ALAN BATT 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Rigby, Idaho
sheep on the stage. It was a pretty amazing sight when the curtain came up and I saw all those beautiful Suffolks. WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL THING THE SUFFOLK BREED HAS DONE FOR YOU? I’ve met a lot of good people from all parts of the country who were passionate about Suffolks sheep. Even more than loving the sheep, they are good friends and examples to me. SHARE YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE BREED AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. Over the years I have been involved with the Idaho Wool Growers Association and consigned to the Idaho Ram Sale. More recently I helped develop the Suffolk Foundation’s semen sale fundraiser.
whatever it might be. Many times, the best ram you will ever use is the one that you raised. Consistency comes from tightening up the gene pool and weaving together families of sheep that will breed on. A new ram every year isn’t always the best idea. ARE THERE ANY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES INVOLVING SUFFOLKS THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE? I was at the Top of the Rockies sale enjoying every minute of it except for the nagging thought that I had left my pregnant wife at home who was already two weeks overdue. I wondered if this would be the last sheep show I would ever attend. I thought I might end up in the “dead pile” when I got home.
HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THE SUFFOLK BREED? HOW HAS YOUR FLOCK EVOLVED SINCE THEN? When I was 14 years old I wanted to get a 4-H project. A lady that lived by my aunt raised Suffolk sheep. She let me choose three ewes from her flock for $35 each. They all had twins a few weeks later. I should have gone into rehab, but didn’t understand how bad this addiction might be until it was too late. WHICH BREEDER HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON YOUR FLOCK AND WHY? Andrus Brothers and Warren Kuhl. Jim and Ken Andrus lived about an hour away and through them I met Warren. They were very successful and had sheep that I really liked. I learned many things from them. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SUFFOLKS OVER OTHER BREEDS (OR OTHER SPECIES)? They were the breed that I started with and I liked the way they looked. I remember my first trip to Reno and being impressed by the
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW BREEDER OR JUNIOR MEMBER? I learned that to get anywhere you need to have a breeding program that you’re committed to. You can’t change their direction after every show or sale. Find what you like and stick with it,
“ I've met a lot of good people from all parts of the country WHO WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT SUFFOLK SHEEP. Even more than loving the sheep, they are good friends & examples to me. ”
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