We caught up with market lamb judge Keith Berry before he steps “Inside the Ring” at The Show in Reno. We invite you to read our candid interview with Keith below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Inside the Ring.”
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE GROWING UP?
In livestock production
IF YOU COULD BE ANY SUPERHERO WHO WOULD YOU BE?
I’m too much of a realist. Never had much time for super heroes. Last tv show I probably watched was Batman
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT MOMENT WOULD IT BE?
Back to the time my kids were all in school. Between activities, sports and stock shows never had to worry about what to do! And had enough energy to do it with them.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Slow down and enjoy the moment. Have some patience!
FAVORITE SONG ON ROAD TRIPS?
All Summer Long by Kid Rock
DO YOU SMILE OR ARE YOU SERIOUS IN BACKDROPS?
Serious – need to make sure the sheep looks good!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OR TV SHOW?
Yellowstone
We caught up with market lamb judge Keith Berry before he steps “Inside the Ring” at the Tulsa State Fair. We invite you to read our candid interview with Keith below and please continue to check back often for our next edition of “Inside the Ring.”
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AND CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE SHEEP INDUSTRY?
My family started in the sheep business in 1968 as a family starting a 4-H project. We initially sorted through 80 head of black faced sale barn ewes to find a dozen with solid mouths and good udders. The first ram was a single testicle ram that we didn’t even know until shearing. We ran around 250 ewes until we built a barn in 1989 then increased to 500 to 550 ewes which we have maintained ever since. These ewes are currently Hamp cross ewes all for show lamb production.
WHAT PERSON/PEOPLE INFLUENCED OR HELPED TO SHAPE YOUR VIEW ON WHAT THE IDEAL SHEEP SHOULD POSSESS?
I guess when I started it would have been my father as he was my partner also. we were both green as grass in the business. we purchased rams form Bob Lewis, Bob Kimm and Gary Testrote to begin our journey. These breeders influenced the beginning of our program. Today my son Tanner is a partner in the operation and has helped transition me to a trendier type of sheep today.
WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL SORTS WHEN EVALUATING MARKET LAMBS?
Initial sorts come quickly as the lambs enter the show ring. We run a lot of sheep and I’m not the kind a guy that’s gonna catch every one to give you the sales pitch. If he don’t excite me running loose I don’t need to catch him. He needs to travel well, extended in the front end, and float across the ring. I still prefer some old school touch and appreciate some true muscle definition that seems to have disappeared in some of the lambs that win today. I believe fat has a tendency to become muscle in some minds today. I like my lambs to have some length to the body and to the hip. I’m not into huge, round butted, and short hipped lambs.
WHAT’S THE BEST LAMB YOU HAVE EVER SEEN OR JUDGED?
I can’t say today the best one I’ve evaluated, as at the time they were all fairly relevant to what the times desired for winners. I will say most past champions are just that—past champions as they would not compete in today’s show ring. I look through the past winners I’ve selected and the champions my kids have showed and they would have struggled to make the sift today. The type of lamb, along with the feeding and fitting of today’s animals has been unprecedented in the business, as I believe tommorrow’s lambs will continue to get better than todays.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE LAMB INDUSTRY TODAY?
The lamb industry or the lamb show industry? 2 totally separate items that I believe have grown apart since I’ve started in the sheep. The lamb industry will face the challenge of a consistent product for the consumer as they are raised and finished in a variety of ways. And close to home just having access to fresh lamb for people to experience. In the show lamb industry I believe we got so caught up in muscular, quick maturing lambs that look like a finished product at 80 lbs and can be fed til they are a year old and still show at 130 lbs. I am not in love with this type of lamb and believe we have temporarily dug a hole for ourselves. Fortunately some folks had the insight to develop some genetic testing to help us out. I went through this 30 years ago with the long and tall, spider gene. I’m as guilty as the next in wanting to raise the next “great one”, but I have also been in it long enough to know that there are sibs to these that have to be flock replacements and also fed out for slaughter. Growth is not a bad trait.
WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE IN THE SHOW RING?
I’ve got a lot of pet peeves in the showring and you’ll do yourself a favor if you try to avoid them with me in the ring:
1 – I absolutely despise the side view of a lamb that is intentionally moved 4 feet out in front of the rest of the class. You not only disrespect me, but also your fellow showman and showring help. Could be the easiest way to get your lamb sifted.
2. This is not a bird dog class for hunting so lets keep the whistles on the outside a little more subdued and let the kids show. I understand a gesture or a hand signal but please keep it a little discreet. I would like to have the kids attention most of the time.
3. Slapping the lamb loud enough the whole ring hears draws unnecessary attention. Get your lamb trained at home to a conditioned response. A light tap should be sufficient to get the job done.
4. I don’t enjoy placing anyone at the bottom of a class. I would like to make everyone a class winner to, but it kinda defeats the purpose of the show and there is only one spot at top of the class. Please accept your placing respectfully as sometimes that goes a ways in the next class.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE NOTICE MOST ABOUT YOU?
When I come to your show you can bet I’ve looked through champion drive sometime in the last month. I like to see what’s winning and better yet if it was one of ours! But it doesn’t matter to me if you won the last 5 shows or never won one. I’m there at your show to pick the lamb I like that day. I will give you several looks, a fair shake, and an honest evaluation of your project. It is truly an honor to sort and evaluate a quality livestock show.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
Without a doubt a ribeye steak at Sac County Cattleman’s Restaurant. Some of you know what I’m talking about!
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ENJOY DOING THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE LIVESTOCK?
I love going to the cabin in Minnesota for a week fishing with the family on a lake with no public access and poor cell phone service! Hunting anything in the fall and winter. And attending ISU football and basketball games.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VACATION SPOT?
I am not much of a vacation guy if you ask my family. In earlier years we were busy with the sheep shows and 3 kids being involved in lots of youth activities. I wouldn’t trade that for any vacation out there. I would have to say at this point of my life our vacations have been limited as I am thankful for being able to do what I do for a living and don’t mind working. {guess what you don’t know won’t hurt you} This is the first year in 20 years that I haven’t hauled a stock show trailer to most of the shows, as last year was the last in the showring for my kids. Going forward I look forward to 2 to 3 trips to the Lake each year with my kids and 3 grandkids!
