the american border leicester association summer 2012 … · 2017-01-09 · the american border...

The AmericanBorder Leicester Association

Quarterly NewsletterSummer 2012

For Sweet Meadow Farm,Border Leicesters Fit The Bill

By Sally ColbyReprinted with permission from

Country Folks New England

Many people who raise livestock select certainbreeds simply because they like the appearance of thatbreed. That’s the case for a New Hampshire family thatrecently exhibited sheep at the Maryland Sheep andWool Festival.

People from all over the country exhibit and attendthis premier fiber event, and many of them are interestedin the less common breeds such as the Border Leicestersthat Stephanie LaRochelle and her daughter Sophiebrought from their family farm in Webster, NH. Theybrought six animals to exhibit at the show, which is oneof several they attend each year.

The Border Leicester is a dual purpose sheep knownfor its long, shiny locks of wool. Sheep of this breedhave clean legs and head, and a distinct Roman nose —one of the breed’s most unique characteristics. BorderLeicester wool has a spinning count in the 40s-50srange, which means that one pound of clean wool wouldyield about 40 to 50 hanks (560 yards) of yarn. In themicron system, a more modern wool grading system thatmeasures the individual fiber, Border Leicester woolgrades 38 to 30 microns.

Before adding the Border Leicesters about six yearsago, the LaRochelles had already been raising Hamp-shires. “I just like them,” said Sophie as she talked aboutthe Border Leicesters. “We have 16 ewes now, and someyearlings.” In addition to the sheep at Sweet MeadowFarm, the LaRochelle family also raises Angus andBelted Galloway cattle.

Because Stephanie works as a teacher and her hus-band Guy also works off the farm, they try to timebreeding and subsequent lambing to take place duringschool vacations. The goal is to have lambs born duringbreaks in December and February. Because they lostseveral of their sheep to local dogs, which are often themain predator of sheep and goats, the LaRochelles gota llama that acts as a flock guardian.

Stephanie says that New Hampshire has an active agcommission that is involved in developing local agricul-ture. “Many of the ag commissions are providing edu-cational opportunities for families, like open barn tours,”she said.

Like many people who raise sheep for fiber,Stephanie uses the Border Leicester fleeces for projectssuch as knitting, felting and dying. “I really enjoy thedying,” she said. “That’s why I stick with the whitefleeces.” Stephanie sends raw fleeces to two New Eng-land mills for processing wool into yarn, including Twistof Fate Spinnery in Portland, CT, which offers customprocessing and fiber blending of any animal fibers in

IN THIS ISSUETaylor Howman Receives BL Ewe ...............2President’s Message ......................................3ABLA Board of Directors .............................3Calendar of Events ........................................3Neck of the Woods ........................................4Board of Directors Meeting Minutes ............52011 Breeders in ABLA Registrations

and Transfers ............................................6North Western Happenings..............................6Standard of Excellence..................................7National Border Leicester Fleece Show........8National Border Leicester Show & Sale .......9National Sale History ..................................10Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Results...12National Border Leicester Show, Big E ......16Anne Key.....................................................17New DNA Test for Susceptibility

to the OPP Virus .....................................18Warm Woolens Cooperative........................20Michigan Fiber Festival ..............................20ABLA Membership Application .................23

Board of DirectorsPresident

Barb Hintzsche (2014)3951 S. Mulford Road

Rochelle, IL 61068815/561-5537

[email protected]

Vice PresidentMarc Korf (2014)

N 6639 Wisconsin ParkwayDelevan, WI 53115

608/[email protected]

TreasurerPolly Hopkins (2013)

494 Evans RoadChepachet, RI 02814


DirectorJerry Wigglesworth (2014)

PO Box 6Dwight, KS 66849


DirectorTom Key

140 Russell Ranch LaneGreat Falls, MT 59405


DirectorLinda Koeppel

4808 Warren RoadAnn Arbor, MI 48105


DirectorKevin Young

22250 E. 2000th StreetPrairie City, IL 61450


Recording SecretarySally Barney

52 Cartland RoadLee, NH 03824

[email protected]

WebmasterJoAnne Tuncy

692 Smithfield RoadMillerton, NY 12546


Stephanie LaRochelle, at left, and her daughter Sophie exhibitedBorder Leicesters at the 2012 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.Photo by Sally Colby

lots of any size. She also sends wool to the StillRiver Mill in Eastford, CT, which also processesfibers of all kinds.

“We also sell some raw fleeces,” said Stephanie,adding that she sells most fleeces at the New Hamp-shire Sheep and Wool Festival and the Fiber Fest inWest Springfield, MA. “We sell young lambs forOrthodox Easter and also larger, finished lambs.

Sophie is involved in both 4-H and FFA, andwill soon graduate from high school. She is defer-

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NEWSLETTERDEADLINES

Winter Issue ....................January 15Spring Issue.......................March 15Summer Issue.......................June 15Fall Issue...........................October 5

SEND ADS &ARTICLES TO:

Stacy WiseP.O. Box 500

Cuba, IL 61427309/785-5058

or Email:[email protected]

SEND PAYMENTSTO:ABLA

Polly Hopkins, Treasurer494 Evans Road

Chepachet, RI 02814

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Please contact the webmaster,JoAnne Tuncy, to place your ad:

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ADVERTISINGRATES

ring college for a year as she embarks on a uniqueopportunity in agriculture. “I was elected presidentof Granite State FFA,” she said. “I’m interested ingoing into agriculture, but I’m not sure exactly whatarea yet.” Sophie is hoping that the year she spendsas state president will help her narrow down heragricultural interest for the future. In addition toparticipating in sheep projects, Sophie has also beenactive in horticulture and was recently recognizedfor her achievements in both areas.

2 American Border Leicester Association Newsletter Summer 2012

Taylor Howman, 10, of Wooster, Ohio is get-ting to know the Border Leicester ewe, Alisa,which was awarded to her at the Maryland Sheepand Wool Festival on May 6. The ewe will be partof Taylor’s 4-H project. Last year she borrowedsheep from her grandparents to show. This year shewill have her very own sheep.

Taylor applied for the ewe through the YouthConservationist Program. This program is a way ofenabling youth to experience the joy and responsi-bility of conserving the Heritage Wool SheepBreeds. These sheep breeds are not very commonin the United States. Taylor had to write an essayaddressing the question “Why I would like to helppreserve a heritage breed of sheep?” Her fourthgrade teacher, Mrs. Fortune, wrote the required let-ter of recommendation. After submitting the appli-cation, Taylor had to wait over three weeks to findout if she was a winner. She said, “I was so excitedwhen I got the call.”

As a ewe recipient, Taylor has several require-ments to complete in the next year. This news arti-cle is one of them. The sheep is to be part of her4-H project and she will show her at the Ohio StateFair and the Wayne County Fair. When the wool isshorn, Taylor is to use it or sell it to a hand spinner.The Border Leicester wool looks a lot like mohairand makes beautiful yarn. In the fall, the ewe willbe bred and hopefully have ewe lambs in thespring. Over the course of the year pictures will betaken to put in a scrapbook. The scrapbook willthen be displayed at the Maryland Sheep and WoolFestival next year.

Taylor will submit another news article in thespring to encourage youth to apply for a HeritageBreed Wool Sheep. This year there were thirteendifferent breeds of sheep donated to 15 young peo-

ple. Some breeds had more then one sheep donated.Bear Hollow Farm from Newark, Ohio donated theBorder Leicester ewe.

In case you are interested, the Border Leicestersheep is the breed of sheep on Mr. Hoggett’s farmin the movie Babe.

Taylor Howman ReceivesBorder Leicester Ewe

Taylor Howman of Wooster, Ohio, with her Border Leicesterewe donated by Bear Hollow Farm of Newark, Ohio. Taylorwas one of 15 recipients of the annual Youth ConservationistProgram awarded at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.

