We caught up with the breeder of the Grand Champion Junior Market Lamb and the Reserve Champion 4-H/FFA Breeding Ewe at the 2026 North Dakota State Fair. We invite you to read our candid interview with Lachenmeier Livestock 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 Nathan 5278 (Truce x Next Level)
How many years have you been raising sheep?
My brother and I got our very first sheep in 2018 and have been hooked ever since. Although my family was on the fence about letting us take on the sheep venture, they eventually gave into our persistence and in 2022 we had our first lamb crop.
What excites you the most about raising show stock?
Getting projects into the hands of youth that want to learn has got to be one of the best things that came from this project. There’s no better place to teach kids responsibility, work ethic, and consistency than in the show-barn. We enjoy assisting families throughout the process and love getting updates and backdrop pics showcasing their hard work and our genetics.
What is your favorite animal on your farm?
We always say not to pick a favorite but I know I speak for the entire firm when I say Cruella – our Champion WFX Ewe From Aksarben last year – is one we are incredibly proud of.
What is one lesson that you have learned while raising sheep that has changed your perspective over time?
Give a 110% and if it still doesn’t shake out the way you’d like, it wasn’t meant to be. If you put your heart into everything you do, you’ll never be able to say you could have done more. Put in the work. Whether it’s late nights drying off babies in the middle of a North Dakota Blizzard or washing a set of legs late in the evening, doing the extra steps, even when it’s not easy, will never be wasted effort.
Where would you like to see your operation go in the next 5 – 10 years?
We’re a relatively small firm, with around 30 head of breeding ewes and around 30 recips. As we continue to grow and expand we hope to continue to gain the interest of capable showmen and talented feeders. Regardless of what we do and what stages our sheep find success on, we’ve always had one goal in focus – making high quality sheep that are backed by honesty and integrity.
