Wyoming wool growers compete at WSF

Wool growers from across the Cowboy State had the opportunity to showcase their best fleeces and fiber arts in the rustic wooden Wool Barn at the end of the Midway on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas during the 2025 Wyoming State Fair (WSF), held Aug. 12-16.

In accordance with the 2025 WSF Premium Book, fleeces were judged on a common set of criteria, including estimated clean wool content, staple length, fineness, fiber strength, purity, color and crimp. 

Eligible fleeces had to be shorn in 2024-25 and represent 12 months of growth or less. Fleeces were faulted for including paint or 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 

Lane Rabel of Buffalo swept the 2025 WSF Youth Wool Show, taking home honors for exhibiting the Grand Champion Purebred Ram Fleece, the Grand Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece, the Grand Champion Commercial Ram Fleece and the Grand Champion Commercial Ewe Fleece.

Lander’s Jason Cruickshank had a big day, gracing the second slot on the leaderboard several times. 

Cruickshank exhibited the Reserve Champion Purebred Ram Fleece, the Reserve Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece and the Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe Fleece. 

Taylor Hernandez of Kemmerer was able to squeeze in a win as well, earning the title of Reserve Champion Commercial Ram Fleece.

Open Wool Show  

In the WSF Open Wool Show, Makayla Mette of Douglas made an impressive showing. 

Mette exhibited both the grand and reserve champion fleeces in the purebred ram division, as well as the Grand Champion Commercial Ewe Fleece. She also exhibited the Grand Champion Fleece of Show and the Grand Champion Flock of Fleeces and was deservingly named the 2025 WSF Premier Wool Exhibitor. 

Fellow Douglas wool producers kept the ball rolling, with John Werner exhibiting the Grand Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece and the Reserve Champion Fleece of Show, Connie Werner exhibiting the Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe Fleece and Bob Hageman earning honors with the Reserve Champion Flock of Fleeces. 

Additionally, Doug Ruby of Gillette took home Reserve Champion Purebred Ewe Fleece honors.

Youth exhibitors Rabel and Hernandez found continued success in the open show, respectively exhibiting the Grand and Reserve Champion Commercial Ram Fleeces.

Natural Fiber Arts Show

Each year, the WSF Wool Show also includes a fiber arts division, where Wyoming fiber artists show off their natural fibers and impressive creations. 

Emersyn Olson of Bar Nunn exhibited the Grand Champion White Wool Fleece and the Grand Champion Spinning Fleece of Show, while Monte Reed of Douglas had the Reserve Champion White Wool Fleece.

The title of Champion Natural Colored Fleece went home with Levi Collins of Evansville, while Wendy Smith of Powell exhibited the Reserve Champion Natural Colored Fleece. 

Charlotte Buckner of Casper topped the podium with the Grand Champion Alpaca Fleece, followed by Doris Montgomery of Evansville with the Reserve Champion Alpaca Fleece. 

Additionally, Miranda Hinton of Douglas received honors for Best Handspun Yarn and Best Fiber Prep, while Sharon Tuckey of Douglas was awarded Best Dyed Yarn and Alayna Mellin of Casper was chosen as the recipient of the Staff’s Choice Award. 

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