In the Sheep Show, Bernadette Marsh (left) won the Supreme Meat Breed category with her Dorper Ewe. Photo courtesy of Lambtown Festival

DIXON, CA (MPG) - The 39th annual Lambtown Festival wrapped up Oct. 5 at the Dixon May Fairgrounds with several competition winners. Festival organizers thanked all participants and congratulated winners in the many contests that highlighted the event’s celebration of wool, sheep and fiber craftsmanship.

This year’s wool show drew just under 200 entries featuring breeds including Merino, Wensleydale, Shetland, California Red, Cormo, Romney, Rambouillet and Shropshire.

Amy Mendenhall earned the Grand Champion title with entry number 353. In Division 1 (Breeds Classes), the champion ribbon went to Terry Mendenhall (number 324) for a Merino fleece and the reserve champion was Allison Jones (number 378) with a Romney fleece.

Nearly 200 sheep competed in this year’s sheep show, representing a multitude of breeds. Photo courtesy of Lambtown Festival

In Division 2 (Handspinner’s Classes), Amy Mendenhall (number 353) took champion honors again with a naturally colored Romney, while Emma Hill (number 393) received the reserve title for a Merino fleece.

Nearly 200 sheep competed in this year’s sheep show, which featured Romney, Merino, Rambouillet, Corriedale, Dorper, Cheviot, Shetland, California Red, Columbia, Jacob, Wensleydale, Bluefaced Leicester and Valais Blacknose breeds.

Bernadette Marsh earned the Supreme Meat Breed award with a Dorper ewe and Cecilia Parson received the Supreme Wool Breed award with a Shetland ram.

The Sheep to Shawl Competition returned in full swing with six teams competing in the Fairgrounds Division. The Coven team captured the Grand Champion title and placed first in both the Fairgrounds and Virtual divisions. Hangtown Fiber Miners took second place in the Fairgrounds Division.

Cecilia Parson (left) won the Supreme Wool Breed category of the sheep show with her Shetland Ram. Photo courtesy of Lambtown Festival

A record 80 entries were submitted in the Skeins and Textiles Competition. Sarah Grobman (Textiles number 28) was named Grand Champion. People’s Choice Awards went to Andrea McCann (Skeins number 18) for skeins and Lucelle Hoefnagels (textiles number 18) for textiles.

In the Skeins category, winners included Bridgette Million (Skeins number 10) in 100% Wool, Andrea McCann (Skeins number 19) in Wool Blend and McCann again sweeping the Other Protein Fibers class.

In Textiles, Grobman led the Crochet–Commercial Yarn division, while Heather Rose won Crochet–Handspun. Holly Higgins topped Knit–Commercial Yarn (Tops), and Nina Groleger won Knit–Commercial Yarn (Accessories). Hoefnagels placed first in Knit–Handspun Yarn, Chris Lombardi led Woven–Commercial Yarn, and the Silverado Spinsters team won Woven–Handspun Yarn (Group Made). Sara Powell took first and third in Felted Items.

The Make it With Wool Fashion Competition had five winners. (L-R): Christine Knobel won the Wearable Accessories category, Debbi Nakahara won the Adult category, Hailee Luiz won the Junior category, Marissa Sanchez won the Senior category and Avery Niles won the Pre-Teen category. Photo courtesy of Lambtown Festival

The second annual Make It with Wool contest saw nearly 40% more entries this year. Winners included Christine Knobel in Wearable Accessories, Debbi Nakahara in Adult, Hailee Luiz in Junior, Marissa Sanchez in Senior and Avery Niles in Pre-Teen categories.

The 40th annual Lambtown Festival will be held from Oct. 3 to Oct. 4, 2026, giving interested parties time to prepare for the competitions. Workshops will begin Oct. 1.

For more information about the festival, visit lambtown.org or email [email protected].

The Lambtown Festival concluded Oct. 5. Organizers thanked all participants and congratulated winners in the many contests that highlighted the event’s celebration of wool, sheep and fiber craftsmanship. Photo courtesy of Lambtown Festival