We caught up with the breeder of the Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe at the 2025 Kansas State Fair. We invite you to read our candid interview with Gouldie Club Lambs below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Jordan X Bella Donor (Quicksilver X Hubbard Milkman)
What are your long-term goals as a breeder?
Our goals are to continue raising livestock that are competitive and relevant in the industry, while also building a brand that people recognize and respect.
We’re not full-time breeders, so focusing on our careers and family keeps us busy, but it also pushes us to be intentional and focused with the sheep we raise.
Was there a moment when you almost gave up? What made you push through?
We’re both pretty headstrong, so giving up isn’t really in our vocabulary. That said, there have definitely been times when we’ve questioned if we should change course.
Most recently, as we’ve been moving toward majority ET, there have been a few flush days where we wondered if we had lost our minds. What pushed us through was remembering the long-term progress we’ve already made and the vision we have for where our program is headed. Those tough days remind us why persistence matters and make the wins even more meaningful.
What’s something you’ve changed your mind about over the years?
One thing we’ve changed our mind about is trying to chase every fad. Over time, we’ve learned to trust our gut and focus on raising the kind we like. We’re all for change and progress, but at the end of the day, it’s a lot more rewarding to raise sheep we truly enjoy looking at and believe in.
If you could rebuild your herd/flock from scratch, what would you do differently?
We would have focused on building a stronger set of females from the start. The game really changed for us once we put more emphasis on the quality of our female base, rather than just focusing on which buck to use.
That approach has allowed us to retain just a handful of key replacement ewe lambs each year, while still selling high-quality females both off the farm and at live sales. By putting the spotlight on our female base, we’ve also been intentional about seeking out genetics from other breeders to diversify and strengthen our program for the long term.
What trait do you wish you had focused on sooner in your program?
Skeletal structure. Everything starts with the foundation, and it’s an uphill battle to build a great one if you haven’t locked in the basics first.
Is there a breeding decision you’re especially proud of — or one you regret?
The Hubbard donor has truly become the foundation of our donor flock. Her most potent flush so far was to Quicksilver for 2023 lambing, which produced five standout females. We only sold one, and she went on to be named Grand at the Black and White that spring. Two more went into our donor pen, including Bella, who in her first flush generated our Reserve Grand this year. That decision continues to shape the future of our program.
What’s your favorite state fair — and why?
We’re biased toward the Kansas State Fair, but the whole family has several state fairs on our bucket list to visit!
Is there anything you wish you had known when you started breeding?
I wish we had known just how important mentors and relationships are in this business. Early on, we tried to figure a lot out on our own, and while that taught us some lessons the hard way, it also slowed us down. Over time, we’ve realized that surrounding ourselves with the right people, whether it’s breeders we respect, college kids willing to help in the barn, or friends who encourage us, makes all the difference. Having those connections not only helps our operation, but it also makes the journey a lot more enjoyable.
What’s next — any big goals or projects in the works?
We recently broke ground on a new lambing and show barn. We’re looking forward to seeing our ideas come to fruition and getting moved in.
