I received a bachelor degree in Animal Science and a bachelor degree in Poultry Science from Texas A & M University. I worked all 4 years at TAMU sheep & goat center for Dr. Shawn Ramsey. I have continued to be extremely involved in youth programs such as 4-H and FFA by judging both sheep & goat shows, as well as putting on clinics with an emphasis on showmanship and sportsmanship.
The history of my sheep business goes back to my great grandfather from San Saba who was heavily involved in wool production. At the age of 8, I became interested in showing sheep when my parents (Ira & Judith) introduced me to their good friends, Gayland & Billie Schrank. Schrank Club Lambs were just getting started in the club lamb business raising Finewool and Finewool Cross breeds in the late 1980’s. Gayland Schrank’s son, Lance, was showing Finewools at this time. Schrank Club Lambs was known for their success and continuous champions in both Finewool and Finewool Cross divisions through jackpot shows, county fairs and majors. My brother, Shane, and I showed in the TCLA circuit representing both of these breeds. Then David Garrett joined the Schrank family developing a very competitive Medium Wool flock. Shane and I placed in majors with Finewool, Finewool Cross and Medium Wool lambs throughout the years. Our family purchased 50 ewes from David and began our own flock in 1996. With that flock, we had many county and major show winners. One of our highlighted wins was Reserve Medium Wool lamb at the Houston Livestock Show in 1999.
With the 2012 acquisition of the Schrank Club Lamb flock, my fiancé, Kyle Loving, and I have positioned ourselves to become one of the premier club lamb breeders in the industry. This acquisition includes some of the premier club lamb producing rams of the industry, such as, “Miller The Driller”, “Doc”, and “803”. We also have the dams of “Texas Driller”, “DOC” and several other well recognized sires in the industry. These premier genetics have produced many champions at major shows throughout the years such as Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Fort Worth, Texas State Fair, National Western (Denver, CO) and N.A.I.L.E. (Louisville, KY). Champions will continue to be produced from these bloodlines by combining the right genetics and working with exhibitors on showmanship and feeding their lambs to reach their full genetic potential.
Our personal and professional goal for our sheep business is to have good and honest feeders. These youth should be interested in showing sheep and willing to work hard not just in the arena but in their own pens. We feel that raising show lambs and show goats is a family project and should be treated as such. The kids should do their own work and should know every aspect of their project, for we feel these youth are ambassadors and the future of the sheep industry.