JUNIORS!Don’t forget to mail inyour futurity points!

Back issues of theABLA Newsletter are available

for your reading pleasure:

www.ablasheep.org

Send Us Your Local News & [email protected]

Greetings from dry Northern Illinois. We haveone crop of hay up, so now it would be really niceif we got some rain.

The lambs are growing out to be really nicelooking.

A big thank you goes to the Ohio group for agood time Friday night at the get together and againSaturday night at the banquet – the food was oh sogood. The silent auction had some really nice itemson it. The show and sale were great also. You willfind the results elsewhere in this issue.

I would like to thank Greg and Jennifer for allthe time they were on the board. Also a warm wel-come to the three new members: Linda Koeppel,

Kevin Young, and Tom Key. We as a board will continue to go forward to

keep the breed on top.I would like thank all those who have purchased

sheep from us this spring. Good luck with them inyour breeding program. Looking forward to all thecoming events that have classes for Border Leices-ter sheep.

Have a safe and happy summer showing allthose good Border Leicesters!

Also, remember to send any news you haveand/or pictures you may have to our editor, Stacy,and she will put them in the next newsletter.

– Barb Hintzsche

Summer 2012 American Border Leicester Association Newsletter 3

JULYJuly 19-22 North East Youth Sheep Show,

West Springfield, MAwww.nesheep.org

AUGUSTAug. 1 Wisconsin State Fair Border

Leicester Open Show, WestAllis, WI, www.wistatefair.com

Aug. 18-19 Michgan Fiber Festival,Allegan, MI,www.michiganfiberfestival.info

Aug. 26 Nebraska State Fair BorderLeicester Open Show, GrandIsland, NE, www.statefair.org

SEPTEMBERSept. 1 Evergreen State Fair Leicester

Open Show, Monroe, WA,www.evergreenfair.org

Sept. 2 New York State Fair LeicesterOpen Show, Syracuse, NY,www.nysfair.org

Sept. 7-9 Wisconsin Sheep & WoolFestival, Jefferson, WI, www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com

Sept. 14-16 California Wool & FiberFestival, Boonville, CA,www.fiberfestival.com

Sept. 15-16 18th Annual Finger Lakes FiberArts Festival, Hemlock, NY,www.gvhg.org/fest.html

Sept. 21 Western Washington FairLeicester Open Show, Puyallup, WA, www.thefair.com

Sept. 22-23 Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival,Canby, OR, www.flockandfiberfestival.com

Sept. 23 Eastern States Exposition(The Big E) Border LeicesterOpen & Junior Show, WestSpringfield, MA,www.thebige.com

Sept. 29-30 Shenandoah Valley FiberFestival, Berryville, VA,www.shenandoahvalleyfiberfestival.com

OCTOBEROct. 19-20 New York Bred Ewe Sale,

Rhinebeck, NY, 309/785-5058

NOVEMBERNov. 11 North American International

Livestock Exposition BorderLeicester Junior Show,Louisville, KY,www.livestockexpo.org

Nov. 14 North American InternationalLivestock Exposition BorderLeicester Show, Louisville, KY,www.livestockexpo.org

CALENDAROF EVENTSPresident’s Message

In an historic Border Leicester breed moment,the entire Board of Directors were all present at thesame time in the same place. This occurred at the2012 Annual Meeting held May 26th in Wooster,Ohio. Seated from left to right are: Polly Hopkins,Rhode Island, Treasurer; Sally Barney, New Hamp-

shire, Recording Secretary; Barb Hintzsche, Illinois,newly elected ABLA President; and Linda Koeppel,Michigan. In the back row, left to right: Mark Korf,Wisconsin; Tom Key, Montana; Jerry Wig-glesworth, Kansas; Kevin Young, Illinois; and GregDeakin, Illinois, ABLA Past President.

American Border LeicesterBoard of Directors

Calling all Border LeicesterBreeders!

Nominate your ewe lambs or yearlingewes if you sell to a youth buyer.

Border Leicester Youth –You can nominate your ewe lamb or

yearling ewe. The ewe can behome grown or purchased.

Don’t Forget The Futurity Program!Reminder to Youth

Who Purchased FuturityNominated Ewes –

Turn in your point record formsigned by the show secretary.

All funds paid in nominations go intothe purse that is divided amongst theparticipating youth. Information and

forms can be found on the ABLA website.

If you have any questions, contact Polly Hopkins, (401) 949-4619, [email protected]


Fill out any ABLA application for reg-istration you may already have or ifyou do not have a form, please visit the“Registering Sheep” page on the web-site at www.ablasheep.org and down-load an Application for RegistrationForm. Send all forms for registeringyour sheep to:

American Border LeicesterAssociation

PO Box 51, 222 Main StreetMilo, IA 50166

Phone: 641/942-6402Fax: 641/942-6502

Email: [email protected]

REGISTRATIONFEES

Members..................................$5.00Non-members ........................$10.00

TRANSFER FEESMembers..................................$5.00Non-members ..........................$5.00

Be sure to include all the necessary andcorrect information on the forms inorder to register your sheep. Applica-tions that are incomplete, incorrect, orlacking fees will be returned to thesender with an explanation of theproblem. Applications will not beaccepted unless an ABLA Applicationfor Registration Form is filled out forall animals to be registered by thebreeder/owner.

REGISTERINGSHEEP

Neck of the Woods

Greetings from the great State of Michigan.It is always beautiful here (well almost….de-pends on how you choose to look at the world).The sheep are happy and healthy but would ap-preciate rain for the grass and everything else (aswould we).

I would like to thank everyone for your con-fidence in my ability to serve as a productivemember of the ABLA Board of Directors. I havelearned so much from so many in this special or-ganization and I will do my best to do what isasked of me. Thanks also to those who workedhard to make the Show and Sale in Wooster asfun as it was. Totally away from the sheep barnwe had a great time with old friends and gettingto know new ones.

Many of you across the country may notknow how active and involved Michigan shep-herds are – especially regarding youth programs.The Michigan Sheep Breeders Association isvery active and does an especially good job ofintegrating interests of both commercial breedersand small flock owners and to tap into the talentand knowledge of the Animal Science staff atMichigan State University. In a few hours wewill attend the summer picnic coordinated by theSmall Flock Committee of the organization. Inaddition to food and a farm tour, there will beseveral presentations, among them a session onjudging conformation by one of our members,Judy Moore, who judged the show in Woosterthree weeks ago.

Our Michigan Fiber Festival is coming up inmid-August (15th to 19th). It is a relaxed showand Border Leicesters are well represented. It isheld at the Allegan County Fairgrounds in Alle-gan, Michigan, a beautiful small town a fewmiles from Lake Michigan. The fairgrounds havea scenic site on the Kalamazoo River. Info atwww.michiganfiberfestival.info.

Peace and blessings to each of you and yourbeautiful sheep.

– Linda Koeppel

What an excellent time Elizabeth and I - andour friend Kathleen - had at the Wooster showand sale! Gracious hosts, pleasant Border Leices-ter folk, great sheep, and a strong sense of com-munity and common purpose. The fact that itwas all so well organized must come from yearsof thoughtful experience. I would mention theweather, but we are Kansans and are expected toendure high temperatures silently; we are athome on the range, and the deer and antelope doplay, but it can be hot as the Everlasting Hinges.

Meeting one’s associates whom one hasnever seen is a grounding experience. Elizabethand Kathleen felt it as they encountered thosepeople from whom they had bought wool overthe past year, and I felt it finally to come face to

face with the directors and officers of our asso-ciation with whom I have been talking and ex-changing e-mails over the past several months.The chance to talk with those present has mademe all the more aware of our colleagues, spreadacross our land, who were not able to come toWooster.

