We caught up with the breeder of the Reserve Champion Market Lamb at the 2026 San Antonio Stock Show. We invite you to read our candid interview with Impact Hampshires below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Company Man x Impact 2444 (Goat x Gunfight)
What are your long-term goals as a breeder?
This is our 32nd year breeding club lambs. (My wife and I could be defined as long term now). Our strategy has always been to stay consistent, breed lambs that feed, stay youthful looking, look great in the show ring. Raise ewes that are cool looking and durable, Bucks that leave an impression. Most importantly, if something isn’t working, change it (cull it) and don’t let ego get in the way. We’d rather have 100 ewes out of 1 buck versus a ewe out of every buck in the country, no consistency in that. Ideally were after consistently good, not occasionally great.
Was there a moment when you almost gave up? What made you push through?
Not really, we like the work and love trying to be better. Better at managing them, better at mating them and always evolving to make the genetics work in the showring. Theres no easy business, they all take work, dedication, late nights, early mornings. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.
What’s something you’ve changed your mind about over the years?
I used to think livestock should be able to handle all the elements. The best athletes in the world get the best care, best training and best nutrition. We basically are raising athletes, take care of them.
Still haven’t changed my mind on fall born’s. I don’t get it.
If you could rebuild your herd/flock from scratch, what would you do differently?
We’ve always had a really strong ewe base. I was in a conversation at dinner during Oklahoma State fair and a prominent judged asked me which buck was the most influential for us? All I could think of was…. Theres a long list of them I wish I never let touch our ewes! We’ve been really fortunate to raise a ton of Champions for 30 years and raise or own some of the best bucks in the Country.
What trait do you wish you had focused on sooner in your program?
A prominent breeder introduced me once as a guy that was breeding Hamps way before they were in vogue. Real smart, breeding something that no one was hunting. If the industry ever goes back to Suffolks or hard bodied blue ones, were screwed. I said evolve earlier, I’m not sure we can do that.
Is there a breeding decision you’re especially proud of — or one you regret?
Company Man is the most recent one. He’s been on a terror raising major grands since 2024 Louisville. You hope for all the matings to work, Company was an embryo from two prominent ewe lines and is linebred tight. His predictability in what he sires is incredible.
What’s your favorite show — and why?
Kansas City is favorite to regularly go to. San Antonio is a close 2nd, but location and time of year isn’t conducive to attend. Way too many ewes lambing at that time.
Is there anything you wish you had known when you started breeding?
Generally speaking we’re pretty detailed but, we’ve learned don’t wait, if something needs to be done, do it now. Livestock doesn’t wait, they die.
What’s next — any big goals or projects in the works?
For as many years as we’ve done this and the number of ewes that run(350 ish), we’ve never had dedicated working facilities. Always tearing down and putting working chute and pens. Mainly because I don’t like the cold, so always putting it where its warm. Planning a spot to put something where we can get all the pens to easy, when we’re working ewes.
