For Exhibitors
The rule book for Valais in the Vines. Read it before you enter.
Animals at Valais in the Vines are judged on the Swiss standard for the Valais Blacknose breed. An independent judge evaluates each animal against that standard and places the class accordingly, awarding placings, class winners, and Champion and Reserve Champion honors.
All registered Valais Blacknose may be shown. Sheep at F5 and above (domestic purebred) show in the purebred classes. F1 through F4 breed-up ewes show in the F1 & F2 and F3 & F4 breed-up classes. Class placement follows the generation shown on the registration papers. All registration papers are checked on arrival to verify the identity of each animal. Bring them with you, and keep them available on request throughout the show.
No crossbred rams and no spitti colored rams may be shown. A ram found to be either will be immediately disqualified.
Any sheep found not to meet eligibility, or found to be misrepresented in any way, may be disqualified and may have ranks and titles removed, even after completing the show, at the sole discretion of the show steward.
Entries are made online. Registration opens January 1 and closes March 15. Entry fees will be announced when registration opens.
Animals must be owned by the exhibitor at the time of entry, and the name on the entry must match the registration papers. Substitutions within the same class are allowed up to the close of entries. After entries close, an entered animal may be scratched but not replaced.
Animals are entered into the general classes shown on the Classes page. Numbered sub-classes and age cutoffs are set after entries close, based on the animals actually entered.
Every animal needs a CVI and a scrapie tag, wherever it is coming from. Animals travelling in from another state must also meet the standing California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) requirements for sheep entering the state. Confirm those with your veterinarian and with CDFA close to your travel date, since state rules change.
Papers are checked on arrival. An animal without complete paperwork will not be stalled.
Animals may arrive any time after 8:00 AM on Thursday, April 8. All animals must be in place by 8:00 PM on Friday, April 9, the evening before the show.
Animals may leave any time after midnight on Saturday night, that is, from 12:00 AM on Sunday, April 11 onward.
Stall assignments are made by the show. Exhibitors are responsible for feeding, watering, bedding and cleaning their own pens for the duration of the show.
Exhibitors must have animals ready and present them when the class is called. An animal not in the ring when its class is judged forfeits its place in that class. Handlers must keep their animals under control at all times.
Junior Handler is judged on the young exhibitor's handling and presentation of the animal rather than on the animal itself. It runs in two age groups, Under 10 and 10 and Over. Junior handlers wear a white coat, the same as every other exhibitor.
Exhibitors show in a white coat. This applies in every class, including Junior Handler.
Animals are shown in natural condition. Any alteration intended to misrepresent an animal's age, condition or conformation is prohibited and falls under Integrity and Misrepresentation above.
Humane treatment is required at all times, in the ring and at the pens. The show steward may order an animal removed from competition or from the grounds, and may remove an exhibitor, for mistreatment of an animal.
The judge's decisions are final. Placings are not subject to review, appeal or protest, and the judge will not revisit a class once it has been placed.
The show steward's decisions are final. The steward has authority over everything else at the show, including eligibility, paperwork, class placement, disqualification, stalling and conduct. The steward's ruling on any such matter is binding on all exhibitors and is not subject to appeal.
This is a destination show and a gathering as much as a competition, and everyone here is entitled to be treated with respect. Exhibitors are responsible for the conduct of their own helpers, family and guests.
Disrespectful or combative behavior toward the judge, the show steward, show staff, volunteers, venue staff or another exhibitor will result in the exhibitor being asked to leave the property. Interference with the judge or with the judging of a class is grounds for immediate disqualification. An exhibitor removed for conduct forfeits any placings and titles earned at the show, and entry fees are not refunded.
A protest on a matter other than a judge's placing must be made in writing to the show steward, signed by the exhibitor, within 30 minutes of the end of the class in question. Protests made later, or made verbally, will not be heard. The steward's ruling on the protest is final.
Exhibitors are responsible for their own animals, equipment and property, and for any damage or injury caused by them. Valais in the Vines, The Six LLC and the venue are not responsible for loss, theft, injury or death of any animal or person on the grounds.
Questions about the rules? Contact us.
