Membership
Click HERE to download a membership form.
OCLA Rules
Guidelines for awarding points/end of year awards:
1. Points are only awarded at Ohio Club Lamb Association sanctioned shows.
2. In order to accumulate points from any sanctioned show, a youth exhibitor must be a current member of Ohio Club Lamb Association prior to showing in that show.
3. A current member may accumulate points on a maximum of 6 lambs at each sanctioned show; however, this does not limit a youth member from exhibiting more than six lambs in any given sanctioned show. If an exhibitor is showing more than 6 lambs at any one show, he/she must declare at the time of entry/classification those lambs that will not be showing for points.
4. Lambs must be owned, entered, and shown in the name of the individual Ohio Club Lamb Association member for points to
be accumulated in his/her name.
5. Each lamb must be shown by the individual owner/entrant unless the Ohio Club Lamb Association member has two (2) or more lambs in the same class, in which case another eligible showman may show the lamb(s).
6. Current youth members will receive points in one of two age divisions. Awards will be presented to the first place, second place, and third place individuals of each breed in the following two age groups at the end of the year.
Junior Division- 13 years of age or younger*
(at least 8 years old and in the third grade)
Senior Division- 14 years to 18 years of age*
*age as of January 1st of current year
Verification of proof of age may be requested and/or required. If an exhibitor is unable to verify their age, any lamb entered in their name is ineligible to be shown by that individual or any other exhibitor on that day.
7. Points will be awarded on the following basis to eligible Ohio Club Lamb Association members.
Points will be awarded to each participant in each class in descending order, based on the number of lambs in that class (see example below). Points will be awarded in a class based on the number of lambs shown in the class with a maximum of fifteen (15) lambs per class. State Fair points are awarded based on information received from the sheep department.
For example 10 in a class: 1st =10, 2nd =9, 3rd =8, 4th =7, 5th =6, 6th =5, 7th =4, 8th =3 9th =2, 10th =1
Breed Champion Points= 5 points (regardless of breed size) Reserve Breed Champion Points= 3 points No points will be awarded for Grand/Reserve
Champion Lamb to keep competition for high overall points on a more even basis
8. In order for a youth exhibitor to receive a year-end breed award, the youth exhibitor must show at least 3 times in that breed at a minimum of 3 different sanctioned shows.
9. If an exhibitor has a champion or reserve champion of a breed and does not stay to participate in the final drive of the show that day, all points on that animal that day will be forfeited.
10. To be eligible to compete and earn points in showmanship, an exhibitor must show their own lamb and that lamb must show in the regular classes (the exception to this is Pee Wee Showmanship). A pre-junior showmanship class shall be offered with no points awarded.
11. Awards will be presented to the first place, second place, and third place individuals of each showmanship age division at the end of the year.
12. Showmanship points will be calculated the same as the breed classes.
13. In order for an exhibitor to receive a year-end showmanship award, they must show at least 3 times in that age division at the minimum of 3 different sanctioned shows.
Classification Guidelines:
1. All lambs must be washed within 24 hours prior to breed classification and weigh-in. Lambs will not be classified or weighed unwashed.
2. All lambs must be completely slick sheared within 5 days prior to classification and weigh-in. For this purpose, slick shorn is defined as one uniform length of wool (no patches) above the knee/hocks and below the ears. Lambs will not be classified or weighed unshorn.
3. Lambs will be classified by breed at each Ohio Club Lamb Association sanctioned show.
a. Classification will be done by three individuals voting on the breed of each lamb using guidelines/criteria provided by breed associations.
b. Breed Association guidelines/criteria can be provided to the show management if requested in advance.
c. All market lambs (ewe lambs and wether lambs) will be classified and shown within the respective breed using the guidelines/criteria provided as defined above.
4. All breed and showmanship classes must be offered as recognized by the Ohio State Fair. If less than 5 entries exist in a breed, the first and second place breed class winners shall show for champion and reserve All Other Breed.
5. No painting or artificial coloring of any kind is allowed.
Health Requirements:
1. All lambs must be washed within 24 hours and slick shorn within 5 days prior to health inspection.
2. All lambs will be inspected for prolapses, fungus, sore mouth, ringworm, foot rot, and pinkeye. Any lamb that has visible signs of any of the above will be disqualified from showing that day. MEMBERSHIP DUES AND/OR ENTRY FEES WILL NOT BE REFUNDED FOR ANY LAMB THAT IS DISQUALIFIED.
3. All ewe lambs, all out of state wethers, and all wethers purchased outside of Ohio must have official USDA scrapie ID tags or tattoo to be exhibited.
4. No drenching allowed.
Ethics/Humane Treatment:
All exhibitors, parents, legal guardians, etc. must follow OCLA Rules, Ohio State Fair Rules, and the Ohio Revised Code Rules of Exhibition. No painting or artificial coloring of any kind is allowed. No drenching permitted.
Miscellaneous:
All sanctioned shows must be Junior shows. Exhibitor/owner to be 4-H age, “at least 8 years old and in the third grade as of January 1 of the current year”. “Ends December 31st of the year in which an individual attains the age of 19.”
Code of Conduct:
All OCLA exhibitors, their family members, and others acting on the behalf of the exhibitor must display good sportsmanship and act in a courteous manner at all OCLA sanctioned shows. Unsportsmanlike conduct will be referred to the OCLA Board of Directors for appropriate action, if the Board deems necessary. Unsportsmanlike conduct may include, but is not limited to, physical actions, threats, or outbursts of profanity. OCLA Board action is not limited to the following, but may result in the exhibitor found in violation to lose points for a show, lose multiple show points, and/or banned from current or future participation in the OCLA sanctioned show program. The decision of the OCLA Board of Directors regarding the unsportsmanlike conduct shall be final.
Ohio Administrative Code:
The Board of Directors also approved the following sections of the Ohio Administrative Code:
901-19-33- Prohibited grooming practices
901-19-35- Recognition of disciplinary action
901-19-38- False, deceptive or unacceptable practices
The Board of Directors also opted out of the following sections of the Ohio Administrative Code:
901-19-31- Responsibilities of and assistance to junior fair exhibitors
901-19-32- Breed shows or classes
901-19-34- Outstanding market project competition
901-19-39- Ownership requirements