has worked over the past few years to continue progressing and promoting the Suffolk breed. Reorganizing our national shows proved to be challenging, but through communication and persistence we are able to create the best experience for juniors that is possible. Being a role model to younger members is part of being a UJSSA Director. What piece of advice would you give a younger exhibitor who is just starting their sheep project? Just because you are young doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference. Be kind, make friends, and enjoy doing what you love! Ty Schoelerman, Iowa Where do you live and tell us a little about your sheep operation? I am from Everly, IA and my family has been raising and showing Suffolk sheep for 35 years. Along with Suffolks we also raise wether type Southdowns, and Babydoll Southdowns. Why did you want to be a Director on the UJSSA Board? I started attending the National Jr. Show in 2007 when I was 6 years old and every year I looked up to the directors and developed the goal of wanting to be on the UJSSA to continue the tradition of providing Suffolk enthusiast with the ability to attend a quality Jr. Show. What about the Suffolk breed do you like the best? My favorite thing about the Suffolk breed is all the diversity within it. Producers aren’t limited to only raising one type of Suffolk. This is your last eligible year to serve on the Board. What do you feel you have accomplished or is something that you are proud that the board or you have done? One of the big changes that have happened is the increase a social media usage whether that being educational webinars or contest it enables us to reach a wider variety of member that might not be able to make it to the show. Being a role model to younger members is part of being a UJSSA Director. What piece of advice would you give a younger exhibitor who is just starting their sheep project? One piece of advice for younger exhibitors is to get out of you comfort zone try new things like different contest such as
public speaking. Another thing I would remember is to always ask questions as there are always people out there that are willing to help you. Joey Slack, Wisconsin Where do you live and tell us a little about your sheep operation? I live in Lake Geneva, WI where I run a farm with my family that runs 150 sheep that mostly consist of the Suffolks, but the other breeds we have are Slick Hampshires, Dorpers, and Commercial Sheep. Why did you want to be a Director on the UJSSA Board? I wanted to be on the UJSSA board to promote the Suffolk breed. What about the Suffolk breed do you like the best? I like how the Suffolk breed gives you different types to show. Also Suffolks are easy gaining production sheep. You have several years left to serve on the UJSSA Board, what would you like to accomplish as a Director? The thing I would like to accomplish is getting more people to raise Suffolks to expand the breed. The thing I feel we did great as a board was getting the webinars together. Being a role model to younger members is part of being a UJSSA Director. What piece of advice would you give a younger exhibitor who is just starting their sheep project? My words of advice is there is always someone there to ask questions to so if you need advice about the sheep there is always the UJSSA board to ask. Meet the Junior Coordinator! Nancy Burton, Wisconsin Where do you live and tell us a little about your sheep operation? I live in southwestern Wisconsin. I have around 40 head of Reg. Suffolk sheep. I have been raising sheep for 24 years now. I have always had Suffolks. I am lamb to finish operation. Why do you want to serve as the Junior Coordinator? I was so excited when the position of Junior Coordinator opened up. I wanted
to get more involved at the National level with the association. I love working with kids, especially kids that are active in livestock particularly sheep. I wanted to make a difference in an organization that I am very proud to be a part of. I also wanted to make a difference in the lives of youth. What about the Suffolk breed do you like best? I have always loved the Suffolk breed. They are big and beautiful. I love their diversity. I have always had purebred Suffolks and I have also used my bucks to crossbreed with other breeds that I have had over the years. I have had several carcass champions over the years with my purebreds. What are some things you'd like to see the Junior Association take-on in the future? I want to see the Junior Association continue to spread their wings and explore new avenues to engage the Jr membership. They have overcome so many obstacles the last couple of years and they continue to be strong and work together to continue to come up with new activities and ways of engaging with the Jr. membership. I also want to see them continue to work on an open relationship with the Sr. Board. What are some accomplishments of the Junior board? The Jr. Board has had many accomplishments the last couple of years since I have been the Jr. Coordinator. They have put on a couple of very successful webinars. They had a very successful first National Jr Show with the AAJS in 2019 down in Kansas. They have held several contests and some were very successful and others not so much but they learned from them. What piece of advice would you give a new junior member who is just starting their sheep project? I have watched a lot of new sheep exhibitors be disappointed in how they do in the show ring and I let them know that everyone has been there before. Showing and raising sheep is like anything that you do in your life. If you want to be successful you need to work hard at it. Don't be afraid to ask questions from other juniors or from adults. Everyone wants to see you succeed at home with your sheep and in the showring.
