2023 inductees
united suffolk sheep association
What is the most meaningful thing the breed has done for you? I’m going to make it “things” plural. Suffolk sheep paid my way at the University of Illinois. Suffolks opened the door to international competition and sales at the World Sheep and Wool Congress in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In 1986 we exhibited the Champion Suffolk Ram, Res. Champion Suffolk Ewe and1st place flock. In addition, we received the Good Shepherd Award. We were competing with Suffolks from Canada, New Zealand, Mainland Australia, Tasmania, and the US. The friendships and memories of Suffolk breeders across multiple generations ranks at the top. At the 2022 Midwest Sale Junior Suffolk Show I got to watch the great-granddaughter of old friends from the 50’s and 60’s compete in the show. How great is that? Why have you committed to the success of the Suffolk Breed and/or its related organizations? Continued improvement in phenotype and production traits is basic to the success of all species and breeds of domestic livestock. I wanted to be one small part of one small group working to breed better Suffolks. I improved the quality of our Suffolks and the size of our flock. Our Suffolks were made available to new and established breeders via production sales in 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1978. Also by exporting high quality Suffolk sheep to several countries. What advice would you give a new breeder or junior member? Learn the basics of sheep production. There are excellent resources available online and in hard copy. Nutrition, health, housing, fencing, genetics, and marketing are the basics. Management is the proper use of those basics. Find reputable breeders with high quality healthy breeding stock. Work with the breeder to select the sheep. No one knows more about those sheep than the breeder herself. Little things matter the most. Always take time to watch your sheep eat. Never just throw the feed in and walk away. There is a difference between water and clean water. Sheep
Stan & Sharon Heitz
NORMAL, IL How did you become involved in the Suffolk Breed? How has your flock evolved since then? My involvement in the Suffolk Breed started in 1951 as a beginning 4-H project. My dad had a commercial farm flock of predominantly white-
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faced ewes. He suggested that I not start a 4-H project with sheep that looked like his. The “Prairie Farmer’’ magazine had a large livestock classified section with photos of various species and breeds. There was a photo of a ram that was probably a Roy Warrick Suffolk. Suffolks fit the first criteria of looking different than my dad’s sheep. The 4-H project started with 2 Suffolk ewes from a small Illinois breeder. The timeline for breeding, raising, and showing Suffolk sheep was 1951 to 1991. My dad helped with basic management. Early mentors Libby and Everett Glasgow, nationally prominent Shropshire breeders and W.J. “Jack” Hampton, shepherd at the University of Illinois provided advice and encouragement. Continuing to select Suffolks with higher quality and higher genetic value helped the upward progression to being competitive in regional, state, national, and international levels. The higher value genetics came from Illinois breeders, Burnell Hays, Sherwood Jackson, Keith McMillan, and later on from Iowa breeder Gary TeStroete. Why did you choose Suffolks over other breeds (or other species)? It was all about their heads and their majestic appearance. In my early learning period, I subscribed to the Sheep Breeder Magazine. The first copy arrived in the fall of 1953 and one
need clean water. The goal is to have live births. “A live lamb sired by the worst ram in the county is worth more than a dead lamb sired by the best ram in the county”. Learn to be a shepherd. Briefly share your role over the years in the sheep import/export business? I started exporting Suffolks when I was still breeding and raising them. Our participation in the World Sheep and Wool Expo opened the door to the
the cover was Donnie Sellers holding the Illinois State Fair Grand Champion Suffolk Ram. I really was impressed with that photo. Then on the cover of the September 1957 Sheep Breeder magazine was the Illinois State Fair Grand Champion Suffolk Ram owned and exhibited by Sherwood Jackson. This ram was bred by Weavers High Lawn Farm at Shullsburg, WI and his name was High Lawn Prince Black Cap. If there had ever been any doubts, that sealed the deal. A majestic sheep with a name to match.
international marketplace. I have traveled and done business in 47 countries. I’ve exported Suffolks to Brazil, Hungary, Japan, Mexico, Peru, and the UAE. My business model is that of representing my international customer. I help my
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