We caught up with the breeder of the Grand Champion Market Lamb at the 2025 American Royal. We invite you to read our candid interview with W/L Livestock below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Breeder Spotlight.”
What’s the pedigree of your champion?
Ceasefire x Bonnie (Top Tier)
What’s one milestone moment that put your program on the map?
At the 2024 Main Event sale we had the high selling ewe lamb, she went on to be 4th Overall Ewe Lamb Tennant family and that helped elevate our program but I believe when we are retired and look back this lamb “Bronco” will be the one that truly puts us on the map, winning the Cornhusker Showdown in our home state and now the Royal.
Where do you hope to see your program 5–10 years from now?
In 5-10 years we plan to add more ewes to our flock, both blackface and recips so that we can continue to produce show lambs that will help more exhibitors reach there goals in the show ring wether it be at the county, state or national level.
In addition, we hope to have a second barn built so that we can continue to build off what we started this last year with hosting educational opportunities for youth and fellow breeders, continue to host our AI days for local breeders to come breed to any of the bucks of there choosing, and to start a “stud buck lineup” so that we can ship our genetics across the country. We believe if we help those around us, our whole community of show lamb breeders will become stronger.
Finally, we will be on the road attending shows to help both our kids, Adaline and Callum, and our show kids participate in the best “sport” there is!
We hope this will be a business that our kids want to be an integral part of and take over someday.
What advice would you give a younger breeder starting out?
Breed the type of animals that truly excite you to look at. Don’t worry about using genetics from “X,Y,Z” breeder because of there name, their proximity to you, or because of the hype behind them. Use the genetics that you believe will push your flock closer to your own personal goals. Not every persons ideal animal is the same and that’s what makes this business so fun. Go out and build relationships with the people that have similar views on what their ideal animal would be. Never be scared to make a phone call or put some miles on to go evaluate livestock. There has never been an established breeder that was not willing to answer our questions or give us advice, but remember to make everything practical and achievable for your specific program.
What’s your favorite show to attend and why?
We can’t pick one.
All time favorite stock show: Denver, because deep down we both still grew up on commercial cow/calf operations and the yards are unlike anything else out there and will always hold a special place in our hearts. Also Texas De Brazil never disappoints.
Best show experience: The Cornhusker Showdown. Seeing breeders from across the country get together and support the show with only the best of the best from the state there showing makes it a unique and different show experience.
If you weren’t raising livestock, what would you be doing instead?
Lauren: I would still be a full time in the Ag Education world. I left teaching to raise sheep and kids but my passion in life is helping young adults find success in leadership based activities and serving as a mentor. Luckily as a breeder I get to do both of those things without the constraints of a bell system.
Will: No idea, Cal thought maybe I could be a truck driver. I am sure that the people with boats headed to the lake on the weekends are jealous that we get to stay home to take care of our livestock.
What’s the soundtrack in your barn – quiet, radio, or playlists?
Always Spotify and always louder than the blowers and clippers. Who knows what songs might come on. The possibilities are endless, we apologize now for what you could hear when you show up at the barn.
If you could leave tomorrow and take a dream vacation anywhere, where would it be?
Adie is 5 and Cal is 3 so if you ask them it’s an absolute disgrace that we haven’t been to Disney. Lauren is on the kids team but Will says that is “too many people”.
