We caught up with the breeder of the Reserve Champion Market Lamb and Reserve Supreme Champion Breeding Ewe at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair FFA Show. We invite you to read our candid interview with Fairwether Club Lambs below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Reserve Market – Off the Grid x Fairwether donor 23-04 (Brock Marxsen’s Grand Champion Breeding Ewe at the 2023 Nebraska Breeder’s Classic.
Reserve Breeding Ewe – Cocky Rocky x Fairwether 22-08 (MoJo Wattonville).
What are your long-term goals as a breeder?
Raise winners. (kids).
Was there a moment when you almost gave up? What made you push through?
LOL. Yes, I can think of many. I was just too naive to quit. My daughter Camry has inspired me to keep pushing through when the “show scene” seems too impossible for the average kid. Sometimes God uses the smallest and weakest of people to make the biggest statements. As long as she’s still smiling and dragging poor Spencer to the backdrop picture, I guess we’re stuck. Just for the record though, I’d rather be in Colorado on the mountain snowboarding in January than pulling a lamb at 3 a.m. in Nebraska.
What’s something you’ve changed your mind about over the years?
Well back in the old old days shrinking lambs to get to a lower weight class was kind of a big deal. (like wrestlers).
More recently the super wide made sheep come with structure and lambing issues so maybe not quite so much of that! But no matter how many years go by, pretty ones always take the best backdrop photos.
If you could rebuild your herd/flock from scratch, what would you do differently?
I would have just bought the ram I wanted instead of the one I could afford!
What trait do you wish you had focused on sooner in your program?
I would have let Storm Gerhart send me more white featured Hamp bucks before 1990.
Is there a breeding decision you’re especially proud of — or one you regret?
I breed what I like and don’t fall in love with internet photos. Also, not once did I think “oh gee, I guess I’ll quit breeding muscle and touch” because it’s not needed anymore.
What’s your favorite state fair — and why?
Iowa State Fair hands down!! Great memories of showing at the open jackpot with my own kids, nieces, nephews and all the great people from Iowa. They also have better food and concerts. I mean where else can you see the “butter cow”!
Is there anything you wish you had known when you started breeding?
Flushing isn’t as easy as it sounds. It helps to be lucky.
What’s next — any big goals or projects in the works?
2026 lamb crop sired by Full Circle (Dale Club lambs, Platinum, Dee Bros) and Cocky Rocky (Berry).
