We caught up with the breeder of the Reserve Champion Market Lamb at the 2025 Illinois State Fair Open Show. We invite you to read our candid interview with Buckham Farms below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
StayWild x WildSide
What are your long-term goals as a breeder?
Honestly, they’ve changed many times over the years. Selling sheep for X dollars, however many miles away, or winning a big show. A lot of these lose their importance as time goes by.
The goal that never changes is to be able to pass a flock on that was once passed to me through four generations.
Was there a moment when you almost gave up? What made you push through?
Only a thousand times.
As taxing as raising sheep is- it’s given me so many incredible opportunities. Like anything in life there are fun parts and not-so fun parts. But being able to see a lamb go through challenges, get to a good home and be lucky enough to see it at its full potential is so rewarding- so many of them don’t.
What’s something you’ve changed your mind about over the years?
Learn to balance.
Chasing new exciting fads is exhausting. Playing comparison games is defeating.
Make sheep you like, breeding sheep to sell is not the fulfilling part. Of course, we need to justify the costs- both monetary as well as time spent.
If you could rebuild your herd/flock from scratch, what would you do differently?
I wish I had tried to buy more high quality ewes from reputable breeders rather than trying random bucks I didn’t know anything about. Learned a lot of lessons the hard way.
What trait do you wish you had focused on sooner in your program?
This is probably boring, but Productivity.
There are too many sheep I tried for too long and spent too much money on just for them to prove to me time and time again they don’t need to be here. Ewes should be able to get bred, have lambs and raise them, kind of their job.
Is there a breeding decision you’re especially proud of — or one you regret?
Honestly some of the best things have happened on a whim- the year we made WildSide, I’d never intended using Top Tier. Just happened to be there and we tried it. Linebreeding my favorite females and building families within the flock. I like to think I’ve developed a group of sheep I can trust to carry their own when bringing in outcrosses.
What’s your favorite state fair — and why?
I don’t know many will remember or agree, but the old Michigan State Fair holds a place in my heart- but Indiana State Fair was the first place we took a string of Shrops and it was just Dad and I.
Is there anything you wish you had known when you started breeding?
We’re all just hoping and guessing, whether they’re educated guesses or not.
There are a lot of ups and downs, I believe everything comes to an average.
What’s next — any big goals or projects in the works?
Finishing a very big fencing project, harvest, and getting the next set of lambs on the ground!
