National Coopworth Show

Coopworth shepherds will showcase the breed in the first national event, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the American Coopworth Registry.

The first National Coopworth Show will be held in conjunction with the 18th Annual NJ Sheep and Fiber Festival, September 8-9, 2012 at Hunterdon County Fairgrounds in Ringoes, New Jersey. Sponsored by Garden State Sheep Breeders, the festival will feature sheep shows, sheep herding and shearing demonstrations, llama & alpaca displays, spinning classes, music, food, children's activities, and a wide variety of vendors.

The Coopworth show will take place on the morning of Saturday September 8, followed by the general sheep shows. Coopworth fleece, roving, yarn, pelts and other products will be available for sale, along with information about the breed and its attributes, for the entire weekend.

"The first national Coopworth show is an opportunity to educate the public about the Coopworth breed and recognize ten years of the American Coopworth Registry,” says Martha McGrath, president of the American Coopworth Registry. “It is fitting that the first national show will take place in New Jersey, one of the first states to welcome Coopworths imported from New Zealand, in 1980.”

About the American Coopworth Registry
The American Coopworth Registry was established to address the needs of all owners and breeders of Coopworth sheep, to preserve and improve the breed and to educate its membership. This organization works to promote the breed and make these sheep known for all their notable qualities. The ACR provides purebred registration for all eligible white and natural colored Coopworth sheep that meet the breed standard while encouraging performance selection through a voluntary merit-based program.

About the Garden State Sheep Breeders
The Garden State Sheep Breeders is a non-profit, educational organization promoting sheep and wool products in New Jersey. In addition to the annual sheep and fiber festival, it holds regular educational and business meetings, and sponsors awards at events where sheep and wool products are featured.

More information about the American Coopworth Registry is available at www.americancoopworthregistry.org. For more information about the NJ Sheep and Fiber Festival, see www.njsheep.org/festival.