We caught up with the breeder of the Reserve Grand Champion Ewe at the 2024 Iowa State Fair 4-H Show. We invite you to read our candid interview with Charlie Hild of Hild Brothers below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
The pedigree on this gal is a Ride Time x “Oklahoma Smoke Show” (Mr. Clean x Frannie).
What is one thing you still want to accomplish as a breeder?
I’d still like to make a buck that would be considered one of the industry’s “all time greats”.
Favorite show ring trend?
Skeleton and build being talked about a lot more.
Favorite industry sire of all time?
DTM still hard to get around…but Crinkle on the female side has been pretty timeless as well.
Most influential female in your flock? Why?
I don’t think there’s a way to narrow it down to absolutely one, but there’s been three that have been big time building blocks. “15197”, who is still alive, has been a female making machine. A good chunk of our current donors would go back to her. Next would be “Frannie” or Freestyle’s mom, who we unfortunately lost this year. I haven’t done the math but I bet at least 1/3 of our flock or more would have her blood in them. Last would be “Layne”, or Ride Time’s mom. We have a slew of daughters entering production out of her, and Ride Time has already made a massive influence on our flock.
Favorite show animal you’ve ever seen?
Out of college I moved to Texas to work for Trans Ova for a few years and got to see a lot of cattle in my travels. To date, I still think the freakiest creature I’ve ever seen is the 721 donor from Carter Airhart.
