hawkins, reserve grand. Fleece Show Jackson Long, Knox, champion & reserve.
Commercial Ewe Show White Face Cross Lamb — Maci Ballew, Montgomery, champion; Harris Barnes, Decatur, reserve. White Face Cross Yearling — Hatcher Yoest, Williamson, champion; Juna Loveday, Sevier, reserve. Black Face Cross Lamb — Colton Salley, Sullivan, champion; Mary Ella Blankenship, Macon, reserve. Black Face Cross Yearling — Hatcher Yoest, Williamson, champion; Shyanna Jones, Anderson, reserve. Hair Cross Lamb — Allie Walker, Bledsoe, champion; Abigayle Houser, Bledsoe, reserve. Hair Cross Yearling — Allie Walker, Bledsoe, champion; Abigayle Houser, Bledsoe, reserve. Top 5 Ewes — Colton Salley, Sullivan, grand champion; Mary Ella Blankenship, Macon, reserve grand; Maci Ballew, Montgomery, third; Harris Barnes, Decatur, fourth; Hatcher Yoest, Williamson, fifth. County Group — Bledsoe, champion; Montgomery, reserve; Robertson, third; Sumner, fourth; Coffee, fifth. Farm Bred Commercial Ewe Show White Face Cross Lamb — Avery Loveday, Sevier, champion; Samuel Layman, Knox, reserve. White Face Cross Yearling — Hatcher Yoest, Williamson, champion; Juna Loveday, Sevier, reserve. Black Face Cross Lamb — Cutter Cobble, Meigs, champion; Raelynn Miles, Sumner, reserve. Black Face Cross Yearling — Isaac Williamson, Rutherford, champion; Baylee Brown, Anderson, reserve. Hair Cross Lamb — Allie Walker, Bledsoe, champion; Abigayle Houser, Bledsoe, reserve. Hair Cross Yearling — Abigayle Houser, Bledsoe, champion & reserve. Top Ewes — Cutter Cobble, Meigs, grand champion; Raelynn Miles, Sumner, reserve grand.
Market Lamb Show Dorper — Taylor Binkley, Cheatham, champion; Allie Walker, Bledsoe, reserve. Dorset Advantage — Bryana Fisher, Decatur, champion; Ethan Giles, Loudon, reserve. Hampshire — Bryana Fisher, Decatur, champion; Maci Ballew, Montgomery, reserve. Natural Color — Harris Barnes, Decatur, champion; Lane Wyatt, Decatur, reserve. Oxford — Tyson Black, Macon, champion; Harris Barnes, Decatur, reserve. Shropshire — Harris Barnes, Decatur, champion; Ian Johnson, Macon, reserve. Southdown — Molly Wyatt, Decatur, champion; Mary Ella Blankenship, Macon, reserve. AOB Meat — Meredith McBride, Coffee, champion; Gracie Shults, Unicoi, reserve. AOB Hair — Madeline Lucas, Lincoln, champion; Isabella Morabito, Anderson, reserve. Crossbred Black Face — Jayden Hesson, Macon, champion; Colton Salley, Sullivan, reserve. Crossbred White Face— Tyson Black, Macon, champion; Lane Wyatt, Decatur, reserve. Top 5 Lambs — Jayden Hesson, Macon, champion; Harris Barnes, Decatur, reserve; Colton Salley, Sullivan, third; Bryana Fisher, Decatur, fourth; Maci Ballew, Montgomery, fifth. County Group — Montgomery, champion.
TN Bred Market Lamb Show Dorper — Taylor Binkley, Cheatham, champion; Allie Walker, Bledsoe, reserve. Dorset Advantage — Baylee Brown, Anderson, champion; Sadie Gray, Anderson, reserve. Hampshire — Bryana Fisher, Decatur, champion; Ian Johnson, Macon, reserve. Natural Color — Connor Salley, Sullivan, champion; Isabella Hale, Clay, reserve. Oxford — Tyson Black, Macon, champion; Harris Barnes, Decatur, reserve. Shropshire — Harris Barnes, Decatur, champion; Ian Johnson, Macon, reserve. Southdown — Molly Wyatt, Decatur, champion; Elizabeth Jenkins, Montgomery, reserve. AOB Meat — Andrew Frias, Williamson, champion. AOB Hair — Madeline Lucas, Lincoln, champion; Isabella Morabito, Anderson, reserve. Crossbred Black Face — Colton Salley, Sullivan, champion; Anna Kate Jackson, Decatur, reserve. Crossbred White Face — Emmitt Bragg, Weakley, champion; Haley Poynor, Williamson, reserve. Top Lambs — Colton Salley, Sullivan, champion; Bryana Fisher, Decatur, reserve. Skillathon Jayden Hesson, Macon, senior level II champion; Taylor Binkley, Cheatham, senior level I champion; Gracie Shults, Unicoi, junior high champion; Hatcher Yoest, Williamson, junior champion; Kimsey Shanks, Loudon, explorer champion. Premier Exhibitors Registered Ewe — Abigayle Houser, Bledsoe, senior level II champion; Callie Carty, Unicoi, senior level I champion; Gracie Shults, Unicoi, junior high champion; Jackson Houser, Bledsoe, junior champion; Kimsey Shanks, Loudon, explorer champion. Commercial Ewe — Ellie Hensley, Unicoi, senior level II champion; Brody Burgiss, Bradley, senior level I champion; Avery Loveday, Sevier, junior high champion; Harris Barnes, Decatur, junior champion; Maddy Armour, Meigs, explorer champion Market Lamb — Jayden Hesson, Macon, senior level II champion; Taylor Binkley, Cheatham, senior level I champion; Caylee Cobble, Meigs, junior high champion; Hatcher Yoest, Williason, junior champion; Raelynn Miles, Sumner, explorer champion. Educational Contests Photography — Tyson Black, Macon, explorer champion; Anna Moser, Monroe, junior champion. Poster — Christine Moser, Monroe, explorer champion; Anna Moser, Monroe, junior champion. Sales Talk — Sadie Gray, Anderson, junior champion; Maggie Gunn, Coffee, junior-high champion; Taylor Binkley, Cheatham, senior level I champion. Graphic Design —Samuel Costilla, Lincoln, junior high champion; Ruby Land, Bradley, senior level I champion. Career Development — Alice Ogan, Anderson, senior level I champion.
Jackson Houser of Bledsoe County placed in the top 5 of Breeding Ewe Junior Showmanship.
Emma Hawkins of Tipton County displays intense concentration as she vies for recognition during the class.
Raelynn Miles from Sumner County poses with her Reserve Champion Farm Bred Black Face Cross Commercial Ewe Lamb.
Caleb Boardman of Bryan, TX was one of the judges for Sheep Expo. Caleb sorted the commercial ewes, market lambs, and market-type showmanship.
Story by Jana Owen,
Contact jowen@ourcoop.com