We did have a technical setback: we hadhoped to see the videos prepared by some of ourmembers about themselves and their BorderLeicesters, but the projector did not match upwith the discs. Plans are afoot to make themavailable to the board of directors so that it canresolve how best we can make them available tothe membership and advance the interests of ourbreed and association. Stay tuned.

We returned home to the pasture season infull swing: the herd – 50 counts as a herd, Ithink – out in the morning and in at night, andwe opened a new piece of grass, some 18 acres,to them all. You may have read about our effortsto ready it in an earlier column. It has a difficultterrain feature, bushes and trees and a usually drywatercourse, which made it difficult to fence butwe persevered. We wondered, is it coyote-proof?Can we really trust the fence and our dogs tokeep them safe?

So on the first day, the dogs and I led the pro-cession, and we walked around it, thickets, grassand all. The sheep of course stopped at the firstbest grass, but we separated...and as I got to thefar side, I heard a noise – something between abark and a crow’s caw – which drew me to anarea where the dogs were chasing some smallreddish-brown creature back and forth. What isthat? It was the creature that was making thenoise. A fawn! White spots on its back and terri-fied. I called the dogs - Great Pyrenees - off, andas they stood back the fawn stopped still. Whatto do?

I stepped to it and picked it up. It must haveweighed 25 pounds and it was very lean andsinewy, compared to the lambs I had been pick-ing up, and it struggled a bit. And again: what todo?

There was no sign of its mother. I walked itover to the fence and deposited it on the otherside. It lingered a bit, looking back into the placethat it no doubt had been born, but then, asthough called from a thicket outside the fence, ittrotted away into the bush and the rest of its life.

On reflection, it was clear to me that itsmother had chosen our pasture because it wassafe from coyotes but was unable to get her off-spring out because it could not get over a fenceand there was no way under or through it.

A comforting thought, perhaps, almost a tes-timonial.

But we still bring our herd in at night.– Jerry Wigglesworth

What’s happening in YOUR neck of the woods?Here’s an update from your Directors...

Star! a! th" Topwit# BorderLeicester$!


ABLA Board of Directors Meeting MinutesPresent: Greg Deakin, Jerry Wigglesworth,

Mark Korf, Jennifer Bierhuizen, Polly Hopkins,Barb Hintzsche, Sally Barney

President, Greg Deakin, called the meeting toorder and Sally announced that a quorum waspresent. The minutes of the January 9, 2012meeting were approved as sent. It was voted byall present to approve the Treasurer’s report, sub-ject to review of the postage charge on the March2011 newsletter. Polly reported that the bookshave been closed on 2011 and if there are moniesdue they would come out of the 2012 budget. Itwas voted to run the 2011 year-end treasurer’sreport in the newsletter. Sally read a letter fromthe Michigan Fiber Festival Wool Sheep Showrequesting a sponsorship. Polly moved and Jerryseconded a motion to give $125 to the MichiganFiber Festival Wool Sheep Show. The Secretarywill inform our Michigan breeders that we havedone this. There will be a notice in the nextnewsletter regarding this donation. Sally alsoread a thank you note from Emily Gibson thank-ing the ABLA for supporting the ABLA Futurity.

Greg reported that to date in 2012 there havebeen 118 Border Leicesters registered and 30transferred. Polly reported 111 members to dateincluding 22 juniors.

Publicity Committee: Jerry shared an ideahe had regarding placing prices received for Bor-der Leicester wool out on the website or in thenewsletter. Directors had a variety of questionsand thoughts regarding the opportunity and whatexactly we would be referring to. Jerry suggestedthat such information might suggest to breederswhat extra work on marketing fleeces might re-turn to a breeder. It was suggested that perhapsthe focus should be on the breed standard andworking with breeders to produce a more uni-form fleece across the breed. Jerry will continueto refine the suggestion and welcomed otherBoard members to join in the project.

Newsletter: Greg reported that the newslet-ter was ready to go and will be in mailboxeswithin the next week. The Board applauded theprevious newsletter. The newsletter trial was fortwo months; it was agreed to discuss the newslet-ter at the next meeting after the Board has had achance to see the second edition prepared byStacy Wise. The next newsletter deadline is June15, 2012.

Website: Webmaster, JoAnne Tuncy, askedto move the request for resumes for the newslet-ter editor position off the front page of the Web-site to make room for current events andactivities; the Board agreed and asked JoAnne toremove the article. JoAnne reported that she isupdating the Breeder Directory.

Futurity: Polly shared that the Futurity in-formation is on the Website. Nominations havenot started coming in. It was agreed to highlight

the Futurity on the ABLA display at Wooster.Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival: Jennifer

shared that she is working on finger foods for thesocial gathering of Border Leicester breedersafter the Saturday shows at Maryland. This willbe an open meeting for all breeders and BorderLeicester enthusiasts.

National Sale: Greg shared that there areabout 40 whites and 12 or so natural coloredBorder Leicesters entered into the National Bor-der Leicester Sale at Wooster. It was agreed tohave ABLA purchase sashes or other awards forthe Champion and Reserve Ewes and Rams inboth the white and natural colored shows. It wasvoted to have Barb and Sally look into this andthey will have a budget of $150 for the awards.

National Sale Dinner; Annual Meeting;Fleece Show and Friday Social: Greg reportedthat he had heard from Marilyn Fogle and thather crew has done a great job planning many ofthe Border Leicester activities during the Saleweekend. The Annual Meeting and Dinner willbe held on Saturday night at the Olde Jaol HouseRestaurant. This event includes a Silent Auction.Friday night there is a social gathering at the BestWestern starting at 7:00 pm. Each breeder isasked to send a 3-5 minute video of their farmfor inclusion in a videotour of Border Leicesterfarms. The BorderLeicester Fleece Showis moving to the FiberFest held during the Na-tional Sale weekend. Itwas agreed that Pollywould do a fleece skirt-ing workshop sometimeSaturday afternoon.

Videos: Jerrybrought the Board up todate on his thinking re-garding the opportunityto show You Tube typevideos on the ABLAwebsite. Sally had sug-gested that perhaps thevideos could focus onselling the breed as alead-in to videos fo-cused on management,etc. Sally agreed to joinwith Jerry in developingthis concept further.

Other: Greg andMark reported that Ash-ley Jones, BorderLeicester breeder, isfeatured in the recentFFA publication havingearned her Proficiency

March 19, 2012Award through her Border Leicester manage-ment. Polly shared that Eastern States Expositionwill host a National Regional Border LeicesterShow; Doris Powell is judging and juniors re-ceive extra premiums in breed classes; in addi-tion, the Eastern Border Leicester Breeders willmeet on April 15 on the grounds of EasternStates Exposition.

NEW BUSINESSElection: Sally reported that she had received

election Bios from Tom Key, Montana; LindaKoeppel, Michigan; Coleen Smith, Oregon andKevin Young, Illinois. There are three openingson the Board of Directors; Jennifer Bierhuizenand Greg Deakin are not running for an addi-tional term and there is an anticipated vacancyin Anne Key’s position as illness will prevent herfrom completing her term. Ballots and Bios willbe mailed to all current members to be returnedby April 15. All ballots will be mailed to Sally.

