CHAPTER XL 

 THE ART AND METHOD OF JUDGING SHEEP. 



JUDGING SHEEP AT FAIRS, IN THE CLASSROOM, 

 OR ON THE FARM. 



Acting as the judge of sheep at fairs is by no 

 means a small task, for the person who performs 

 this duty assumes a large measure of responsi- 

 bility. Incompetence of a judge is inexcusable in 

 every event. No person should ever attempt to 

 act as judge, even at a county fair, unless he pos- 

 sesses the necessary qualifications. Wherever 

 judging is done at any fair, whether large or small, 

 a crowd of interested onlookers watch the work 

 and decisions of the judge, and aim to learn the 

 highest type and conformation of animals. If the 

 judge is not capable of selecting the best animals 

 for the prize winners from those which are brought 

 before him, but selects unworthy candidates, he is 

 not only depriving exhibitors of their prize money 

 and the honor rightfully belonging to them, but he 

 is also deceiving the interested onlookers. He con- 

 veys the wrong impression of what constitutes the 

 highest class of well-conditioned show animals to 

 those who come to the fair to learn. Aiy person 

 guilty of awarding prizes to unworthy animals is 



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