The Championdrive Podcast - Episode 2.13 Summary

Release Date: February 12, 2025

1. Celebrating a Year of Championdrive

In this milestone episode, hosts Kaitlyn Sister Urban and Steva Robinson commemorate the first anniversary of the Championdrive Podcast. Reflecting on their journey, Steva shares memories of their early struggles with recording and editing their inaugural episode, noting, “We kept screwing up and we didn't know how to edit everything” (00:32). Despite initial challenges, the hosts express gratitude to their listeners for a successful year and anticipate a busy episode filled with insightful interviews and industry updates.

2. Championdrive Sales and Promotions Update

The hosts provide an overview of upcoming sales and advertising opportunities on Championdrive.com, highlighting various live sales across the Midwest and California. Notable announcements include:

• Bertram Showstock: February 11th on NextGen, featuring past winners from the State Fair of West Virginia and Indiana Stock Show (01:22).
• Berry Farms Sales: February 11th and 13th, offering diverse ewe lambs and deep selections (02:10).
• Johnson Family Showstock: February 12th and 13th in Wisconsin, featuring sires like Walk this Way, Bloodline, and Crossbones (02:33).
• Diamond Sea Livestock: Private tag weather bid-off on February 17th and an open house in Leavenworth, Kansas (03:21).

Kaitlyn explains the difference between homepage announcements and headliners on Championdrive.com, emphasizing the extended visibility and social media integration of headliners (03:59).

3. Interview with Lucas Tuck – Tuck Brothers Show Lambs

Introduction to Tuck Brothers

Lucas Tuck of Tuck Brothers Show Lambs shares his journey into the show lamb industry, rooted in early 4H experiences and familial farming activities. He recounts the influence of his grandmother and the pivotal moment of purchasing a ewe at a young age, which ignited his passion for sheep breeding (06:21).

Operations and Breeding Strategies

Lucas details their operation, managing around 20 donors and utilizing flushing techniques to produce lambs for different seasons. He explains their approach to balancing high-performance U lines with average-performing ones to maintain consistency during flush days (12:15). A notable strategy includes:

"We pair our high-averaging green line U’s with our average to below average rehab U’s to achieve an even score on flush day." — Lucas Tuck (13:21)

Challenges and Successes

Discussing recent successes, Lucas highlights their champions at the Denver show and the importance of pedigree in their breeding program. He emphasizes the significance of the bottom side of the pedigree in producing resilient and high-performing weathers (22:02).

Work-Life Balance and Risk Management

Lucas addresses the complexities of balancing a full-time job with running a show lamb operation. He shares insights into managing stress by transitioning to part-time work and relying on his brother’s support. Additionally, he discusses strategies to mitigate financial risks during inconsistent flush days by maintaining AI use and pairing different U lines (23:48; 26:00).

4. Advertisement: Sale Signage Services by Novel Designs

Steva Robinson introduces Novel Designs' sale signage services, essential for effective advertising at Midwest live sales. The offerings include:

• Vinyl signs
• Dry erase boards
• Vinyl pen wraps
• Pop-up retractable banners

Steva emphasizes the importance of ordering signage in advance to ensure quality and timely delivery. She encourages listeners to enhance their brand recognition and customer engagement with professional signage and promotional items like hats, pens, and koozies.

5. Interview with Robert Cooper – Cooper Specialty Feeds

Founding Cooper Specialty Feeds

Robert Cooper discusses the inception of Cooper Specialty Feeds, driven by a desire for consistent, high-quality ruminant nutrition. With a PhD in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska, Robert and his wife, Jody, established the company seven years ago to address the inconsistencies they encountered with other feed brands (35:44).

Product Offerings and Usage

Robert outlines their range of feeds tailored for cattle, sheep, and goats, including creep feeds, finished feeds, and various supplements. He highlights the focus on consistency, palatability, and appropriate particle size, which ensures reliable performance across all batches (37:53).

“We built a small feed mill to make feed to our standards, focusing on consistency so every bag is the same as the first.” — Robert Cooper (36:36)

Business Philosophy and Goals

Robert emphasizes the company's commitment to growing sustainably while maintaining high standards in feed formulation. The goal is to support the industry by providing reliable nutrition solutions that cater to specialized needs without venturing into commercial feeds (38:49).

Sheep-Specific Feeds

Focusing on sheep nutrition, Robert explains the transition from creep feeds to higher protein show feeds as lambs approach weaning. He details their 15%, 17%, and 18% feed formulations, designed to match different growth patterns and energy requirements of show lambs (39:34).

Family and Business Partnerships

Jody Cooper plays a pivotal role as the managing partner, overseeing business and marketing operations. Robert credits their family-oriented approach for the company’s success and ability to remain deeply involved in the industry (42:03).

6. Advertisement: Marketing Mix Packages

The hosts promote their Marketing Mix Package, an all-encompassing service designed to enhance sales advertisement through:

• Social media graphics and content
• Website integration
• Cross-platform promotion including Snapchat and email marketing

This package is positioned as an essential tool for exhibitors to maximize their visibility and brand presence during sales and events.

7. Interview with Colby Williams – ’25 NAILE Champion Market Lamb Exhibitor

Show Career and Achievements

Colby Williams, a prominent figure in the show lamb industry and Sister’s roommate, reflects on his successful junior show career, culminating in winning the grand at Louisville. He shares memorable moments, including his viral “gorilla handshake” with a judge (46:26).

Overcoming Obstacles

As the first in his family to show livestock on a national level, Colby discusses the challenges of starting from the bottom and the mentorship that propelled him to success. He credits mentors like Brandon Thor and Ryan Habager for guiding his journey (47:17).

Lessons and Mentorship

Colby highlights the invaluable lessons learned from working with his three sisters and his roommate, emphasizing humility and interpersonal skills. These experiences have shaped him into a supportive mentor for young exhibitors (48:11).

Future Plans and Giving Back

Retiring from active showing, Colby plans to focus on mentoring the next generation of exhibitors. He aims to leverage his experience to help young breeders prepare their animals for shows and achieve their own successes (50:38).

Handling Fame and Legacy

Colby expresses gratitude for the recognition and support he has received, acknowledging the role of his family and mentors in his achievements. He remains committed to maintaining his legacy by fostering growth within the industry (52:06).

“Watching the sheep show at Denver was definitely higher on my priority list than the Buckeyes winning the national championship that night.” — Colby Williams (31:58)

8. Conclusion and Upcoming Events

The episode wraps up with well-wishes for upcoming Texas Majors, OIE, spring shows, and both online and live sales. Hosts encourage listeners to stay tuned for future episodes and to engage with the community through Championdrive.com.

Notable Quotes:

• Steva Robinson (00:32): “We kept screwing up and we didn't know how to edit everything.”
• Lucas Tuck (13:21): “We pair our high-averaging green line U’s with our average to below average rehab U’s to achieve an even score on flush day.”
• Robert Cooper (36:36): “We built a small feed mill to make feed to our standards, focusing on consistency so every bag is the same as the first.”
• Colby Williams (31:58): “Watching the sheep show at Denver was definitely higher on my priority list than the Buckeyes winning the national championship that night.”

Tune in to Championdrive.com each week for the latest in show lamb industry news, expert interviews, and exclusive insights to stay ahead in your breeding and showing endeavors.