The International Open Sheep Shearing and Junior Sheep Shearing contest is Jan. 12 at 9 a.m. on the lower level of the Stadium Hall.

Contestants are judged on time, condition of fleece, absence of second cuts in fleece, manner of handling sheep, absence of cuts on sheep, appearance of shorn sheep. Each professional contestant shears four sheep, and each junior shears three sheep. The international contest draws the top shearers from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The competition originated in Chicago in the early 1940s and moved to the National Western Stock Show in 1975 from Indiana State Fair, where it had been held for several years.