There being no further business the meetingwas adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,Sally Barney – Recording Secretary

– NEXT MEETING–April 23, 2012 • 8:30 PM Eastern

Marsh CreekCrossing

Ray & Margo HansonTwin Valley, Minnesota

218 584-5545www.marshcreekcrossing.com

Border LeicestersHardy Canadian &

Showy New Zealand Bloodlines

SFCP Certified

OPP-Negative

Foot Rot Free

NSIP/LambPlan, 2010

RR & QR Ram Lambs

Raw Fleece (Coated)


Top Breeders inABLA Registrations for 2011# of Reg Breeder City, State

1. 45 Montana Aerie Sheep Ranch Great Falls, MT2. 40 Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL3. 35 Overlook Manor Farm Warrenton, VA4. 29 Blackberry Farm New Tazewell, TN5. 28 Brianair Athens, WI6. 21 Fogle Farm Raymond, OH6. 21 Fred Dickhous Shedd, OR8. 17 Frank & Barb Hintzsche Rochelle, IL8. 17 Diana Waibel Canby, OR

10. 16 Maybe Tomorrow Farm Chepachet, RI

Top Breeders inABLA Transfers for 2011

# of Reg Breeder City, State1. 24 Deakin Family Farms Cuba, IL2. 15 Montana Aerie Sheep Ranch Great Falls, MT3. 11 Spring Creek Farm Minnetrista, MN4. 10 Maybe Tomorrow Farm Chepachet, RI5. 9 Twin Hickory Farm Kingsville, OH5. 9 Hintzsche Sheep Farm Rochelle, IL7. 8 Pem-Bor-Lei Farm Otlawa, OH7. 8 Fogle Farm Raymond, OH9. 7 Marissa Harden Danville, IL9. 7 Foxy Farm Critters Springfield, OR9. 7 Fairy Dust Farm Lee, NH9. 7 Seldom Seen Farm Chepachet, RI9. 7 Tiffany Deakin Cuba, IL9. 7 Emma Morton Chepachet, RI

2011 Breeders in ABLA Registrations & TransfersIt was brought to our attention that in the 2011 numbers that we provided after the 1st of the year, transfers processed on accounts other than the breeders

account (such as sale managements) were not credited to the breeder. Below are corrected number and listings of the top breeders.Thanks – Associated Sheep Registry Staff

As marketing director for Oregon Flock andFiber Festival, I am pleased to announce that theAmerican Border Leicester is the “CelebratedBreed” for the festival this year. This is the 16thyear for the festival which started in 1997 and isheld at the Event Center in Canby Oregon.

This year’s dates are September 22nd and 23rdwith classes offered on the 21st. The festival nowincludes three days of workshops and a weekendfilled with demonstrations, livestock shows, fiberart exhibits, seminars and children’s activities. Weconsider the festival an event for the whole family.The festival’s mission is to exhibit and demonstratethe full spectrum of natural fibers (plant and ani-mal) from beginning to end, from the animal or raw

NorthWestern HappeningsBy Coleen Smith, Blessed Creations, Gervais, Oregon

fiber to the finished product.The 2012 logo which will be printed on t-shirts,

sweatshirts and reusable bags was created by Clau-dine Angus of British Columbia and features a Bor-der Leicester head with a weaving background, abeautiful representation.

A fine representation of Border Leicester sheepwill be in the barn. Already planning on attendingare: Glen and Coleen Smith of Blessed Creations,Correy McAtee and Brin McAtee-Rosenau ofFarmer Girl’s Friends, Troy and Loren Heath ofDistracted Acres and Dan and Susie Wilson ofSuDan Farms. We would like to encourage otherbreeders in our area to come out and promote ourwonderful breed.

If you would like more information pleasecheck out the website http://www.flockand fiberfes-tival.com/ or email for a catalog [email protected]

Another exciting side note for NW breeders, forthe first time in many years the Oregon State Fairwill have a stand alone class for Border Leicester.We no longer have to show with all other breedswhite wool as we have brought our numbers uphigh enough to have our own class. I must say it isgoing to be a very exciting summer!

Mistwood Farm

A small flock on the move...

• B O R D E R L E I C E S T E R S •

Irene Nebiker28 Grange Road

North Smithfield, RI 02896


AMERICAN BORDERLEICESTER ASSOCIATION

Standard of ExcellenceGuide for Judging Border Leicester Sheep

(Applies to both White & Natural Colored animals)

HEAD & NECK (10 Points)Head: High, erect ears

Spots on ears permissibleRoman noseBlack nose and lips (dark mottled with grey acceptable)No mottling on muzzleBoth sexes polled

Neck: Moderate length, fitting into shoulders gracefully

FOREQUARTER (5 Points)Shoulders: Well roundedLegs: Straight, wide apart, no wool below knees

BODY (15 Points)Chest: Deep and wide, but not fat

Ribs: Well-sprung, long, showing no signs of excess fat

Back: Broad, long and levelSomewhat narrower in front than rearHindquarters should be 1/3 or less in proportion

Wool Cover: Belly and armpits well-covered with wool (minimum of skin) and consistent with balance of fleece

HINDQUARTERS (10 Points)Hips: Level, smooth and wide apart

Thighs: Deep and full

Legs: Straight, wide apart, free of wool below hocksNo evidence of low pasternsBlack hooves

Udder & Scrotum: Ewes - Udder should show evidence of two good teatsRams - Testicles well-developed and hanging down a distance from the body

CONDITION (10 Points)Animals should be in working condition, well-muscled, and not overly fat or thin

GENERAL APPEARANCE (10 Points)Stance: Overall appearance to be regal in structure

Quality: Should be strong bonedRams to appear masculineEwes to appear feminine

WOOL (40 Points)1. Locks with purled tips ending in a curl 2. High Luster3. Minimum of kemp hair 4. Uniform fleece and belly wool5. No black spots in white, no white spots in black wool

The fleece weight from mature females ranges from 8 to 12 pounds with a yield of 65 to 80 percent. The staple length ofthe fleece ranges from five to ten inches with a numeric count of 36 to 48 which is 38.5 to 30.0 microns.

Border Leicesters are typically shown with 3-5 months of wool growth, so that the judge can accurately evaluate thefleece, one of the most important characteristics of the breed. They are relatively easy fit for exhibition. They should appearclean and neat, but never shampooed, as this would remove the natural oil from the wool. A light spritzing with luke warmwater can emphasize the natural curl of the fleece, but it needs to be done well before the show so that the dampened lockshave time to dry thoroughly. Stray locks may be trimmed, but Border Leicesters should not be combed, carded, or blocked,which would disturb the natural lock formation and detract from the character of the fleece.

A ram at maturity should weigh 175-300 pounds and stand about 32 inches at the shoulder. He should have a wide, levelback. Ewes usually weigh 150-225 pounds.


Twist of Fate Spinnery, llp

194 Rose Hill RoadPortland, Connecticut 06480

Custom processing,lots as small as 2 pounds

Jeremiah Squier860/759-9335

Richard Trojanoski860/759-9334


4TH ANNUAL ABLAFLEECE SHOW

The ABLA National Fleece Show was heldMay 26th in conjunction with the Great LakesShow and Sale and Fiber Festival. We had atotal of 23 fleeces entered with 10 white ewes,7 natural color ewes, 2 white rams and 4 naturalcolor rams. We hoped to gain more exposureand allow people to see and purchase our fleecesand sales were good.

Thanks to everyone for their entries and sup-port. If you have comments or suggestionsplease let us hear from you.

White Ewes1. John Moran2. Marilyn Fogle3. Linda Koeppel4. John Moran

White Rams1. Linda Reichert2. John Moran

Natural Color Ewes1. Linda Koeppel2. Linda Koeppel3. Kent Knappenbergr4. John Moran

Natural Color Rams1. John Moran2. Linda Koeppel3. Kent Knappenberger4. Kevin Young

Champion White FleeceJohn Moran

Champion Natural Color FleeceLinda Keoppel

Reserve Champion White FleeceLinda Reichert

Reserve Champion Natural Color FleeceJohn Moran

Supreme Champion FleeceLinda Koeppel (Natural Color Ewe Fleece)

FRIDAY EVENINGCASUAL GATHERING

MAY 25THOur Friday evening gathering at the Best

Western was well attended. Everyone enjoyedlamb sandwiches, relishes and fruit, homemadecookies, chips and snacks. We had a goodevening of laughter and got to know some un-known and interesting facts about one another.Sally Barney and Judy Harris entertained every-one telling about their seven hours spent in atruck stop waiting for their truck to be repaired.Quite interesting and much laughter as a resultof their stories.