Suffolk breed forward and to help make Suffolks the great breed again that they are. What about the Suffolk breed do you like the best? I love how big and powerful they are and how beautiful they are. They have all the components for me. You have several years left to serve on the UJSSA Board, what would you like to accomplish as a Director? I want to be an ambassador for the breed and get more youth involved in raising them and showing them. When people hear the word Suffolk I want them to think “yes those are the best”! Being a role model to younger members is part of being a UJSSA Director. What piece of advice would you give a younger exhibitor who is just starting their sheep project? It doesn’t matter if you win or lose but that you learn, grow and have fun. Make sure you have fun and don’t get so focused on winning that it ruins it for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Own the ring. Make it your own. Be confident. Katherine Parsley, Indiana Where do you live and tell us a little about your sheep operation? I am from a diversified sheep and cattle farm located in Sheridan, IN. My family’s sheep operation consists of both commercial and frame purebred Suffolks. Suffolks have been a part of my family for over 70 years! Why did you want to be a Director on the UJSSA Board? I wanted the opportunity to make a difference for the breed that I am so passionate about. Joining the team of directors has helped me to meet new breeders my age and share my love for Suffolk’s while being involved in the future of the sheep industry. What about the Suffolk breed do you like the best? Suffolk’s are eye-catching and elegant, but my favorite thing about them is the versatility. Being a dual-purpose breed, Suffolks can produce a wide variety of products that we use or consume in our everyday lives! In your remaining time on the UJSSA Board, what would you like to accomplish as a Director? I am so proud of how hard our team
JUNIOR REGIONAL SUFFOLK SHOWS Freedom Fest Breeding Sheep Jackpot Show Sedalia, MO ● May 28-30, 2021 At the Missouri State Fairgrounds. facebook.com/FreedomFestSheepShow 636.359.5487 freedomfestsheepshow@gmail.com Midwest Junior PreviewShow Mendon, IL ● June 5, 2021 facebook.com.MidwestShow midwestjuniorpreviewshow.com Kacy Schniedermeyer: 636.295.6015 midwestshow@hotmail.com Illinois Suffolk Association Regional Junior Show Eureka, IL ● June 12, 2021 No pre-entry, enter upon arrival. Kristen Hastings donandkristenhastings@gmail.com North East Youth Sheep Show West Springfield, MA ● July 15-18, 2021 facebook.com/NEYSSBigE nesheep.org/north-east-youth-show Katherine Nicholson northeastyouthsheep@gmail.com Minnesota State Junior Suffolk Show Faruibault, MN ● July 21, 2021 Enter via Rice County Fair, MN Assn. membership required (open to out of state). ricecountyfair.net
Savannah Bailey, Wisconsin Where do you live and tell us a little about your sheep operation? I live in northeast Wisconsin where my family and I own a sheep farm with 40-50 Suffolk sheep. Why did you want to be a Director on the UJSSA Board? I wanted to be a director on the UJSSA board so I could be a leader and role model to the younger generation. What about the Suffolk breed do you like best? I like Suffolk’s because they have a lot to offer. The expectations in terms of structure is constantly changing. You have several years left to serve on the UJSSA Board, what would you like to accomplish as a Director? I would like to accomplish bringing our breed to the top and encouraging more people to raise Suffolk’s and get people more involved in activities. Being a role model to younger members is part of being a UJSSA Director. What piece of advice would you give a younger exhibitor who is just starting their sheep project? I would tell them that it’s okay to do the wrong thing because you’ll learn from your experiences. It takes time but eventually you’ll get to where you want to be. Creed Harker, Iowa Where do you live and tell us a little about your sheep operation? I live in Oxford, Iowa on Rek-Rah Ranch. We have 18 brood ewes, 3 yearling ewes, 14 lambs and 3 rams. I raise purebred frame fitted Suffolks. I show and like to have fun doing. Why did you want to be a Director on the UJSSA Board? I wanted to be able to help push the
Jeremy Geske: 612.756.1200 jeremy.geske@gmail.com
Youth Sheep Expo Greenfield, IN ● July 25 - August 1, 2021 facebook.com/YouthSheepExpo youthsheepexpo.weebly.com 317.969.7705 youthsheepexpo@gmail.com
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