08/16/2026
What a weekend for Rae at the TN State Sheep Expo at the Tennessee State Fair! 💜🐑💜
For her very first Sheep Expo, I’d say she came home with the hardware she was hoping for — and made a few pretty special memories along the way!
Rae and her farm-bred ewe, Tootsie (Amber x Potentially Dangerous), had an incredible showing, bringing home:
🏆 Overall Reserve Champion Farm Bred Commercial Ewe
🏆 Reserve Champion Farm Bred BFX Commercial Ewe
These honors are extra special because they mark the FIRST EVER Farm Bred honors for HR Sheep Co.! Seeing an animal that was bred and raised at home accomplish this makes those banners mean just a little bit more.
And Rae wasn’t finished!
🥈 2nd Place – Sheep Skillathon
🥉 3rd Place – Poster Contest
🏆 Premier Exhibitor – Commercial Ewes
She and Tootsie also brought home 2nd place in the Costume Contest dressed as Wednesday Addams — complete with Thing! 😂 I’m not sure who enjoyed that part more, Rae or Tootsie, but they BOTH absolutely loved it!
As proud as we are of the ribbons, banners and awards, my favorite part of the weekend came when I asked Rae what her favorite part was.
Her answer?
“Getting to spend all weekend in the barn with my babies.” 💜
And THAT is why we do what we do.
The banners will eventually get put away and the ribbons will collect dust, but the days spent in the barn with the animals she considers her best friends are the memories she will carry with her. Giving her the opportunity to have these moments makes every early morning, late night, feed bill and dirty pair of boots worth it.
And while there was someone very important missing from the barn this weekend, we know Uncle Michael had the best seat in the house. 💜 I have no doubt he was watching over his girl from Heaven, smiling from ear to ear and probably telling everyone up there, “That’s my Bo**er Butt .” There are certain moments when you just wish Heaven wasn’t quite so far away, and this weekend held more than a few of those.
There are so many people who have helped Rae get to where she is, and I’m afraid to start naming names because I know I would leave someone out. Whether your part has been big or small — you know who you are, and please know how grateful we are for every bit of encouragement, advice, help and support you have given her along the way.
We could not be more proud of our girl and everything she accomplished during her first TN State Sheep Expo!
Keep loving those babies, working hard and soaking up every minute of it, Rae. Uncle Michael is watching, and we know he is so very proud.💜 🐑💜
Peep a few pics of Bubs helping out behind the scenes! Rae cannot wait to share her 💜 with the lambs with him!!!!