BANQUET AND ABLAANNUAL MEETING

MAY 26THThe Saturday evening banquet was held at

the Olde Jaol House Restaurant and 64 peopleattended from 12 different states with lots ofnewcomers. Since it was Memorial Day week-end, we started the evening with a few well spo-ken words from Bill Keoppel of Michigan. ThenColin Siegmund of Connecticut led us in thePledge of Allegiance.

After dinner the ABLA Annual Meeting washeld and our new board members were intro-duced. During the evening a silent auction washeld.

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS,DONORS AND BUYERS

• Candle - Donated by Art Siegmund, Jr.(Conn.), purchased by Judy Harris (Mass.)

• Basket of 3 Bottles of Wine - Donated byBear Hollow Farm (Ohio), purchased by BrendaLelli (Mich.)

• Sheep Photographs - Donated by BillKoeppel (Mich.), purchased by Pat Bradish(Ohio) and David Freds (Indiana)

• Virginia Ham - Donated by Cathie Shiff(Virginia), purchased by Stephanie LaRochelle(N.H.)

• Two Hand Woven Border Leicester Pil-lows - Donated by Elizabeth and Jerry Wig-glesworth (Kansas), purchased by StephanieLaRochelle (N.H.)

• Basket of 12 Michigan Craft Beers,Cheeses and other Goodies - Donated by Linda& Bill Koeppel (Mich.), purchased by StephanieLaRochelle (N.H.)

• Handmade Basket with Ohio Wine andGoodies - Donated by Jerry & Dena Early(Ohio), purchased by Elizabeth Wigglesworth(Kansas)

• Sheep Lawn Ornament & “ShowSnacks” - Donated by Mark Korf Family(Wisc.), purchased by Tom Key (Montana)

• Sheep Glasses & Dish - Donated by ColinSigmund (Conn.), purchased by Jack Price (Illi-nois)

• Rhode Island Basket of Goodies - Do-nated by Polly & Kevin Hopkins (R.I.), pur-chased by Sally Barney (N.H.)

• Bottle of Wine - Purchased by Cathie Shiff(Virginia)

• Donation - Don Morehouse and JohnMoran (Ohio)

As you can see, we had a tremendous amountof support. We had a great evening and a bigTHANK YOU to everyone!

National Border Leicester Fleece ShowBy Marilyn Fogle


National Border Leicester Show & SaleHeld at the Great Lakes Show & Sale, Wooster, Ohio • May 26-27, 2012

Grand Champion White Ram (Yearling)Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL

Grand Champion White Ewe (Yearling)Seldom Seen Farm, Chepachet, RI

Reserve Champion White Ram (Yearling)Montana Aerie Sheep Ranch, Great Falls, MT

Reserve Champion White Ram (Yearling)Seldom Seen Farm, Chepachet, RI

Grand Champion Natural Colored Ram (Spring Lamb)Vast Plains, Prairie City, IL

Grand Champion Natural Colored Ewe (Yearling)Bear Hollow Farm, Newark, OH

Reserve Champion Natural Colored Ram (Yearling)Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI

Reserve Champion Natural Colored Ewe (Spring Lamb)Bear Hollow Farm, Newark, OH

Border Leicesters were in hot demand at the2012 National Sale held in conjunction with theGreat Lakes Sale in Wooster, Ohio. 48 head ofWhite & Natural Colored Border Leicesters soldat a breed record $675 average.

Leading off the sale was the National GrandChampion Ram bred by Deakin Family Farms,IL. The ram had previously won Grand Cham-pion Ram honors at the Maryland Sheep & WoolFestival held a few weeks earlier. He sold toRoger Green, MN for $1,200. Reserve GrandChampion Ram honors went to Montana Aerie,MT, on their second place yearling. He sold toGeorge Muehlheim, OH for $300.

The third place Diana Anson yearling ramtopped the class at $1,700, selling to DeakinFamily Farm & Vast Plains Border Leicesters,IL. Deakin Family Farms’ 4th place yearling ramnext sold to Iris LaRochelle, NH for $500 toround out the higher yearling ram prices.

One January ram lamb was offered in the saleby ZNK Border Leicesters, OH. He sold toMiller Farms, OH for $250.

In the February ram lamb class, Deakin Fam-ily placed first and sold to Callie Taylor, PA.Roger Green, MN then picked up the 2nd PlaceMontana Aerie lamb for $300.

The sales’ real excitement then began withthe offering of the yearling ewes. Seldom SeenFarm, RI won both the National Grand & Re-serve Champion Ewe honors with their 1st &2nd place yearlings. After a spirited round of bid-ding, Connor Vincent, DE, owned the ChampionEwe on a new breed record ewe price of $2,700.The Reserve Champion penmate next sold toColin Deakin, IL for $1,400. Third place honorswent on a Deakin Family yearling ewe to PaigeVincent, DE for $1,800.

Montana Aerie next sold a pair for $450 eachto Callie Taylor, PA and to Meikayla Korf, WI.Vast Plains, IL sold their yearling ewe to William& Sharon O’Donnell, OH for $650. GeorgeMuehleim, OH next bought a Deakin ewe for$550 and a Montana Aerie ewe for $450. ATiffany Deakin yearling brought $550 fromShelly Nussbaum, NJ to round out the betteryearling ewe prices. The 11 head averaged$881.82.

One January ewe lamb was offered in the saleand she was bred by Wool Away Farm, AmberMillikan, IN. She sold to Thomas C. Key, MTfor $600.

Next to sell were the February ewe lambs.The breed’s second high selling ewe price wasthen established by a Maybe Tomorrow Farmlamb from Rhode Island. She sold to Callie Tay-lor, PA for $2,600. Deakin Family then sold their2nd place ewe lamb for $700 to Jacob Korf, WI.Another Maybe Tomorrow Farm ewe lamb soldto Callie Taylor for $700 and Cape House Farm,Bill & Linda Koeppel, MI, sold a lamb for $575to Ben Wamsley, IL. Dennis Jones, ME, thenpicked up a pair of Montana Aerie ewe lambs for


$500 each as the 31 White Leicesters averaged$726.61.

National Grand Champion Natural ColoredRam honors went to Vast Plains, IL with their 1stplace ram lamb. He sold to Emily Gibson, NHfor $300. Twin Hickory Farm then sold theirwinning yearling ram for $300 to Kent Knappen-berge, NY for $300. Tiffany Deakin then sold her2nd place ram lamb for $350 to ZNK BorderLeicesters, OH to round out the better ram prices.

The National Grand Champion Ewe honorswere won by Bear Hollow Farm, OH. Their win-ning yearling ewe sold to Emily Gibson, NH for$1,450. Bear Hollow swept the ChampionshipEwe honors as their Reserve Champion & 1stplace ewe lamb sold to Ben Wamsley, IL for$1,100. The 2nd place yearling ewe was bred byTwin Hickory Farm and she sold to TiffanyDeakin for $500. Bear Hollow next sold a year-ling ewe to Thomas C. Key for $450. A pair ofZNK ewe lambs placed 2nd and 3rd, and theysold to David J. Freds, IN for $650 each. BearHollow sold another ewe lamb for $750 toThomas Key, MT and Cape House Farm re-ceived a bid of $525 from Shelly Nussbaum, NJ.Nussbaum also picked up a Tiffany Deakin ewelamb for $450 and Thomas Key selected a TwinHickory ewe lamb for $500.

The 15 Natural Colored Border Leicestersaveraged $568.33. Winning the Townsend BestConsignment Award was Deakin Family Farms,IL.

National Sale HistoryYear Location No. Head Average2005 Springfield, Illinois 15 $ 418.33

2006 Springfield, Illinois 5 $ 380.00



2009 Wooster, Ohio 23 White $ 495.654 Natural Colored $ 393.75




CHECK THE CLASSIFIEDSON THE WEBSITE!

