With a late December birthday, 20-year-old Sierra Tice has literally been attending the Pennsylvania Farm Show her whole life.
She was only a few days old when her parents, Joe and Ashley Tice, took her to her first Farm Show in January 2005; and she’s been going ever since.
Sierra has been a Farm Show livestock exhibitor since 2019, showing pigs and sheep she raised as a 4-H’er and member of the Northern Lebanon High School FFA chapter.
However, this year, instead of grooming her livestock and taking them into the show ring, she’ll be wearing the crown of Pennsylvania’s 2025 Lamb and Wool queen with, among her duties, presenting ribbons to other exhibitors.
When it comes to raising sheep and lambs, Sierra is “all in” on all things ovine. She says she was originally known as a “pig gal” when she first started raising and showing swine at the Lebanon Area Fair. However, Sierra wanted to become more involved with a livestock species that went beyond meat production.
Sierra Tice feels right at home with the sheep and lambs in her family's dairy barn that was converted to accommodate her flock.
She had her first 4-H project lamb at age 13, selecting sheep because of the opportunity to shear their fiber. After she started showing her sheep, “It took off from there,” said Sierra.
Her breeding flock now numbers nine ewes and 10 lambs. Sierra calls her operation S.G. Club Lambs, with an aim of providing quality animals for 4-H youngsters to raise.
She focuses on black-faced crossbreds, Dorsets and natural-colored sheep. Sierra said natural colored sheep are all black at birth, but can develop different-colored markings as they mature.
In order to qualify for competing in natural color divisions, sheep can be of any breed, so long as they have a predominant blue or black tint over the majority of the body.
Sierra admits to having a soft spot for the natural breeds, which she calls her favorite, even though the lambs can be “crazy.” She said their unusual markings make them stand out more at shows. Her natural show sheep have done well for her when she’s exhibited them at the Lebanon Area Fair and local jackpot shows around the state.
Currently, her pride and joy is a pair of 1-month old natural lamb twins — one ram and one ewe, which are the result of her first venture using artificial insemination. She is especially partial to the as-yet unnamed ewe lamb, which was born with small ears that give it a pleasantly unique appearance. Sierra thinks this will be an asset that catches judges’ attention in the show ring.
Sierra Tice holds a fuzzy, little natural-colored ewe lamb twin that is just one month old.
Sierra houses her flock in a converted dairy barn on her family’s Bethel Township, Lebanon County, hobby farm. She turned some of the former milking parlor’s tie stalls into lambing pens, while a stable area now houses her flock, as well as a creep-feeding facility for the lambs.
Having strong backing from her family is something for which Sierra is grateful. Her dad raised sheep and helps with shearings. Her grandfather, Tom Tice, was “more of a cattle guy,” Sierra said, but he’s been cheering her along, as well.
Another factor in Sierra’s success is encouragement from her grandmother, Debbie Tice. Debbie is well-known from her roles with Lebanon County’s Penn State Extension as a part-time 4-H program assistant and one of the organizational leaders for the Lebanon County 4-H Livestock Club.
Debbie has also been a long-time fixture at the Farm Show, assisting with checking in beef cattle, and at the beef shows.
“She’s a warrior,” Sierra said, adding Debbie is also heavily involved at the Lebanon Area Fair and the Keystone International Livestock Exposition, and serves on the Farm Show’s Beef Committee.
Sierra said her grandmother has been instrumental in encouraging her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way.
Sierra also appreciates the emphasis her grandmother placed on preparation for skillathons — events where 4-H’ers can “show what you know” about their abilities and skills learned through working with their project animals.
It positioned Sierra to be well-rounded in her knowledge about her sheep and to put that knowledge into practice.
As part of her enthusiasm for raising sheep, Sierra became involved with the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Association.
In October, Sierra competed in the association’s queen contest, held as part of its annual Shepherd’s Symposium at the Lebanon County Agricultural Center.
After writing an essay about “why I should become the lamb and wool queen,” undergoing an interview process and then answering an impromptu question, Sierra was awarded the Lamb and Wool queen crown for 2025.
“We are excited to have such a qualified young lady representing the sheep industry across the Commonwealth,” said Laurie Hubbard of the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Grower’s Association.
Sierra’s reign begins with the Farm Show, where she will get off to a fast start in her new role. She’ll be socializing at Friday night’s PA Preferred reception, then attending Saturday’s opening ceremonies before heading to the Small Arena to present ribbons at the Junior Market Lamb Show.
From left, Rylee Colteryahn, 2024 Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen, poses with her newly crowned successor, Sierra Tice.
Tuesday will find her at the Junior Market Livestock Sale for photos with the champions. Sierra will round out her Farm Show week on Friday at the Breeding Sheep show.
In the year ahead, Sierra will be making appearances at fairs around the state, as well as various sheep shows. She’s also been invited to appear at the annual meeting of the Lebanon County Farm Women in May.
Sierra’s 2025 will be extra busy, since January will also mark the start of her pursuing a degree in elementary education at Harrisburg Area Community College. She hopes to teach kindergarten or first grade and incorporate agricultural education into the curriculum.
Sierra is especially eager to attend the Farm Show’s sheep-to-shawl competition. She has never experienced this contest and expects it may spur her to pursue fiber arts along with raising sheep. She’s already a big fan of woolen attire, with her cozy gray cashmere sweater being a personal favorite.
As for a favorite Farm Show memory to date, Sierra cites one of her first appearances in a lamb show with her natural, a wether named Roy. He was a challenge to train, but fortunately behaved perfectly in the show ring.
Will it be hard not to be showing livestock at the 2025 Farm Show due to undertaking her royal duties? Sierra doesn’t foresee that being a problem.
She will continue to have other showing opportunities, since she’s extended her exhibiting time frame by being a full-time FFA member.
However, when that ends, “Tears will be shed,” Sierra said.
