We caught up with the breeder of the Supreme Champion Commercial Ewe 2025 Oklahoma Youth Expo, Grand Champion Market Lamb 2025 Illinois State Fair Open Show, Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe 2025 Tulsa State Fair, Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe at the 2025 NAILE. We invite you to read our candid interview with Beatty’s Club Lambs/BCL Genetic Co. below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Supreme Champion Ewe
2025 Oklahoma Youth Expo
Ceasefire x 287 Gorilla Donor
Champion Market Lamb
2025 Illinois State Fair Open Show
Slingblade x Rule 2357 Donor – Goat x Rick Flair’s Mom (Rogue Nation)
Reserve Ewe
2025 Tulsa State Fair
Tres Amigos x Nathan 3057 – Crinkle x (Rain Man x Big Stick)
Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe
2025 NAILE
Tres Amigos x BCL 21302 Donor (Silver Fox)
What’s one milestone moment that put your program on the map?
In terms of milestones, we have been fortunate to be involved in some tremendous bucks over the years that have helped shaped our business and program. Purchasing Monkey Business was the start of learning the semen collections and processing aspect of the industry and ultimately allowed the opportunity to farm full-time. Undoubtedly, our most pivotal milestone, though, was raising Tres Amigos. I am most proud of the buck, not because of the success he or his lambs have had or the quality of the sheep, but because he came at a time where I felt like I had my priorities aligned correctly. I had God first, family second and the sheep deal third. Outside of the emphasis on growing my faith, I worked hard to prioritize the kids and their activities rather than the barn and I feel like that intentionality provided the opportunity to raise a sheep to have some lasting impact in the industry, which was a goal I had for a long time.
Where do you hope to see your program 5–10 years from now?
Looking into the future, I think the ultimate goal is to continue to raise sheep that can go and work for a variety of endpoints and be competitive at each tier of this industry. Some kids spend the entire year coveting a shot at winning their county fair and others want to play at the majors. Our goal is to continue to raise sheep that fit into each platform and be a tool to enable those kids to achieve what they set out to.
In terms of our genetic company, we want to help those customers and their programs continue to be as successful as possible. Finding the right bucks to complement their ewes and helping them line them up is a responsibility we don’t take lightly and are really proud to see things click for them and to watch them raise a lamb crop that makes them excited to go to the barn each day.
What advice would you give a younger breeder starting out?
Don’t give up. We have been incredibly blessed with the growth of our program, especially the last several years, but I didn’t grow up in this industry. I grew up on a dairy farm where we had a few 4-H projects to mess around with. As I got more involved in 4-H, I developed a passion for the club lamb industry with the goal to one day make a living raising sheep. My dad thought I was nuts at the time and told me making a living raising sheep wasn’t a realistic dream, but I’ve spent my whole life working to prove him wrong. I am really proud of the life we’ve built, our program and our role in this industry today. Have faith, work hard, align yourself with a breeder you trust and put an emphasis on elite females.
What’s your favorite show to attend and why?
With the extension of semen season starting in early April and ending in early October, I don’t get to many shows anymore, but I always enjoyed the Ohio State Fair. I think it’s the most competitive state fair for the depth from top to bottom with both sheep and showmen.
If you weren’t raising livestock, what would you be doing instead?
Outside of raising sheep, I enjoying coaching my kids, watching my Steelers implode consistently and deer hunting. In terms of a career if I weren’t raising sheep, I would think I’d still be involved in farming and agriculture in an alternate capacity.
What’s the soundtrack in your barn – quiet, radio, or playlists?
Playlists and if you’ve helped with an AI day at our place you know we can span from Contemporary Christian to CoJo to Morgan Wallen to ACDC to 90’s country and blasting 80’s rock in the time it takes to flip 20 ewes.
If you could leave tomorrow and take a dream vacation anywhere, where would it be?
I’d love to go on a whitetail hunt in Iowa. If anyone on here has a lead on one in exchange for some sheep semen next breeding season, let’s negotiate.
