Virginia Tech Southwest AREC Sheep Field Day and Ram Sale

The Virginia Tech Southwest AREC Sheep Field Day and Ram Sale will bring sheep producers to Glade Spring on Friday, September 25, 2026, for an afternoon of research-based education followed by the annual sale of performance-tested rams.

The Virginia Tech Southwest Agricultural Research and Extension Center will host the event at 12326 VPI Farm Road, Glade Spring, Virginia. Registration and lunch begin at noon, followed by the educational field day at 12:30 p.m. and the ram sale at 3 p.m.

Sheep Management Topics for Producers

The 2026 educational program will address several practical topics affecting sheep operations.

Phil Blevins of Virginia Cooperative Extension in Washington County will discuss hay fertility timing and reduced-lignin alfalfa. Virginia Tech sheep specialist Dr. Scott Greiner will present fall flock management strategies, while Greiner and North Carolina State University’s Dr. Andrew Weaver will address fall lambing considerations.

The program will also include a sheep health update from veterinarian Chris Fletcher of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with an update on the 2026 Southwest AREC Ram Test from Lee Wright of Virginia Tech Southwest AREC and Greiner.

Virginia Tech Southwest AREC Sheep Field Day Highlights Ram Testing

The field day is also closely tied to Virginia Tech’s Southwest AREC Ram Test, a program that began in 2012.

Virginia Tech describes it as the only U.S. program that uses a forage-based performance test designed to evaluate both post-weaning growth and parasite resistance. Rams from multiple farms are evaluated under the same conditions, giving producers performance information they can use when making breeding decisions.

The program is intended both to provide standardized performance records for breeders and to serve as an educational resource for the sheep industry.

57 Performance-Tested Rams Offered for Sale

A total of 119 rams from 30 flocks entered the 2026 test. Those animals came from farms in Virginia and 11 other states, including Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and West Virginia.

During the 70-day performance test, researchers monitored growth and parasite resistance using measures including body weight, fecal egg counts, and FAMACHA scores.

The Virginia Tech Southwest AREC Sheep Field Day and Ram Sale will conclude with the sale of 57 forage-tested rams evaluated for growth and parasite resistance. Organizers excluded rams that needed deworming during the test from sale eligibility. Veterinarians from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine conducted breeding-soundness examinations on all rams offered for sale, and the rams passed.

Online bidding will also be available through Top Livestock for buyers who cannot attend in person.

Event Schedule

Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Registration and lunch: Noon
Educational field day: 12:30 p.m.
Ram sale: 3 p.m.
Location: Virginia Tech Southwest Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Address: 12326 VPI Farm Road, Glade Spring, VA 24340
Organizer: Virginia Tech Southwest Agricultural Research and Extension Center / Virginia Cooperative Extension
Format: In-person field day and livestock sale

Virginia Tech’s official event page also provides the current 2026 sale catalog, ram performance reports, sale order, and videos of sale animals.

Read our full-length articles about education opportunities here!