WSF wool results posted

The Wyoming State Fair (WSF) is a premier venue for producers to show off the fruits of their labor, and each year wool growers from across the state meet in Douglas to vie for top honors with a variety of high-quality fleeces and impressive fiber arts.

According to WSF Wool Show Superintendent Tracy Hageman Dilts, this year’s show made history with 117 fleeces lined up along the green-shelved walls of the WSF Wool Barn.

“We’ve never had more than 100 fleeces, so we are really excited about the improvement of the show,” Dilts said.

The WSF Wool Show, according to the 2024 WSF Premium Book, “encourages improved wool production, stimulates interest and knowledge in the proper preparation of wool for market and informs the public on the versatile uses of wool as a high-quality textile fiber.” 

The wool is graded on a common set of criteria, including estimated clean wool content, staple length, fiber strength, fineness, purity, color and crimp.

Eligible fleeces had to be shorn in 2023-24 and represent 12 months of growth or less. Fleeces were faulted for including paint of tar brands, excessive dung locks or tags, moisture discoloration, cotting, a break or weak staple and excess burrs or vegetable matter. 

The WSF Wool Show included fleeces and fiber arts shown by both youth and open exhibitors, broken into divisions based on production type, breed and sex.

Youth Wool Show

In the youth division, Lance Rabel of Buffalo had an impressive showing. Rabel exhibited both the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Purebred Ram fleeces, as well as the Grand Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece, followed by Maria Geis of Gillette with the Reserve Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece. 

The WSF Wool Show was also a successful day for Lander’s Jason Cruickshank, who took home honors with the Grand Champion Commercial Ram Fleece and the Grand Champion Commercial Ewe Fleece.  

Taylor Hernandez of Green River was the reserve champion in the commercial ram division, and Hayden Geis pulled into the reserve-champion slot in the commercial ewe category. 

Additionally, Cruickshank had the Grand Champion Youth Fleece of Show and was named the 2024 WSF Premier Youth Exhibitor, while Rabel took home yet another honor as the Reserve Champion Youth Fleece of Show.

Open Wool Show

Douglas Native Makayla Mette swept the open show, taking home six of the 13 titles given out during the 2024 WSF Open Wool Show. 

Mette exhibited both the grand and reserve champion fleeces in the purebred ram division and the reserve champion fleece in the commercial ram division. She also exhibited the Grand Champion Flock of Fleeces and the Fleece of Show and was deservingly named the 2024 WSF Premier Wool Exhibitor. 

Wyoming Wool Growers Association Executive Director Alison Crane of Powell topped the podium with the Grand Champion Commercial Ram Fleece and the Reserve Champion Fleece of Show. 

Youth exhibitors Rabel and Geis proved to be a force in the open show as well. Rabel exhibited the Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece and Geis had the Reserve Grand Champion Flock of Fleeces. 

During the show, Bob Hageman of Douglas made the leaderboard a few times as well, taking home honors with the Reserve Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece and the Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe Fleece.

Additionally, Casper’s Hannah Dunford exhibited both the Grand and Reserve Champion Alpaca Fleece of Show.

Natural Fiber Arts Show

To round out the WSF Wool Show, Wyoming artists showed off their impressive creations, all made of natural fibers.

Douglas’ Miranda Hinton had a successful show, winning Best Yarn and the title of Premier Natural Fiber Arts Handspinner of Show, while Victoria Ryan of Cheyenne was crowned Best of Show.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.