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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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We just got home from spending the better of part of ten days at the Illinois State Fair. We got home just in time to put up 14 acres of hay that our neighbor had raked and baled for us. We even got ours and the neighbors hay all unloaded before the rain hit.
The Illinois State fair Southdown Show was large and very competitive. When all of the dust finally settled we made out real well, exhibiting both the Champion Ram and the Res. Champion Ewe. Those individuals helped lead our Champion Flock and, our first ever Premier Breeder at the Illinois State Fair. Thanks to everyone who helped make that possible. The Illinois State Fair Junior show went very well for Emily. The highlights would have to be exhibiting both the Champion Southdown Ram and Ewe in what was the largest breed show held at the State fair. She also exhibited the Res. Ch Southdown Market Lamb, as well as placing second with her cross, natural, and first with her AOB wethers.
July kept us hopping. We made our first trip to the All American Jr Show as a family and we had a BLAST! This year’s show was held on the campus of Michigan State University. The folks in Michigan and the Michigan Sheepbreeder’s Assoc. really rolled out the red carpet for everyone. Honor Show Chow-fed sheep really dominated that show of over 1800 head. Emily Shellhouse exhibited the Champion Hampshire Ram, Sarah Jane Sterret exhibited the Champion Hampshire Market Lamb, and Chaz Bullington exhibited the Champion Southdown ram just to name few. Long time HSC feeder Austin Jim Bob Lewis won the Southdown Top Gun Award. My daughter won seven classes along with Res Champion Southdown ram and Res. Champion Southdown Market Lamb. She also won her showmanship class and team showmanship with Seth Michel. There were many more HSC fed winners at the All American than I remember, so if I missed one just let me know and I will add you to the list.
Emily kept us busy the remainder of July showing cattle and sheep at some of the local shows. She had a ball showing her heifer, she was at least Res. Breed Champion each time out and was Champion at her 4-H Fair. Thanks to Team Girlfriend for making that all work so well. Emily had great summer with both her breeding sheep and market lambs. She had Grand Lamb at every show in our area. Congrats to Buddy Haas, Brad Craig, Melissa Emma, Bryan Temple, Ben Temple, and Robert Lambert. They were all big winners in the sheep or cattle ring this summer and Fed HSC. Thanks for all your help.
I really enjoyed the summer clinics. The HSC VIP is always a terrific event. I finally learned how Taw Wayne Dunham got his name; it is a great story… If you’re reading this and have not been to the HSC VIP, contact your dealer and ask them how to get involved. The HSC Showmanship Clinic at the Midwest Stud ram sale was also a big success. Jeff Repasky of Northern Starr Livestock and I had great time working with Southdown Junior Ambassadors. Thanks to KGB, TWD, Randy Ames and Mr. Witte for helping make that event so successful. Thanks to the buyers that selected A&M Ranch Southdowns at the Midwest Stud Ram sale.
As you head back to school don’t forget to make entries for the fall and later shows. Keep in contact with your feed dealer to make sure they will have what you need in stock and fresh. Good communication will keep a good relationship with your feed dealer and your teachers, and you need both to be successful in the showring and life. WOW! Is that deep or what?
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