We caught up with the breeder of the Supreme Champion Wether Dam at the 2025 American Royal. We invite you to read our candid interview with Junk Family/Grays Club Lambs below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
This ewe was sired by Ceasefire. Her Dam is a ewe we raised out of a Rainman son on an Underdog ewe from Brister.
What’s one milestone moment that put your program on the map?
I would say the 2012 Iowa State Fair and purchasing Warhorse from Impact Hamps. We were fortunate to get a wether into Brad Dale and Brenden Kuesel’s hands that was the Reserve Champion FFA Market lamb. We also had the Grand Champion Market ewe, another Division Champion and a Reserve Division. All sired by Warhorse.
Where do you hope to see your program 5–10 years from now?
I would say it’s probably going to be about where it’s at now. One thing that might change is our embryo program. I can see us going to more donors and recips and less overall blackface ewes.
What advice would you give a younger breeder starting out?
This is a really hard business to break into. There’s several things that I consider important. One is to be patient. Most breeders aren’t going to win big shows right away. It took us 15 years before we won a State Fair. So don’t get frustrated. Another big thing is don’t over spend and get yourself in a hole. This is a hobby for most people. The last thing is something Ryan Mortvedt told me years ago that really stuck with me. He said you have to Network and get people to know who you are. That is so true. There are a lot of people that think I’m going to raise showlambs and get ran over with buyers and it’s not necessarily like that for most starting out.
What’s your favorite show to attend and why?
For sure it’s the Iowa State Fair. I’m sure I’m a little biased but it’s probably one of the best State Fairs in the country in terms of the quality of livestock and the competition.
If you weren’t raising livestock, what would you be doing instead?
I spent 30 years as a Firefighter. Now that I’m retired it’s hunting and fishing.
What’s the soundtrack in your barn – quiet, radio, or playlists?
I don’t really play much in the barn but in the shop it’s usually 70’s rock or Country.
If you could leave tomorrow and take a dream vacation anywhere, where would it be?
That’s easy. I’m an Elk hunting addict.
It would be hunting big bulls in the Caldera unit of New Mexico.
