We caught up with the breeder of the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb at the 2023 State Fair of Texas. We invite you to read our candid interview with Alexander Club Lambs below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Unicorn X That Guy (Drop the Mic X Drop the Mic)
What makes your operation run smoothly?
I utilize A.I. so that lambing is concentrated. I have family that help keep things going, and some great industry friends that provide insight and guidance.
How many head do you run?
40 in total, but we all know size doesn’t matter!
Do you have another job besides raising sheep? If so, what’s your occupation?
I’m the Associate Director of Inside Commercial Vehicle Sales at BraunAbility, the global leader in automotive mobility solutions for people with physical disabilities. Our products allow wheelchair users to stay independent and connected to what matters most in their lives, and I’ve been with the company for nearly 30 years. BraunAbility is a global company, but our manufacturing headquarters are still based in my rural hometown of Winamac, IN
In your opinion, who has been the most influential ram across the industry?
Unicorn. He’s brought a level of consistency, touch, athleticism and look to our flock that can be seen in his immediate offspring and also through sons that we have implemented (such as Dirty Dragon) and his daughters/granddaughters.
What’s your favorite livestock show?
NAILE
Do you prefer online sales or live sales?
For us personally, we do a hybrid version – A private treaty bid board. We open the barn up in late January for potential buyers to come through so they can see the lambs in person and discuss the set with us. If there’s a lamb you’d like to see in the sale, you turn an initial bid in on that sheep to place him “on the board”. On sale day, we have an online sale that has tag numbers/pedigrees/and a bidding site that is available only to people who have turned in a bid. No pictures are needed on the sale site because all interested bidders have already been to the farm. The sale closes like a regular online sale with extended bidding. We’ve done this for several years and it’s worked great for myself and our customers as well.
