Mission: The purpose of the Virginia Showmasters Circuit is to provide youth the opportunity to develop their showmanship and animal management skills.
Eligibility: Participants must sign up and pay the $20 membership fee by August 2 2025. Members who compete in 5 of 8 showmanship events that make up the circuit will receive a t-shirt and automatically be eligible for year-end awards. Due to age restrictions on some shows, PeeWees who compete in 3 of the 6 shows that allow PeeWee exhibitors will receive a t-shirt and be eligible for year-end awards. Out of state exhibitors will be allowed to earn points towards year end awards, with the understanding that they cannot compete at the Sheep Symposium or the State Fair of Virginia.
Participants MUST be signed up as a Member of VSC for points to count. Points WILL NOT accumulate until after individuals have signed up and paid the Membership fee of $20.
Age Divisions:
1. Peewee- 8 and Under
2. Junior- 9-12
3. Intermediate- 13-15
4. Senior- 16-19
VSC follows the same age divisions as the State Fair of Virginia. Except for Peewees, youth exhibitors must be at least 9 years of age by September 30, 2025 and must not have had their 19th birthday before January 1, 2025. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to show in the correct age division. VSC will not award points to exhibitors showing in the wrong division. No points will be awarded in Novice classes.
Exhibitors must follow the rules of each show to receive points for that show. Protest over show rule infractions should be taken up with the individuals putting on the event, on show day. No protest is allowed once a show submits points to VSC.
2024 Scoring System:
1st 15 points
2nd 14 points
3rd 13 points
4th 12 points
5th 11 points
6th 10 points
7th 9 points
8th 8 points
9th 7 points
10th 6 points
Made finals 5 points
All others 4 points
In the Event of a Tie:
1. Head to head competition will be considered. (For clarification head to head is not a separate contest it is when both individuals were at the same show.)
2. All dropped scores will be added.
3. Additional prizes will be given if the tie remains.
VSC provides awards to the top 10 Goat Showmen, top 10 Lamb Showmen and top 5 Combined Showmen in all four age groups. Exhibitors must qualify for year end awards in both Lamb & Goat divisions to be eligible for the Combined awards.
The awards ceremony will be held at the VA State Fair- Friday night after lamb and goat showmanship
VSC Board Members:
President - Rob French
Vice President - Scott Donnelly
Treasurer -
Secretary - Lauren McCroskey
Fundraising Chairperson - Tina French
Points/Membership Chairperson - Marguerite Cross
Social Media Chairperson - Lisa Strong
Parent Representative - Andrew Wills
Youth Representative - Samantha Wills
Show Representatives:
Matt Sponaugle
Natalie Blevins
Scott Greiner
Scott Donnelly
BJ Ratcliff
Steven Bowman
Marguerite Cross
Amanda Wydner
Shows in the 2025 Circuit:
** Please note dates are subject to change, this is a tentative schedule**
1. I-81 Showdown
June 13 & 14
Goats show on June 13 / Lambs show on June 14
Rockingham Co. Fairgrounds | Harrisonburg, VA
Daniel May 724.880.5679
Matthew Sponaugle 540.383.7983
i81showdownva.com
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
2. VA Lamb & Goat Symposium
June 21
NRV Fairgrounds | Dublin, VA
Scott Greiner - [email protected]
Out of State and PeeWee -NOT ELIGIBLE
3. Independence Day Shoot Out
July 5th
Fredrick County Fairgrounds | Clear Brook VA
Amy Moulden (320) 815-9638
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
4. Mayhem At The Meadow
July 13
Meadow Event Park | Doswell, VA
Rob French 804-564-4453
Lisa Strong 757-328-3342
Marguerite Cross 757-617-9913
Out of State and Peewee
5. Battle on the Border
July 20
Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex| Chatham, VA
Amanda Wydner [email protected]
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
6. New River Valley Fair & Jackpot
August 2
NRV Fairgrounds | Dublin, VA
BJ Ratliff / Steven Bowman [email protected]
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
7. Washington Co. Fair & Jackpot
September 6
Washington Co. Fairgrounds | Abingdon, VA
Natalie Blevins 276.356.3553
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
8. State Fair of Virginia
October 2-5
Meadow Event Park | Doswell, VA
Scott Greiner - [email protected]
https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/youth-livestock/shows/state-fair.html
Out of State & PeeWee - NOT ELIGIBLE
Eligibility: Participants must sign up and pay the $20 membership fee by August 2 2025. Members who compete in 5 of 8 showmanship events that make up the circuit will receive a t-shirt and automatically be eligible for year-end awards. Due to age restrictions on some shows, PeeWees who compete in 3 of the 6 shows that allow PeeWee exhibitors will receive a t-shirt and be eligible for year-end awards. Out of state exhibitors will be allowed to earn points towards year end awards, with the understanding that they cannot compete at the Sheep Symposium or the State Fair of Virginia.