You could be there too!www.ablasheep.org


Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival ResultsHeld in West Friendship, Maryland • May 5-6, 2012 • White Border Leicesters

BORDER LEICESTERS – YEARLING RAM – 1) Deakin Family Farms,Cuba, IL; 2) & 3) Caroll Fogle, Raymond, OH; 4) &5) Nancy Weik, Overlook Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA SENIOR RAM LAMB – 1) Sophie LaRochelle,Sweet Meadow, Concord, NH JUNIOR RAM LAMB – 1) & 3) Carroll Fogle,Raymond, OH; 2) & 4) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba,IL; 5) Polly & Kevin Hopkins, Maybe TomorrowFarm, Chepachet, RI PAIR OF RAM LAMBS – 1) Deakin FamilyFarms, Cuba, IL; 2) Carroll Fogle, Raymond, OH; 3)Polly & Kevin Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm,Chepachet, RI CHAMPION RAM – Deakin Family Farms,Cuba, IL (Yearling) RESERVE CHAMPION RAM – Carroll Fogle,Raymond, OH YEARLING EWE – 1) & 2) Deakin FamilyFarms, Cuba, IL; 3) & 4) Carroll Fogle, Raymond,OH; 5) Callie Taylor, State College, PA PAIR OF YEARLING EWES – 1) Deakin Fam-ily Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Carroll Fogle, Raymond, OH;3) Polly & Kevin Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm,Chepachet, RI; 4) Callie Taylor, State College, PA; 5)Sophie LaRochelle, Sweet Meadow, Concord, NH SENIOR EWE LAMB – 1) & 2) SophieLaRochelle, Sweet Meadow, Concord, NH JUNIOR EWE LAMB – 1) & 3) Deakin FamilyFarms, Cuba, IL; 2) & 5) Carroll Fogle, Raymond,OH; 4) Nancy Weik, Warrenton, VA PAIR OF EWE LAMBS – 1) Carroll Fogle, Ray-mond, OH; 2) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 3) So-phie LaRochelle, Sweet Meadow, Concord, NH; 4)Nancy Weik, Overlook Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA;5) Polly & Kevin Hopkins, Maybe Tomorrow Farm,Chepachet, RI CHAMPION EWE – Deakin Family Farms,Cuba, IL (Yearling) RESERVE CHAMPION EWE – Deakin FamilyFarms, Cuba, IL (Yearling) FLOCK – 1) Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2)Carroll Fogle, Raymond, OH; 3) Sophie LaRochelle,Concord, NH; 4) Polly & Kevin Hopkins, Maybe To-morrow Farm, Chepachet, RI BEST FLEECE – Linda & Bill Koeppel, CapeHouse Farm, Ann Arbor, MI PREMIER BREEDER – Deakin Family Farms,Cuba, IL

Grand Champion White Ram (Yearling)Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL

Grand Champion White Ewe (Yearling)Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL

Best Fleece - WhiteCape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI

Reserve Champion White Ewe (Yearling)Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL

1st Place White FlockDeakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL

2nd Place White FlockCarroll Fogle, Raymond, OH

3rd Place White FlockSophie LaRochelle, Concord, NH

4th Place White FlockMaybe Tomorrow Farm, Chepachet, RI


BLACK BORDER LEICESTERS – YEARLING RAM – 1) Tiffany Deakin, DeakinFamily Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) & 3) Nancy Weik, Over-look Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA; 4) Sarah Jakeman,Some Day Soon, Gloversville NY; 5) Lili Weik, War-renton, VA JUNIOR RAM LAMB – 1) & 3) Tiffany Deakin,Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Linda & BillKoeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 4) SarahJakeman, Some Day Soon, Gloversville, NY; 5) NancyWeik, Overlook Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA PAIR OF RAM LAMBS – 1) Tiffany Deakin,Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Sarah Jakeman,Some Day Soon, Gloversville, NY; 3) Nancy Weik,Overlook Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA CHAMPION RAM – Tiffany Deakin, DeakinFamily Farms, Cuba, IL (Junior Lamb) RESERVE CHAMPION RAM – TiffanyDeakin, Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL (Yearling) YEARLING EWE – 1) & 5) Tiffany Deakin,Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) & 4) Linda & BillKoeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 3) NancyWeik, Overlook Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA PAIR OF YEARLING EWES – 1) Linda & BillKoeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 2) NancyWeik, Overlook Manor Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 3)Tiffany Deakin, Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 4)Sarah Jakeman, Some Day Soon, Gloversville, NY; 5)Ben Wamsley, P-W Sheep Farm, Palmer, IL JUNIOR EWE LAMB – 1) & 2) Tiffany Deakin,Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 3) & 5) Linda & BillKoeppel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 4) ShelleyNussbaum, Nussbaums River Bend Farm, Farming-dale, NJ PAIR OF EWE LAMBS – 1) Tiffany Deakin,Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL; 2) Linda & Bill Koep-pel, Cape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 3) Nancy Weik,Overlook Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA; 4) ShelleyNussbaum, Nussbaums River Bend Farm, Farming-dale, NJ CHAMPION EWE – Tiffany Deakin, DeakinFamily Farms, Cuba, IL (Yearling) RESERVE CHAMPION EWE – TiffanyDeakin, Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL (Junior Lamb) FLOCK – 1) Tiffany Deakin, Deakin FamilyFarms, Cuba, IL; 2) Linda & Bill Koeppel, CapeHouse Farm, Ann Arbor, MI; 3) Nancy Weik, OverlookManor Farm, Warrenton, VA BEST FLEECE – Linda & Bill Koeppel, CapeHouse Farm, Ann Arbor, MI PREMIER EXHIBITOR – Tiffany Deakin,Deakin Family Farms, Cuba, IL

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival ResultsHeld in West Friendship, Maryland • May 5-6, 2012 • Natural Colored Border Leicesters

Grand Champion Natural Colored Ram (Yearling)Tiffany Deakin, Cuba, IL

Grand Champion Natural Colored Ewe (Yearling)Tiffany, Cuba, IL

Reserve Champion Natural Colored Ram (Yearling)Tiffany Deakin, Cuba, IL

Reserve Champion Natural Colored Ewe (Jr. Lamb)Tiffany Deakin, Cuba, IL

Best Fleece - Natural ColoredCape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI

1st Place Natural Colored FlockTiffany Deakin, Cuba, IL

2nd Place Natural Colored FlockCape House Farm, Ann Arbor, MI

3rd Place Natural Colored FlockOverlook Manor Farm, Warrenton, VA


KEVIN, POLLY AND CHRISTOPHER HOPKINS494 Evans Road, Chepachet, RI 02814(401) 949-4619 • [email protected]

Thanks to Callie Taylor, PA on herpurchase of our 1st & 4th February Ewe Lambs

at the National Show & Sale!

Registered stock, market lambs,and fleece sheep, sheepskins,

raw fleeces, natural &dyed roving (processed locally).

We also raise Natural Coloreds.

Visitors welcome.

www.maybetomorrowfarm.com

COLORED BORDER LEICESTERS

**************** ***************** ****************

SARAH & JACK JAKEMAN135 Kingsboro AvenueGloversville, NY 12078

Sarah Tel: (401) [email protected]

Our new purchase! Best FleeceNatural Colored Ewe at the Maryland

Sheep & Wool Festival.

NEW FOR 2012! Additional Junior Premi-ums being offered for all breed shows. The BigE will be offering Junior Exhibitors additionalpremiums for single classes in all breed showsas follows: 1st: $15, 2nd: $12, 3rd: $10, 4th &Lower: $8. Group classes are exempt. SeparateJunior Show Grand & Reserve Champions willbe selected and presented with rosettes. The Jun-ior Show will be judged simultaneously with theOpen Show, the junior premium winners will beawarded with additional ribbons and announced.It should be noted that Junior Exhibitors will stillbe eligible for open show premiums and awards,

including premier exhibitor and breeder, as longas all animals are owned by that Junior Exhibitoridentically. All other Open Sheep Show rulesapply.

