We caught up with the breeder of the Grand Champion Market Lamb at the 2026 Illinois State Fair. We invite you to read our candid interview with Diamond C Genetics Lambs below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Never Say Never x “Glimmer” (Animal x Dynasty)
How many years have you been raising sheep?
3 Years
What excites you the most about raising show stock?
What excites us the most about raising show stock is the constant moving target of progression. There is always something to be done and opportunities to keep the operation moving forward. The payoff of those decisions that we make in critical moments throughout the year is one of the most rewarding feelings.
What is your favorite animal on your farm?
My favorite animal on the farm is our Chloe donor. I’ve often joked that if we had 20 like her we’d have the tiger by the tail. She’s continuously done a killer job for us and is the mother of our Now Or Never buck lamb and Final Call. But, if you ask Jenna who her favorite is… that’d be Todd. If you know, you know.
What is one lesson that you have learned while raising sheep that has changed your perspective over time?
A lesson that we’ve learned while raising sheep that has changed our perspective overtime is to not get hung up on the hard times, but to preserve, learn and ultimately come out stronger on the other side. Our first year lambing the original 22 ewes we brought to Kansas was one of the hardest things we’ve done. We had more random things happen than we can count — it really felt like a test. Now, we try to take the good with the bad and know it’s all going to even out in the end!
Where would you like to see your operation go in the next 5 – 10 years?
In the next 5-10 years we’d like to keep moving towards our goal of putting together an elite group of females and continuing to produce high quality show stock that compete at the highest level across the country. We might not have strength in numbers, but our goal is to have 50 elite blackface ewes that can produce standout, yet functional livestock within the industry.
