Amelia Wilson focuses on the judge as she shows her lamb Nigel at the Teton County Fair on Thursday, where she placed third in the market class. It was the eighth season in the arena for the Alta resident, but she said she still gets nervous at showtime. (Angus M. Thuermer Jr./WyoFile)

Amelia Wilson kept her eyes on the judge as she showed her wether in the 4-H Sheep Show on Thursday at the Teton County Fair.

In her eighth year of 4-H competitions, Wilson is a pro. The judge told her she was composed.

But getting into the arena still is exhilarating. “I’m nervous and excited but I love it,” she said.

A member of the Teton Ham and Lamb Club, Wilson got her lamb from Ted Carlisle of Afton. It weighed 50 pounds this spring and has grown to 129 pounds.

During the competition, the judge asked contestants questions that ranged from what is exciting in the sheep business today to what they fed their livestock.

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Wilson knows Nigel’s fate. “I cry every year,” she said of her market-bound stock. “It’s really sad.”

But she’s learned to cope.

“It’s just what happens,” she said. “I’ll get another one next year.”

Angus M. Thuermer Jr. is the natural resources reporter for WyoFile. He is a veteran Wyoming reporter and editor with more than 35 years experience in Wyoming. Contact him at angus@wyofile.com or (307)...

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  1. Angus, the 4H kids my grandson and I chatted with last week at the Teton County Fair were articulate, friendly, and very willing to chat about their animals. Impressive group of kids and not “sheepish” at all.
    (I grew up on the outskirts of Denver. 4H was a big deal for my friends and me. Compared to raising animals, our projects — flower and vegetable gardens — were easy, but we still learned a lot.)

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