Participants MUST be signed up as a Member of VSC for points to count. Points WILL NOT accumulate until after individuals have signed up and paid the Membership fee of $20.
Age Divisions:
1. Peewee- 8 and Under
2. Junior- 9-12
3. Intermediate- 13-15
4. Senior- 16-19
VSC follows the same age divisions as the State Fair of Virginia. Except for Peewees, youth exhibitors must be at least 9 years of age by September 30, 2025 and must not have had their 19th birthday before January 1, 2025. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to show in the correct age division. VSC will not award points to exhibitors showing in the wrong division. No points will be awarded in Novice classes.
Exhibitors must follow the rules of each show to receive points for that show. Protest over show rule infractions should be taken up with the individuals putting on the event, on show day. No protest is allowed once a show submits points to VSC.
2024 Scoring System:
1st 15 points
2nd 14 points
3rd 13 points
4th 12 points
5th 11 points
6th 10 points
7th 9 points
8th 8 points
9th 7 points
10th 6 points
Made finals 5 points
All others 4 points
In the Event of a Tie:
1. Head to head competition will be considered. (For clarification head to head is not a separate contest it is when both individuals were at the same show.)
2. All dropped scores will be added.
3. Additional prizes will be given if the tie remains.
VSC provides awards to the top 10 Goat Showmen, top 10 Lamb Showmen and top 5 Combined Showmen in all four age groups. Exhibitors must qualify for year end awards in both Lamb & Goat divisions to be eligible for the Combined awards.
The awards ceremony will be held at the VA State Fair- Friday night after lamb and goat showmanship
VSC Board Members:
President - Rob French
Vice President - Scott Donnelly
Treasurer -
Secretary - Lauren McCroskey
Fundraising Chairperson - Tina French
Points/Membership Chairperson - Marguerite Cross
Social Media Chairperson - Lisa Strong
Parent Representative - Andrew Wills
Youth Representative - Samantha Wills
Show Representatives:
Matt Sponaugle
Natalie Blevins
Scott Greiner
Scott Donnelly
BJ Ratcliff
Steven Bowman
Marguerite Cross
Amanda Wydner
Shows in the 2025 Circuit:
** Please note dates are subject to change, this is a tentative schedule**
1. I-81 Showdown
June 13 & 14
Goats show on June 13 / Lambs show on June 14
Rockingham Co. Fairgrounds | Harrisonburg, VA
Daniel May 724.880.5679
Matthew Sponaugle 540.383.7983
i81showdownva.com
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
2. VA Lamb & Goat Symposium
June 21
NRV Fairgrounds | Dublin, VA
Scott Greiner - [email protected]
Out of State and PeeWee -NOT ELIGIBLE
3. Independence Day Shoot Out
July 5th
Fredrick County Fairgrounds | Clear Brook VA
Amy Moulden (320) 815-9638
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
4. Mayhem At The Meadow
July 13
Meadow Event Park | Doswell, VA
Rob French 804-564-4453
Lisa Strong 757-328-3342
Marguerite Cross 757-617-9913
Out of State and Peewee
5. Battle on the Border
July 20
Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex| Chatham, VA
Amanda Wydner [email protected]
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
6. New River Valley Fair & Jackpot
August 2
NRV Fairgrounds | Dublin, VA
BJ Ratliff / Steven Bowman [email protected]
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
7. Washington Co. Fair & Jackpot
September 6
Washington Co. Fairgrounds | Abingdon, VA
Natalie Blevins 276.356.3553
Out of State and PeeWee eligible
8. State Fair of Virginia
October 2-5
Meadow Event Park | Doswell, VA
Scott Greiner - [email protected]
https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/youth-livestock/shows/state-fair.html
Out of State & PeeWee - NOT ELIGIBLE