CHRISTY ZELINSKY, BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA Insights FOUNDATION DIRECTOR
WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT RAISING SUFFOLKS? Without question, raising our kids in the breed. We also made the National Junior Show our annual family vacation, along with an occasional trip to Louisville & Sedalia. This breed and these shows brought so many wonderful people into our
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SUFFOLK BREED? My parents met while showing cattle in 4-H, and they were determined that their children would have those same experiences. One day, Dad took my two brothers and me to the local bank, where we sat down
lives, and because of Suffolk sheep, we now have friends from across the country. I love that the kids had the opportunity to grow up surrounded by those people. I also feel incredibly blessed that we were able to give them the life experiences that come with raising livestock. Through their responsibilities with the sheep, they learned the value of hard work. They developed communication skills, learned to solve problems, and make decisions—sometimes quickly and under pressure. They learned how to work together, laugh together, and care for something beyond themselves. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE THE FOUNDATION ACHIEVE? I would like to see the Foundation continue to grow—grow in awareness, in assets, and in the value it provides Suffolk producers. I hope it becomes an even stronger resource for supporting youth, promoting the breed, and creating opportunities for future generations to get involved and
with the bank president and took out a small loan. With that money, we purchased two bred ewes from Darrell Anderson. A lamb from one of those ewes, “Tracey,” went on to win numerous state and national titles. We later sold Tracey to Tom Slack, who helped ensure we had competitive sheep to show in the years that followed. We paid back the loan, and Dad got the business lesson he wanted us to learn. Tracey was also the reason we attended our first National Junior Suffolk Show in Des Moines, Iowa. From that point on, we were hooked, and the National Junior Show became an annual family vacation. I took part in many of the activities offered at the show, including public speaking, livestock judging, and lead line. In 1988, I was honored to serve as National Suffolk Queen, and a few years later, I became the National Junior Coordinator. As fate would have it, I
succeed. Ultimately, I’d love to see the Foundation make a lasting impact that helps ensure the long-term strength and success of the Suffolk industry.
met someone who could only be described as the world’s biggest Suffolk enthusiast— and when we married, my connection to the breed was truly cemented.
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