We caught up with the breeder of the Reserve Champion Wether Dam at the 2026 Minnesota Youth Livestock Expo. We invite you to read our candid interview with Blumer Show Lambs below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Clark x How High x Golden Monkey
How many years have you been raising sheep?
When I was growing up in 4-H and FFA I had a small flock of ewes where I raised a few lambs every year. Then once I graduated high school, I sold the ewes, went to college and spent 7 years working for a Seedstock Angus Cattle Operation. 4 years ago, I changed careers to start working for Trans Ova, moved back to the area where I grew up, along with buying a small group of ewes to start raising sheep again.
What excites you the most about raising show stock?
Through growing up showing livestock, I have met several people and have made several close friendships within the livestock industry. To see families have the same experiences and utilizing these show animals as a tool for kids and families to compete, meet people, and lifelong friends from the community, and around the country is pretty neat. Also from a breeder standpoint, being able to discuss anything livestock with friends and other breeders make this industry inclusive, enjoyable, and exciting for the future. Plus, I really enjoy going to livestock shows.
What is your favorite animal on your farm?
That is a tough one, there is a Bombshell sired ewe from the Dee Brothers that was the first ewe I bought when I got back into raising sheep. To me she is impressive phenotypically, is a tremendous mother, and I have retained 4 daughters of hers within the flock. She is the kind that I want to build off of and around in the future. On the flip side there are some 2-year-olds that are becoming favorites. They are ewes that I raised, as a result of ewes that I have purchased, they had successful show careers, and their offspring have gone to have success in the show ring such as the ewe lamb in this spotlight.
What is one lesson that you have learned while raising sheep that has changed your perspective over time?
Focusing on ewe lines, and consistency of family trees is very important. From my time at Chestnut Angus, to now at Trans Ova, to my own flock, and visiting with fellow breeders, focusing on those female lines that consistently generate and are prolific are very important. It is easy to tie into and want the one that is “out there” to move the flock forward, but sometimes those ones don’t generate as well as anticipated if they don’t have a predictable family tree behind them.
Where would you like to see your operation go in the next 5 – 10 years?
I would like to continue to raise a high-quality set of sheep that are fairly simple to feed and manage and have the potential to compete at the highest level.
