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"Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little things well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves." -Dale Carnegie
-Mark Johnson
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Company: A&M Ranch
Location: Sandwich, IL
Years in the Field: 30
Education: BS Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Joliet Junior College
Website: www.AandMRanch.com
Contact: aandmranch@aol.com
Specialization: purebred Southdown sheep
Choice of Feed: HSC show lamb starter, HSC Grand Lamb Mixer, champion drive topdress
Hobbies: - Mark is the Agricultural Specialist for Kline Creek Farm, an 1890’s Living History Farm, located in Winfield, IL. There they farm with draft horses, and maintain a small quality flock of sheep as well a few Shorthorn and Angus cows, all of which are used in the educational programs.
- As consultants and custom fitters Mark and Amy have worked with most breeds of sheep including Columbias, Suffolks, Hampshires, Dorsets, Montadales, and Natural Coloreds, club lambs and North Country Cheviots. All of which have competed successfully on the local and national level.
Favorite Sports/Team: Loves all things OSU (Oklahoma State or Ohio State), loves the Red Sox, loves the Cubs and Bears.
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Catching up with Mark Johnson |
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You will be glad to know that we finally got first cutting hay done. I am sure you have been waiting with baited breath to see when that would happen. We got it baled on July 5 & 6. We have had a lot less rain in July, hence the delay in my blog updates. However, it is raining right now, so a typing I will be.
The Fitting and Showing Clinic at the Midwest Stud Ram sale that was sponsored by Honor Show Chow and the American Southdown Breeder’s Assoc. was by any measure a rousing success. This was the third year for HSC to host this event and the first time that Southdowns were featured. The crowd was the largest and most active yet. There were folks from all over in attendance. We met people from Georgia, Florida, Tenn., South Dakota, Canada (ya hey dare), Texas, Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, New York and all of the Midwestern states. Jeff Repasky of Northern Starr Livestock kept everyone entertained while I toiled in the Sedalia heat. Thanks to Kevin Burgoon of HSC and Gary Jennings of the ASBA for coordinating this terrific event. As one reviewed the 3000 some head of sheep that were entered, it was clear that Honor Show Chow was a common thread among many of the winners.
Prior to heading to Sedalia, I also participated in the Show VIP in Gray Summit, MO. It was great to meet so many new people that are so skilled and passionate about livestock and the show biz. Thanks to everyone who shared their experience to make the show clinic such a success. If anyone has any pictures of Mr. John Zeloski helping shear that Hampshire ewe, please send them to me. There is an HSC hat in it for you. A big shout out to the folks that put on that VIP, John, Tracy and a host of others make the Ambassadors’ job fun and easy that week. Working with all of the Ambassadors that week is like hanging out with a bunch of rock stars.
We also fitted a bunch of sheep for the Springfield sales, and those sales were strong. While there, Amy and I did get attend a Cross Canadian Ragweed Concert. It was a ball! It rained and it was muddy, and it was awesome! We saw a lot of friends there we did not know we would see. Emily didn’t get to go. She was fishing in MN with friends. She caught some big fish, she has pictures! That reminds me. Next year at the VIP, the Ambassadors are having fishing outing at Longview. I bet they feed their fish. I bet they grow big fish. “We are going to need a bigger boat.” Kirk, make it happen.
The last three weeks we have been running from show to show judging and working with Emily showing. Emily has had Grand or Res Grand lamb each of the three shows she has been to, and Supreme or Res Supreme Ewe on Southdown at each of those same shows. Melissa and Robert are friends from Emily’s 4-H Club and they have also been doing their share of winning as well. HSC to the winners circle! I have been preaching about how the kids should be happy for each other when they do well. It is more fun to share in your friends’ success and allow them to share in yours. Winning is not much fun if you don’t have folks to share it with.
We are getting geared up for Illinois State Fair. The sheep are coming together nicely. We did lose a real good Southdown wether a few weeks ago. We don’t know what happened; fine one day, dead the next. For all of our effort and “wisdom,” there are times we are reminded that some things are just out of our hands. It is still disappointing; Emily had high hopes for that one. Emily won the Master Showmanship Contest at her 4-H fair this weekend and is looking forward to participating in that contest at State Fair. Be sure to stop by the pens at State Fair. I also will be judging the MN State Fair this month and the Walworth Co Fair early next month.
This is the last thing, I promise. While I was driving home from the Midwest Sale in Sedalia, MO, I had a little excitement. I was driving east on I-70 and had just crossed the MO river bridge. Suddenly, the trailer broke loose of the truck. I was going 80 mph! I was doing my best Carrie Underwood impression, “Jesus take the wheel…” I got it shut down and pulled off to the side. No one and nothing got hurt. Even the truck and trailer got off without as much as scratch. However, I was sure glad to see Lanny Bowman and Steve Hammerlink when they pulled over to make sure everything was ok. They helped put things back together and got me back on the road. THANKS GUYS! See you at state fair, this one is on me.
 Emily Johnson's Grand Lamb 2009 Kendall County Fair
 This is Emily showing a steer in the Mastershowmanship contest.
 This is our new dog Lilly. She is more popular at the shows than any of the sheep or me!
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