FAME Inductee breakfast and had 34 people packed in our living room talking Suffolks! We hosted a group of Ohio breeders one fall, and then I had the opportunity to speak at their
buy some really good individuals, breed them together, and not get the results you were hoping for. Do your research and focus on getting your foundation flock from one or two sources, and line-breed to maximize your results. Our other advice is not to tolerate ewes who don’t do their job. Get rid of them! It was hard to cull a ewe that we had paid $3,500 for, but she was a dud. And the breeder we bought her from could have cared less. After two years, she went down the road, and that was a year too late. Don’t hang on to something that doesn’t work, even if it cost you a lot. Ewes are the backbone of a flock and will make you or break you. They need to be easy lambers, good mothers, and heavy milkers. We both worked away from home for almost 40 years before we retired, and the ewes had to do their job. Our ewes always raise their triplets. While we are best known for our rams, we feel our strong maternal genetics have contributed to the success of our flock. WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES INVOLVING SUFFOLKS? There are special memories of achievements like breeding a champion or having the top-selling ram at the Center of the Nation Sale or National Ram Sale. What is most meaningful to us is seeing our genetics used across the country and witnessing the success that others are having with the Reau Suffolks influence in their flocks.
annual banquet the following spring. DESCRIBE YOUR INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT.
There are so many opportunities to be involved with our breed and the larger industry. Mark and I have served as president and vice president of Michigan Suffolk Breeders. I served two terms on the USSA Board of Directors and as vice president, chair of the breed improvement and Suffolk Event committees. Being one of the founding members of the Foundation and seeing the great accomplishments we have made since its creation is very rewarding. I am honored to serve as the president of the Foundation and look forward to the future as we grow our breed. I have served as the NSIP Suffolk breed representative
and chair of the board of directors. I was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to two terms on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board. Some of my
most rewarding work has been with the Michigan Sheep Producers Association. I served as the youth committee chair for over 25 years and as president. The MSPA youth program is unique among state associations and sets Michigan apart from other states. Kids who grew up in our youth program are now serving on the MSPA board and in leadership roles across the industry. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW BREEDER OR JUNIOR MEMBER? A mistake we made in the beginning was buying sheep from too many different bloodlines. The way to make progress is with linebreeding, and when you have a patchwork quilt of genetics, it takes longer. You can
“There is a special bond in being a shepherd and raising this beautiful breed.”
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