Brandon set for return of All Canada Sheep Classic

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This article was published 02/07/2025 (239 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The All Canada Sheep Classic is set to take over the Keystone Centre in Brandon next week, with hundreds of sheep coming from all over the country.

The annual event, which hasn’t been hosted in Manitoba since 2015, will run between July 9 and 12, with shows happening throughout the day along with a social and banquet on the Thursday and Friday.

“Very, very excited. I’m quite happy to have it in Brandon,” said organizer Bethan Lewis.

Lewis said there are animals entered from as far as British Columbia and New Brunswick for the event, which will be judged on breed standards, like structural correctness.

“So every breed kind of has what that breed is supposed to look like, very similar to dogs or cats,” Lewis said. “(Judges) will judge the quality of that animal in comparison to the other ones.”

She said it’s great that the event is back in Brandon after not being here since the late 2000s. The last time the event was in Manitoba, it was held in Winnipeg.

“The Keystone Centre has lots of space to offer,” Lewis said. “I think it was 282 animals entered, so it’s high compared to what I expected, which is good.”

The first few editions of the event were all in Brandon in the early 1980s, but shifted to a rotating schedule so every province could have a chance at hosting. Last year’s event in Richmond, Que., went well, and the hope is to continue that momentum.

“The sheep sold for the most that they ever had at any of the classics,” Lewis said. “There was a lot of sheep, and I think some went all the way down to the (United) States, and then all the way out east and west. We’re hoping to keep that trend going.”

At the end of the competition, there is an auction for the sheep. The Brandon auction will be on Saturday.

The event will be free for the public to attend, with booths set up selling merchandise, some of which has been made from sheep wool.

Lewis said the organization also received a grant from the City of Brandon, which will help a lot.

“We have a little bit extra funding, which we’re really grateful for. It helps take the pressure off of running the show,” she said.

“If you run a loss on these shows, it’s quite hard to justify continuing doing them year after year. Having that little bit extra to take the buffer … it’s night and day difference.”

She said the extra funding gives the organizers more peace of mind, and allows them not to cut corners when putting the event together.

Brandon First executive director Jenn Watson said unique events like these are great to go watch.

“It’s something different. I mean, we do a lot of sport, we do a lot of events with cows and horses, but sheep is something that’s a little bit different,” Watson said. “If you’re looking for just an experience that you might not have had before, this is a great opportunity for that.

“It’s nice to see other industries and other groups think of Brandon as a host city. The Keystone Centre especially is super valuable for groups like that.”

She said the event will also be good for the city and its businesses.

“We’re thrilled to see it come here,” Watson said. “It being a national level event like this, it showcases us to the whole country. It shows off our hospitality and our event-hosting capabilities. It just shows why Brandon is such a great place.”

Watson said people who come here spend their money on hotels, stores and restaurants, which gives an economic boost to the city.

“Events in general are really big business and sometimes underestimated in the economic landscape.”

Lewis said Brandon is a great spot for them to be in because it’s a central location in the country and along the Trans-Canada Highway.

The event will continue on a rotating schedule, with the 2026 edition taking place in Pictou, N.S.

» alambert@brandonsun.com