The Championdrive Podcast: Episode 2.11 - Detailed Summary

Release Date: December 27, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 2.11 of The Championdrive Podcast, hosts Kaitlyn Sister Urban and Steva Robinson delve into essential aspects of the show lamb industry. This episode covers topics ranging from shopping etiquette and nutrition with industry experts to honoring outstanding show lambs and featuring a special guest. The episode culminates with highlights from the "Man of the Year" contest and an insightful interview with Ashlyn O’Brien, a prominent figure in livestock judging.

Show Lamb Shopping Etiquette

[02:48] Steva Robinson: Steva initiates the discussion on proper etiquette when visiting breeders during sale season. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting the breeders' efforts in preparing their sheep for show.

• Key Points:

  • Breeders' Excitement: "Everyone's excited when their phone rings and someone wants to come look at babies" ([02:48]).
  • Preparation Efforts: Breeders invest significant time in feeding, bedding, and managing their flocks to present their best lambs.
  • Scheduling Visits: Informing breeders of your arrival time helps them manage feeding schedules to ensure the sheep are calm and presentable. For example, Steva mentions, "if you can stay kind of on schedule... it goes a ways in helping everyone else's day" ([05:46]).
  • Communication: Keeping breeders informed about any delays or changes in schedule is crucial. Steva advises, "Just communicating with the breeders... just kind of keeping them in the loop" ([06:59]).
  • Respecting Logistics: Unpredictable aspects like multiple species or ongoing chores require breeders to plan meticulously. Kaitlyn adds, "Just being mindful at all times for whatever everybody else has going on is... goes a long way" ([09:42]).

• Notable Insights:

  • Avoiding Overcrowded Visits: Steva shares his preference for individualized visits to avoid overwhelming both the breeder and the livestock. "I don't like looking at sheep in, like, big groups of people" ([06:59]).
  • Balancing Breeder Commitments: The hosts discuss the challenges breeders face when multiple groups arrive simultaneously, stressing the need for punctuality and respect for breeders' schedules.

Essential Feeds Segment: Interview with Barrett Carlisle and JD Pruitt

Sponsored by Essential Feeds, this segment features sales representatives Barrett Carlisle and JD Pruitt, who provide valuable insights into livestock nutrition tailored for show lamb producers.

[10:09] Transition to Sponsor Segment: Steva introduces the segment, highlighting the importance of nutrition in the success of show lambs and sheep reproduction.

[11:05] Background of the Guests:

• JD Pruitt:

  • Grew up in central Texas, transitioning from cattle to sheep farming.
  • "We've been doing sheep ever since the early 2000s" ([11:05]).
  • Recently joined Essential Feeds, focusing on livestock trading and management.

• Barrett Carlisle:

  • Originates from Lubbock, Texas, with extensive experience in sheep and goat showing.
  • Transitioned from animal health to Essential Feeds a year ago.
  • "I feel like Essential as a brand... had the momentum and the steam behind it" ([12:46]).

[14:55] Introduction of New Products:

• Repro Plus:

  • Formulated to enhance reproductive efficiency in sheep.
  • "We were able to formulate that feed where there's actually not that much actual corn in it, but yet it's high energy" ([15:16]).
  • Designed for donor ewes, bucks, and even commercial sheep, promoting overall health and reproductive success.

• Crystal Creep Feeds:

  • 418 Essential: A sweet, textured feed with reminsoy, promoting healthy growth and fleece quality.
    • "Everything ate real good. ... hollowed up in all the right places" ([20:35]).
  • 417 Essential: Similar to 418 but without reminsoy, offering a denser option for specific nutritional needs.
  • Money Maker: A 17% creep medicated with Rumensin, offering a cost-effective textured feed alternative.
    • "It's a reference product that helps in sleep and muscle hydration at a show" ([21:59]).
  • Other Options: Pelleted feeds like the 330 and 340 cater to breeders preferring pellet over textured feeds.

[23:35] Full Line of Essential Supplements: Kaitlyn discusses the comprehensive range of Essential Feeds designed to optimize the physical condition of show lambs.

• Uniform: A high-calorie liquid feed aimed at adding fat cover for a smoother appearance.
• Fluff: A molasses-based feed highly palatable to goats, addressing the challenge of keeping goats eating.
• Belly Down: A corn cob-based additive that maintains a full flank without excessive weight gain, essential for weight-restricted shows.
• Chub: Enhances rib cage prominence for a robust, muscular look.
• Touch Tone & Amino Crease: Muscle-focused supplements that improve bulk and skin quality.
• Sasquatch & Keep It On: Key wool and hair care products, with Keep It On being a staple drench in show barns.

[33:44] Shipping and Availability: Barrett explains the expanded distribution network and emphasizes the ease of obtaining Essential Feeds through their dealer locator or directly contacting a representative for shipping solutions.

• Quote: "We can LTL feed just about anywhere it needs to go and try to make that as fair as we can from a shipping perspective" ([33:44]).

[36:41] Testimonials and User Experience: Steva shares his positive experience with Repro Plus, highlighting its effectiveness and reasonable pricing. "I was really happy with it and I felt it really kind of filled a gap that I needed to improve on" ([19:15]).