In order to receive the junior premiums thefollowing stipulations must be met:

- The animal must be owned in the individualjunior name or in a youth partnership. Nofamily, farm names or partnerships withadults allowed. Sheep entered must beregis-tered in the junior exhibitor’s name orbe in the process of being registered to the

junior exhibitor before August 15. Noleased animals will be allowed.

- The junior exhibitor can not be older than21 years of age as of January 1, 2012.Please make sure to check the junior ex-hibitor box on the entry form.

- The junior exhibitor must be present showday and be actively participating in showingtheir animals in the show ring at all times.

The North East Border Leicester Breeders areworking on special awards for the show, anddon’t forget the many other events happeningduring The Big E:

• Spinning Bee• Fleece Show• Leadline & Make It With Wool Contest• Awards for Best Pen Display (with cash

prizes!)• Shepherd’s Award• Shopping in the Fiber Nook• Working Sheep Dog Demos

...and so much more!Check out The Big E website for all the details!

www.thebige.com

National Regional Border Leicester Show at The Big ESeptember 23, 2012 • 2 pm • West Springfield, MA

Judges: Tor Sorenson, Tuscon, AZ and Doris Powell, Rome, PA

PROMOTE BORDER LEICESTERS!If you are planning on attending any shows or

festivals and would like to use the ABLA Display Kit topromote Border Leicesters, contact the President.The cost is free, and all promotional information

can be printed off the website.

Anne Key

Margaret Anne Moss Key, 61, died at her homein Great Falls, MT on April 7, 2012, after livingwith a leiomyosarcoma for 16 months.

Anne was born in Cameron, SC to ThomasConnor and Virginia Dukes Moss. Anne grew upin the rural South and graduated from the Univer-sity of South Carolina with a BS in Nursing. It wasthere that she met Tom Key. They were married onMarch 25, 1972. While Tom pursued medical edu-cation at the Medical University of South Carolina(MUSC) in Charleston, Anne worked as a nurse di-rector for eight years in the Neonatal IntensiveCare Unit at MUSC. Two children followed, andthe family moved to San Diego in 1981 for Tom’sadditional medical training. They made San Diegotheir home for 13 years. As a young mother, Annewas an avid runner, completing the San DiegoMarathon and many other long-distance races. A“professional” volunteer, she kept busy with thechildrens’ many activities. Anne was an activemember of San Carlos United Methodist Church,where she served as the Sunday School Superin-tendent for many years. When Tom entered privatepractice in 1989, Anne returned to nursing andjoined his staff as an office nurse.

The family had the opportunity to move toMontana in 1993, and they quickly became im-mersed in life under the Big Sky. While Tom es-tablished his medical practice in Great Falls, Anneonce again became a community volunteer. Shewas involved with the Electric City Soccer Club,working with others to bring competitive soccerinto the high schools. As a dedicated member ofFirst United Methodist Church, Anne served on theBoard of Trustees, was president of United

Methodist Women, taught Sunday School, playedin the Hand Bell Choir, led Sarah Circle, and com-pleted training for and served as a Stephen Minis-ter. She was an active member of P.E.O. (ChapterAH), serving for three years as its president.

Anne and Tom established the Montana AerieSheep Ranch in 1994. Anne was passionate abouther work with sheep and the wool industry. She en-joyed sharing her many experiences with familyand friends, as well as outreach into the schools.Under Anne’s guidance, Montana Aerie grew tonational prominence, producing National Cham-pion Rams and Ewes in three breeds, Columbia,American Border Leicester, and Nat-ural Colored Border Leicester. Shealso produced many national and in-ternational champion fleeces. She andTom have been Champion Consignorsat 10 national shows, holding the dis-tinction of receiving this prestigiousaward for 4 years running in the Co-lumbia sheep breed. Anne and Tomwere jointly named National SheepPersons of the Year in 2009 by Co-lumbia Sheep Breeders of America. Atthe time of her death, she was a na-tional director of the American BorderLeicester Association and has servedmany years as President of the Co-lumbia Sheep Breeders of Montana.

Anne is survived by her soulmateof 40 years, Dr. Tom Key; her childrenand their spouses, Lauren Key Burnsand Alex Burns of Pittsburgh, PA, and

Anne Key,Great Falls,

Montana

Clinton Key and Kelly Sheeran of Saxapahaw, NC;her grandchildren, Margaret and Charlie Burns; herfather, T.C. Moss; her sister, Mrs. Gene (Clare)Allen; her brother, Tom (Lynette) Moss; and manyspecial nieces and nephews. Anne was preceded indeath by her mother, Virginia Moss.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made toFirst United Methodist Church, 610 2nd Ave N,Great Falls, MT 59401 or to Peace Hospice, 110126th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405.

Condolences may be posted online atwww.schniderfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftri-bune.com/obituaries.

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Will-O-Wool Sheep FarmBorder Leicester & Black Welsh Mountain Sheep

NEED TO CONTACTASSOCIATED

SHEEP REGISTRIES?PO Box 51 • 222 Main Street • Milo, IA 50166

Phone: 641/942-6402 • Fax: 641/942-6502Email: [email protected]



Jack & Vida Price628 N 1150 E Road • Palmer, IL 62556

Phone: 217/824-2330Jack: 217/502-4082 • Vida: 217/710-6888

[email protected]

Dave, Brandy,Ben & Abby Wamsley

2324 White Oaks DriveTaylorville, IL 62568

217/824-0419

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE! WWW.PWSHEEP.COM

P-W SHEEP FARM5 year-oldgrandson Benwith 5 month-old“Miki” at theirfirst show!

Grandkids withBorderLeicesters...

StrongBeginnings!

– Raw and Washed Fleeces For Sale –

Thistlewood Border LeicestersOld World Character – New World Fleece Quality

Sheep bred for outstanding fleeces, great production,and the classic Border Leicester look.

Dedicated to raising high quality breeding stockfor the well-informed shepherd.

Owners/Breeders: David and Carol RayS1939 County Highway V • Hillsboro, WI 54634

(608) 489-2329 • Email: [email protected]

Our flock is test negative for OPP,SFCP enrolled, and scrapie genotyped.

DID YOUKNOW?

Your ad can be viewed by1,000 visitors each month

on our website?Ads are only $5 - $15 and

can generate plenty ofexposure for your farm.

Contact JoAnne Tuncy [email protected]!

www.ablasheep.org

By Judy Lewman, Spring Creek Farm

Some may recall an article nearly two yearsago* in which I bemoaned the fact that OPPV ge-netic susceptibility information specific for BorderLeicesters would probably never be available dueto funding limitations for OPP research. Today,thanks to the persistence of two USDA researchers

with a shared interest in sheep and OPP, I’m happyto report that I was wrong...and that a genetic testthat may help reduce our breed’s known suscepti-bility to OPPV is now available.

Dr. Jim Keen, formerly with the USDA MeatAnimal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Cen-ter, Nebraska (and now at the Great Plains Veteri-nary Education Center, also in Clay Center) firstdocumented the economic impact of OPP in thelate ‘90s. Dr. Mike Heaton joined USMARC atabout the same time, and the two began workingon OPP a few years later. Mike’s subsequent in-volvement with the International Sheep GenomicsConsortium offered a breakthrough, the outcomebeing a USDA non-funded cooperative agreementwith GeneSeek®, a Neogen Corporation Companybased in Lincoln, Nebraska: http://www.neogen.com/GeneSeek

This collaboration between GeneSeek and thescientists at USMARC, along with their USDA col-leagues at the Animal Disease Research Unit inPullman, Washington, and the U.S. Sheep Experi-ment Station in Dubois, Idaho, resulted in the de-velopment and validation of a commercial test thatdetermines risk status for OPPV infection. While

New DNA Test for Susceptibilityto the OPP Virus

By Judy Lewman, Spring Creek Farm

animals at lowest risk can still become infected, re-moving the most susceptible animals should bebeneficial in efforts to reduce the overall level ofOPPV in a flock.

