Midwesterners Compete for Premiums in Iowa State Fair Sheep Shearing Contest

DES MOINES, IA (08/19/2010)(readMedia)-- Contestants from across the Midwest battled for top honors in the Iowa State Fair Sheep Shearing contest judged Saturday at the 2010 Iowa State Fair.

Douglas Rathke of Hutchinson, Minn. won first place and $200 in the Senior Shearing division.

Bruce Sellers of Chariton earned second place and $150 and Alex Moser of Steen, Minn. claimed third place and $125.

Each contestant sheared four sheep in the preliminary round and an additional four in the finals.

Complete results follow:

AMATEUR

Shearing

1) Heath Anderson, Griswold

2) Raelan Schweinefus, Mitchellville

3) Amir Nayeri, Bondurant

Best Pen

1) Raelan Schweinefus, Mitchellville

2) Amir Nayeri, Bondurant

3) Heath Anderson, Griswold

Fastest Time

1) Heath Anderson, Griswold

2) Raelan Schweinefus, Mitchellville

3) Amir Nayeri, Bondurant

JUNIOR

Shearing

1) Kyle Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids

2) Ben Daniels, Eldora

Best Pen

1) Kyle Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids

2) Ben Daniels, Eldora

Fastest Time

1) Kyle Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids

2) Ben Daniels, Eldora

SENIOR

Shearing

1) Douglas Rathke, Hutchinson, Minn.

2) Bruce Sellers, Chariton

3) Alex Moser, Steen, Minn.

4) Rocky Anderson, Griswold

5) Kevin Hickman, Humansville, Mo.

6) Mike Hagens, Mandan, N.D.

7) Tony Troendle, Black hawk, S.D.

8) Ralph McWilliams, Mile City, Mont.

9) Nolan Abel, Royal

10) Loren Opstedahl, Piedmont, S.D.

11) Dave Tometich, Muscatine

12) Dan Ackerman, Sac City

13) Brandon Buelt, Exira

14) Justin Schau, Donnellson

15) Mike Holdeman, Reasnor

16) Lee Buelt, Exira

Best Pen

1) Bruce Sellers, Chariton

2) Douglas Rathke, Hutchinson, Minn.

3) Rocky Anderson, Griswold

Fastest Time

1) Tony Troendle, Black hawk, S.D.

2) Kevin Hickman, Humansville, Mo.

3) Douglas Rathke, Hutchinson, Minn.

"Non Stop Fun" runs through August 22. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

* * *