‘Ewe’ had to be there
Barreling down South Main Street in downtown Washington, the sheep competing in the final heat of Saturday’s “Running of the Wools” were anything but, well, sheepish.
It was a “shear” nail-biter at the finish line, but there could only be one leader of the pack, and this year the title for fastest sheep in Washington County goes to “Baaa-cking our Comm-ew-nity,” who was running on behalf of the Washington County Community Foundation.
“We’re so proud,” said Joann Naser, manager of the organization. “It was fabulous; it was such a fun event.”
Despite the rain, which started about half an hour before the first heat and did not let up for much of the afternoon, spectators still came out in droves to witness the third annual event.
“It’s our first year here,” said Eric Locksen of Canonsburg. “And we weren’t going to let a little rain get in our way of a good time.”
Shana Brown, director of the Washington Business District Authority, said she wasn’t surprised the rain failed to dampen the turnout.
“It makes it fun,” Brown said. “We’re racing sheep; we don’t need to be predictable here.”
The Running of the Wools pays homage to Washington County’s agriculture history, which in the 19th century led the nation in wool production.
The all-day event included sheep-centric events such as a Breakfast Crawl, vendors, and a children’s area, which included arts and crafts, lamb cuddling and a special appearance from the famous “Baaabra Woolters.”
Brown said she believes the event that started out more “tongue-in-cheek” has become a staple in the community.
“We have a little bit for everyone,” she said. “It really highlights the community’s history and the past as well as highlighting its significance in agriculture. It really highlights what we have here in downtown Washington, which is a very tight-knit community.”