Man of the Year Voting

[36:49] Introduction to Nominations: Steva announces the nominees for the "Man of the Year" contest, sponsored by Essential Feeds. Each nominee is a distinguished sire with remarkable achievements in state fairs and influence in the industry.

• Blindside:

  • Sire of champions at the American Royal and Iowa State Fair.
  • Owned by Babies TKM Dale Family and Berry Farms Chief.
  • "He's bred by Neff Livestock and owned with Esta Show Lambs. He's a unicorn. Drop the mic." ([37:12])

• Company Man:

  • Renowned for his presence at Louisville.
  • Breeder: Impact Camps; Owners: Kennedy, Robertson, and Estes Show Lambs.
  • "He's a Mississippi hippie on Fat Jesus." ([37:25])

• Ceasefire:

  • Sire of multiple rookie of the year nominees and several state fair champions.
  • Breeder: Nathan Club Lambs; Owners: Beatty Club Lambs and Lambright Club Lambs.
  • "He sired two rookies of the year top nominees, Trace, Amigos and Bloodline." ([37:39])

• Ride Time:

  • Hill Brothers buck with multiple champions at Iowa State Fair and American Royal.
  • Breeder: Schroyer Showstock; Owner: Hill Brothers Truce.
  • "He's a Gable by Laney, which Laney is their unicorn." ([38:56])

• Walk This Way:

  • Bred by Carmichael; sire of winners across various state fairs.
  • "He sired many winners this year so I'm excited to see what's to come for him." ([39:35])

• 2.0:

  • A younger sire showing significant promise with early successes.
  • Breeder and Owner: Alan Newcomb and Rural Sheep Company.
  • "His first lamb crop... reserve at Arkansas State Fair and the Reserve View at Cheyenne." ([39:53])

[40:47] Voting Process: Voting remains open until December 29th. Listeners are encouraged to visit championdrive.com to cast their votes for their preferred nominee.

Interview with Ashlyn O’Brien

[40:47] Introduction to Special Guest: Steva welcomes Ashlyn O’Brien, a distinguished livestock judge with a successful showing and judging career.

[41:28] Ashlyn’s Background:

• Originates from Perrysburg, Ohio; influenced by her farming background.
• Initially showed pigs and cattle before focusing on small ruminants.
• "I had some good friends in our county. The Tuck brothers helped me out with my sheep" ([41:28]).
• Academic journey through Butler State College and Ohio State University (OSU), where she excelled in collegiate livestock judging.

[42:47] Path to Livestock Judging:

• Started reluctantly due to parental encouragement but grew passionate through mentorship.
• Influenced by mentors like Dan Frobos, Taylor Frank, and Parker Henley.
• "Taylor Frank... pushed me really hard and really helped me out a lot" ([43:31]).

[44:28] Educational Choices:

• Chose Butler for its familiarity and strong livestock judging program.
• Transitioned to OSU for broader career opportunities and a supportive environment.
• "OSU just really felt right, just felt like home." ([44:28]).

[45:24] Advice for Transfer Students:

• Prioritize success in judging teams and career aspirations beyond judging.
• "It's important to remember your career and what you want to do after judging." ([45:24]).

[46:05] Reflecting on Her Career:

• Appreciates the support and experiences without regrets.
• "There's not anything I would probably change about my past four years because I've been surrounded with the best people in programs." ([46:05]).

[46:44] Biggest Challenges in Judging:

• Differentiates between the mental challenges of judging contests versus shows.
• "Judging in a contest is more challenging because you're trying to figure out what the committee members are going to officiate." ([46:44]).

[47:37] Favorite Judging Memories:

• Highlights memorable contests like San Antonio and Denver.
• Shares humorous and camaraderie-filled experiences with fellow judges.
• "You have a lot of fun memories and probably inappropriate stories of how bad people act when you've been around them for so long." ([47:37]).

[48:50] Advice for Aspiring Judges:

• Encourage openness, coachability, and networking.
• "Don't compare yourself to other people. Really just go into it open-minded and be coachable." ([48:50]).

[49:35] Future Plans:

• Secured an internship with Cargill, transitioning into a business management associate role.
• Will focus on pricing analysis in animal nutrition post-internship.
• "I'll be a pricing analyst through the animal nutrition side of Cargill." ([49:35]).

[50:07] Closing Remarks: Ashlyn expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share her journey and insights.

Conclusion

Episode 2.11 of The Championdrive Podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of vital topics in the show lamb industry. From establishing respectful and effective breeder interactions to leveraging specialized nutrition for optimal show performance, hosts Kaitlyn Sister Urban and Steva Robinson provide valuable guidance. The episode also celebrates industry excellence through the "Man of the Year" nominations and inspires listeners with Ashlyn O’Brien's successful transition from showing to judging. Sponsored by Essential Feeds, the episode underscores the importance of quality nutrition in achieving competitive success.

Listeners are encouraged to participate in the "Man of the Year" voting and to explore Essential Feeds' product line to enhance their show lamb operations. With engaging discussions and expert interviews, this episode serves as a vital resource for both seasoned breeders and newcomers to the show lamb community.

For more information and to cast your vote for "Man of the Year," visit championdrive.com.