Buckeye Young Shepherd’s Expo a HUGE success

By: Roger A. High, OSIA/OSWP Executive Director

The 2025 Buckeye Young Shepherds Expo was held March 16, 2025 at The Ohio State University OARDC – Fisher Auditorium Building, Wooster, OH. Approximately 100 youth plus 50 parents participated in the event. Several members of the OSIA Lead Council in attendance as well making the total participation approximately 175.

“Our goals for this year’s educational topic were based in part from feedback from last year’s expo and from ideas generated within the Buckeye Young Shepherd’s Expo Committee” stated Buckeye Young Shepherd’s Expo Co-Chair Jennifer Baird, of Mahoning County.

Several of the highlights of the day included: OSU 4-H Extension Educator Jacci Smith presenting and providing sessions with a “Hands-on Lambing Simulator” where participants were able to experience delivering lambs including potential dystocia issues that they might observe in their sheep flocks. Another portion of program included “The Why and How of Sheep AI” with Veterinarian Dr. Corvin Mull. He created a ewe out of a plastic barrel so the kids could practice sheep AI techniques using the real camera and instruments just like the Veterinarians do in their practice. general sessions offered for the entire group were “How the Rumen Works” by Dr. Dwight Roseler, a Nutritionist for Purina Feeds; a “Quality Assurance” program by Andrea Rees and Lydia Ulry, both OSU 4-H Extension Educators. The infamous Ohio and National Lambassador Nick Forest along with his wife Kathy spoke on marketing lamb and provided great discussion on preparing and seasoning lamb that we later consumed with our lunch of lamb meatballs.

After lunch, two rotating sessions were offered, “When to Call the Vet” by Dr. Emily Nogay, OSU Large Animal Services and “Tips for Success In and Out of the Show Ring” by Lauren Turner, of the Reproductive Specialty Group. Lauren has experience in the showring as a successful sheep and lamb showman in Ohio. Attendees could also practice their skills with the Skill-a-thon station. Throughout the expo, part of our newly formed OSIA LEAD Council media team consisting of Clay Johnson were interviewing members of the OSIA LEAD Council and youth about the program and their sheep and lamb projects.

Participants were given a tee shirt with the BYSE logo on the front and all of our generous sponsors listed on the back and a bucket with a halter, degreasing shampoo or shimmer from Weaver, a sticker and BYSE keychain, a spray bottle and towels and a list of sponsors so they could write thank you notes. I hope you can come next year and see the joy and excitement these kids have with their hands-on experience and the goodies they get at the end of the day.

On behalf of the OSIA LEAD Council and the OSIA LEAD Council Buckeye Young Shepherds Expo Committee, we would like to thank the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program (OSWP), Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA), Patterson Fruit Farm, Dale Davis – Blade Sharpening, Wool Buying, and Purebred Southdowns, Heritage Cooperative, Leonard Truck and Trailer, L and C Creations, Weaver Livestock and Lowery Club Lambs for their continued financial support of this program.

OSIA LEAD Council members prepare lunch of Lamb (and beef) meatballs and other lunch items for the nearly 175 participants at the Buckeye Young Shepherd’s Expo

 Left to Right: Lisa Horning, Lori Shroyer, David Fowler, Pam Seckel, Rose Hartschuh, and Allen Johnson

OSU 4-H Extension Educator Jacci Smith provides a discussion on lambing and allows participants to deliver a lamb with the lambing simulator.