We caught up with the breeder of the Grand Champion Market Lamb and the Grand Champion Breeding Ewe at the 2023 Kentucky State Fair. We invite you to read our candid interview with Amburgey Genetics below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
The Grand Champion Market Lamb & Supreme Ewe are in fact flushmates.
They would be sired by Chief, and dammed by one of our favorite donors we call “Harley”, who as a lamb won the commercial ewe division at the 2020 Kentucky State Fair. Her pediree reads as Black Betty x Ali x Johnson 1379.
We are very excited on her big Unicorn flush for Decembers, as well as her late January flush back to Chief for full sibs to Wyatt’s two winners. “Harley” also has two sisters in the donor pen as well for 2024.
What makes your operation run smoothly?
I’m sure everyone in this business can relate that there never seems to be enough hours in the day. With two full time jobs and a 2yr old, we continue to learn the balancing act of it all.
Teamwork, communication, planning, support from good people, and being kind. That’s the foundation we have built around here that seems to help be successful.
Do you have another job besides raising sheep? If so, what’s your occupation?
Jordan- Director of Sales & Marketing at Reproduction Specialty Group
Maggie- Senior Inside Sales- Purina Animal Nutrition
In your opinion, who has been the most influential ram across the industry?
Jordan- Quick answer, is Drop The Mic. He won them all, and now his progeny are in about every pedigree out there. Long answer, would be Burn.
Maggie- DTM & Unicorn
What’s your favorite livestock show?
Jordan- NAILE
Maggie- NAILE & Ohio State Fair
Do you prefer online sales or live sales?
We hold live sales to a high standard. We always try to bring our best and something that represents the kind we are striving to make. Currently we sell the majority of our babies on a private bid off sale. We have found the private bid off sale to be successful for our operation. It really allows us to build relationships and have one on one interaction with our customer base, which will always be a main goal here. That being said, we plan to incorporate more online sales in the coming year, because we understand not everyone can make it to Kentucky.