According to Dr. Heaton’s unpublished data,“About 14% of the Border Leicester rams in theU.S. currently have the desired 1,1 genotype formoving forward.” Dr. Kreg Leymaster, also of US-MARC, adds this caveat: “Although 1,1 rams arethe goal, they will not be common and thereforeproducers need to recognize that 1,2 and 1,3 ramsare better than 2,2 - 2,3 and 3,3 rams. We simplywant to increase the frequency of 1’s by avoiding2’s and 3’s to the extent possible.”

Be forewarned that this work is far more com-plex than the RR, QR, QQ scrapie genetics thatwe’re familiar with. The enclosed info sheet, whichwas prepared for the OPP Society by Drs. Heatonand Leymaster, provides further detail. More infor-mation, including GeneSeek’s test submissionform, can be found on the OPP Society’s ‘Library’page: http://www.oppsociety.org/Library_.html(click on ‘Genetic Susceptibility’).

* “OPP—Hype or Hazard?” in ABLA’s Fall 2010newsletter


Michigan FiberFestival

August 18-19, 2012Festival Workshops: August 15-19, 2012

Allegan, MichiganMichigan Fiber Festival is now in it’s 15th

year! Each festival brings new changes, eventgrowth, attendance, and activities. Even witheach addition and expansion, the festival is stilla personal endeavour that provides each vendor,member, and attendee with a sense of that com-fortable “down home get together” feeling. Weare excited each year to see everyone enjoyingthe festival. 10,000 people attended the Michi-gan Fiber Festival in 2011!

The American Border Leicester Associationhas voted to support the Michigan Fiber Festivalwith a donation of $125 toward breed promotion.Please show your support and enjoy this year’sfestival! For more information, visitwww.michiganfiberfestival.info

The Warm Woolens Cooperative is a groupof dedicated farmers from all over the U.S. whoraise sheep with high quality wool. The purposeof the Warm Woolens Co-op is to allow membersto get quality blankets made from our own wool.This co-op is open to the following longwoolbreeds: Leicester, Romney, Perendale, andCoopworth sheep and their crosses. We will alsoinclude Blue Faced Leicester if the wool is longenough.

Members provide enough washed wool fromtheir flocks to cover the pounds of wool neededfor the blankets they want to order. Fleece mustbe well skirted, as we want only the best woolfor our blankets. Please do not send belly wool,britching wool or kempy wool. Members canprovide white and/ or natural colored wool.

Approximate weights needed for blankets:Baby blanket: 45” x 45” = 2.5 lbs. washed

wool (approx $28)Throws (ordered in pairs): 45” x 60” =

5.5 lbs. washed wool (approx. $64 pr.)Twin: 72” x 90” = 5.5 lbs. washed wool

(approximately $52)Double: 80” x 90” = 6 lbs. washed wool

(approximately $55)Queen: 90” x 90” = 7 lbs. washed wool

(approximately $61)

Warm Woolens CooperativeKing: 90” x 106” = 8 lbs. washed wool

(approximately $71)Exact prices are determined after I contact the

mill for this year’s prices. Shipping is extra andwill be calculated at time of shipping.

Pattern will change from year to year. Cor-ners are rounded. Edging is done in a blanketstitch. Blankets are lightly napped (fuzzy). Ourprivate Warm Woolens Co-op labels are sewnonto each blanket. Our blankets are made inAmerica!

If you are interested, please let me know andI will send emails detailing what you will needto do. Please feel free to contact me with anyquestions you may have.

We will ship wool to the mill between July15th and July 30th. It takes 5-6 months to getour blankets back. However, things come up likebroken equipment and employee illness. Do notmake any plans for your blankets to be back bya specific date.

My contact information is:Kathryn ShirleyHumbug Farm6512 Rex Rd

Holly Springs, NC 27540Ph. 919-557-0471


JUNIORS!Send us your news!

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Order or Catalog Only: (800) 658-2523Information: (507) 825-4211

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CALL FOR OURNEW 2012 CATALOG!

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Spider Gene* $ 13Ovine Progressive Pneumonia $ 5Johne’s $ 5Porcine Stress Syndrome $ 22*Subsequent tests on the same sample: Scrapie: $9/Spider $11

Gene Check now offersTypiFixTM DNA Ear TagsTypiFixTM is a registered trademark of Agrobiogen GmbH

1175 58th Ave.Suite 100Greeley, CO 80634

(800) 822-6740(970) 472-9951

Fax: (970) 472-9956

www.genecheck.com

Buy 1 Test, Get 1 Free!(maximum 3 free tests)

Valid 1/1/2012-12/31/2012

Call for details!

TOM & ANNE KEY140 Russell Ranch Lane Great Falls, MT • 59405

406/736 - 5665 Cell: 406/788 - 3268 • www.montanaaerie.comRon Dreher, Flock Manager • Brian Hart, Shepherd

We’re proud of our Leicesters& invite you to stop by

whenever you are in the area!

Sold to George Muehlheim, Ohio.

!an" Yo#!To each and everyone who supported our

flock this spring! We wish you the best withyour Montana Aerie genetics!

W ’ d f L i t

2012 NATIONAL RESERVEGRAND CHAMPION RAM

whenever you are in the area!

Roger Green, MNGeorge Muehlheim, OH

Iris LaRochelle, NHAmber Millikan, INTravis Johnson, OH

Thanks to all our private sale buyers& those at the National Sale!

Meikayla Korf, WICallie Taylor, PA

Bear Hollow Farms, OHDennis L. Jones, ME


AMERICAN BORDERLEICESTER ASSOCIATION

Membership Application

USE THIS FORM TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN!

Name:___________________________________________ Farm/Ranch Name: __________________________________________

Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:______________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________

E-mail:______________________________________________ Web Address: ___________________________________________

What farm products would you like listed in the Directory? ___________________________________________________________

To better serve you, your board would like you to answer these five questions on your renewal form. Thank you!

1) What are your primary interests in raising Border Leicesters?________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Would you consider yourself: A) a business operation B) a hobby farmer C) Other (please specify) _______________________

3) Would you be interested in receiving your newsletter via the internet instead of in the mail? Yes ______ No ______

4) Website or Newsletter suggestions:_____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5) How would you like your membership fees spent? (1-most important, 5-least important)

Newsletter 1 2 3 4 5

Promotion/Advertising 1 2 3 4 5

Show Premiums / Awards 1 2 3 4 5

Other (please specify) __________________________________________________

Helpful information, but not included in the directory:

Total flock size: ______________

Number of white Border Leicesters .......... Ewes: ________ Rams: ________

Number of colored Border Leicesters ....... Ewes: ________ Rams: ________

The American Border Leicester Association was founded in 1973 to promote andregister Border Leicester sheep in the United States and Canada. Both white and naturalcolored Border Leicesters are eligible for registry with the ABLA. Our association is ex-periencing some exciting growth, both in membership and numbers of sheep registered.We invite you to join us!

We provide the opportunity for our members to promote themselves and their farmproducts through our Member Directory. Please provide the information that you’d likeincluded with your listing. Our membership year runs from January 1st to December31st.

For more information about Border Leicesters and the American Border LeicesterAssociation, visit our website: www.ablasheep.org.

q New Member

q Renewal

q Annual Membership $20.00 Individual or family

q Junior Membership $15.00 21 years and under

Please send this form, along with yourcheck made out to “ABLA” to:

Polly Hopkins, Treasurer494 Evans Road

Chepachet, RI 02814Questions?

Contact Polly401/949-4619

[email protected]


the american border leicester association summer 2012 … · 2017-01-09 · the american border...

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