Bluefaced Leicester Union

In Leicesters, blue is finer!

YOUTH

  • Congratulations, Kieran!

    Champion ram and ewe at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, shown by BLU youth member Keiran Van Horsen of Albany, OR. Congratulations, Keiran!

  • Youth show success

    BLU Youth member Ellora Chapin with her 1st place and Reserve Champion AOB ewe lamb at NEYSS!!

  • In praise of the YCP program

    By Margie Smith, PA  What a wonderful program the Youth Conservation Program, held during the Maryland Sheep & Wool festival each year is!  It was an experience that I would recommend to fellow BFL breeders. I’d like to thank Elaine Ashcraft for directing such a wonderful program! This was my first year donating a registered…

  • 1st White longwool ewe at Rhinebeck

    Bluefaced ewe takes first longwool white ewe at Rhinebeck. Congratulations to BLU member Elora Chapin.

  • Your 2018 advertising dollars at work

    As the 2018 sheep show and fiber festival season draws to a close, BLU would like to remind our members of the advertising dollars spent promoting the breed and the breeders during the year. Since 3 of BLU’s stated goals are promotion related: * To engage in the education and promotion of Bluefaced Leicester sheep,…

  • Congratulations, Ellora!

    BLU youth member Ellora Chapin with her champion BFL and first place ewe at the recent NEYSS

  • 2018 YCP yearling ewe winner

    The winner of the Bluefaced Leicester yearling ewe from the Youth Conservation Program this year is Mackenzie Weist. Makenzie is the daughter of Jennifer and Kevin Weist, and hails from Creamton, PA. In her essay that is part of the selection process, Mackenzie states that she lives on a farm that her great, great grandparents…

  • 34th North East Youth Sheep Show

    34th North East Youth Sheep Show July 19-22, 2018 Mallory Complex, Eastern States Exposition West Springfield, MA The North East Youth Sheep Show (NEYSS) is the 3rd largest and longest running youth sheep show in the country. It is the premier all-breed junior show in the northeast, attracting 200 youth exhibitors and 600-700 head of…

  • 2017 YCP winner Charles Boyle

    In April 2017, youth farmer Charles O’Boyle wrote and submitted an essay for the Youth Conservationist Program. This program awards Heritage Breeds Yearling Ewe Lambs to 4-H members throughout the country. The 4-H members selected to receive a yearling ewe lamb, write essays on what the heritage breeds mean and how they can help preserve…

  • 2018 Youth Conservation Program

    BLU supports this program, and has secured a donation of a registered BFL ewe for this year’s event. Youth interested in applying for the 2018 Youth Conservationist Program    * Must be between 9 and 18 years old.   *Submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2018 that includes:   *An essay which introduces you and your experience with animals. Your essay should explain your interest in sheep and  answer the question: “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep.” If for any reason the animal will not  be kept at your own home, please explain in detail where it will reside and what exactly your responsibilities will be.   *The applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a particular breed or for any of the breeds available.   *Each applicant must include a letter of recommendation from their 4?H advisor, FFA advisor, veterinarian, teacher or  clergy.   *The total application/essay should be no more than 2 pages in length.   *The application must include address, phone and if available, email address. Interested young people should contact  Elaine for an updated list of breeds available, then submit their letter of application/essay to: Elaine Ashcraft, 46118 CR  58 Coshocton, OH 43812   ALL ESSAYS MUST BE MAILED. EMAILED ESSAYS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!   *Requirements if selected:   *Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday,  May 6, 2018.   *Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2018 at: 1) a county fair or local sheep show and 2) the State Fair in the state  where the recipient lives.   *Must breed the ewe to a registered ram (of her breed) in the fall of 2018, should consult the donor breeder for their  recommendations.   *Must either use the ewe’s fleece to personally make a wool item or sell the fleece to a spinner, felter or weaver.   *Must submit an article, the following Feb/Mar to their local newspaper covering their year and including information  concerning the next year’s YCP program.   *Must submit a scrapbook to the Donor Breeder by April 30, 2018 and provide a scrapbook to be used at the Maryland  Festival which is then given back to the youth.   Any questions please contact Elaine Ashcraft 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, Ohio 43812   By phone at (740) 622?1573 or by email at tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com  (please note the underscore between “tankewe”  and “cr58”)  Donors select the recipients from the essays submitted by the youth.