Contest joins fashion, sheep

The toughest girls at the Douglas County Free Fair on Thursday weren’t tromping around in boots and spurs.

They were wearing wool.

Hardly an advisable combination with the afternoon’s triple-digit heat, but it was a perfect complement to the sheered sheep the 4-H’ers strutted for judges during the Shepherd’s Lead competition.

“Even though it’s hot, it’s a lot of fun to see all the other people’s ideas,” said 8-year-old Paris Nottingham of the Palmyra 4-H Club.

The event is something of a fashion show for the girls and their bleating sidekicks. Contestants must wear garments that are at least 60 percent wool.

Paris took her costume cue from the boost in patriotism after Sept. 11. She wore a red wool jumper, carried an American flag and donned a red headband with miniature flags jutting up like antennae. Her sheep stole the show in its red, white and blue hat and star-spangled neck scarf.

“It’s fun to dress up at a sheep show,” she said. “You don’t get to do that most of the time.”

The fact that Katy Taul’s red wool crepe sheath was sleeveless did little to stop the sweat from pouring. But the 17-year-old member of the Palmyra 4-H Club was all smiles as she showed off the dress, which she sewed herself.

“I’ve never done this before,” she said. “It was a good experience.”

Cindy Allen, the contest’s superintendent, said the project promoted the wool industry and was a lot of fun  despite the heat.

“They’re pretty good troopers about it,” she said.