Clackamas Co Fairgrounds, Canby, Oregon
September 24-25, 2011
By Robina Koenig
Another Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival has come and gone and fall has arrived in the Pacific Northwest. The temps are chilly at home now as I reflect on the last show of 2011 in our area. Half of the sheep show is a fiber show, not a breed show, so the Blues show in group classes of whites or natural colors (long/coarse and fine/medium) and in another ring they show the primitives.
The white longwool classes showed Romneys and BFLs. I did not have an opportunity to see the other classes as I had a vendor booth next to my sheep in the barn, and buyer traffic was heavy this year.
There were three BFL breeders showing–Gilkeson Family Farm, OR; Bitterroot Ranch, MT; and Tumble Creek Farm, OR. Nancy Gilkeson was not able to attend but her daughter Kristie showed a white ewe and a natural colored ram. I missed seeing Nancy but Kristie was great fun and I enjoyed getting to know her better. Judy Colvin brought two white BFL rams and two percentage Gotland ewes as it was the regional show for the Gotlands. I showed one white ram and two white ewes and brought home the Reserve Grand Champion on one of the ewes.
The weather kept us guessing with hot and humid on Friday, very warm on Saturday, drizzle Sunday morning turning to a torrential rain storm lasting 10 minutes on Sunday afternoon following a good rolling clap of thunder. Everyone ran for cover so Judy and I, out touring the outdoor vendors, headed for the T-shirt canopy then a warm cup of coffee. Good show, good memories.