Episode 3.1 - State Fair Season Kickoff with Jimmy Davis + The Essentials

Summary

The Championdrive Podcast: Episode 3.1 - State Fair Season Kickoff with Jimmy Davis + The Essentials

Release Date: July 21, 2025

In Episode 3.1 of The Championdrive Podcast, hosts Kaitlyn Sister Urban and Steva Robinson navigate through the bustling summer activities ahead of the state fair season. The episode features an engaging interview with esteemed sheep judge Jimmy Davis, highlights current Sud Ram showcases, and introduces a new segment focusing on essential products for show lambs. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the episode's key segments and insights.

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1. Summer Recap and Personal Stories

The episode begins with Kaitlyn and Steva discussing their summer endeavors, setting a personal tone before diving into the main content.

• Steva’s AI Adventure ([00:45] - [07:25]):

  Steva shares a gripping account of his recent artificial insemination (AI) trip. Facing unexpected hurdles at Lubbock airport, he was abruptly placed on the rental car’s "do not rent" list due to a past insurance claim. Undeterred, Steva secured a last-minute rental, driving 15.5 hours to make it back in time. Reflecting on the ordeal, he remarks, “it worked out and I kind of told myself...we should be good” ([02:01]).

• Kaitlyn’s Rental Car Fiasco ([08:35] - [08:47]):

  Kaitlyn echoes similar frustrations when her rental plans fell through because she didn’t possess a credit card. This shared experience underscores the unpredictability and challenges associated with travel logistics, especially when coordinating critical activities like AI.

Key Takeaway: Both hosts emphasize resilience and adaptability in the face of unforeseen challenges, setting a relatable backdrop for listeners.

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2. Interview with Jimmy Davis: A Veteran in Sheep Judging

The heart of the episode features an insightful interview with Jimmy Davis, a renowned sheep judge, breeder, and retired agricultural teacher.

• Background and Career Path ([10:32] - [12:05]):

  Jimmy narrates his journey from growing up on a family farm in Oklahoma to becoming an ag teacher and eventually a prominent sheep judge. Upon retiring after 32 years of teaching, he reflects on the emotional aspects of leaving a long-standing career and the joys of spending more time with his expanding family.

• Evolution of Sheep Showing ([12:23] - [13:19]):

  Discussing the changes in the industry, Jimmy observes significant advancements: “I think the breeders and feeders, showmen have just made so many strides in making animals better” ([12:23]). The competitive landscape has intensified, with more high-quality animals participating in shows.

• Judging Challenges and Experiences ([14:44] - [17:10]):

  Jimmy elaborates on his experiences judging various national shows like Phoenix, Louisville, and Kansas City. He highlights the unique challenges each venue presents, particularly the depth of competition at Kansas City under the American Rule, making placement decisions more stressful ([14:44]).

• Ideal Sheep Characteristics ([22:19] - [23:12]):

  Defining the traits of an ideal show sheep, Jimmy emphasizes structural correctness and soundness: “Bring me a good looking one that really gets out and moves around the ring sound and we'll be in business” ([22:19]).

• Balancing Judging with Personal Operations ([19:22] - [20:55]):

  Jimmy discusses the logistical challenges of managing multiple state fair judging bookings alongside his own breeding and AI schedules. Despite occasional conflicts preventing him from attending certain fairs, he remains committed and optimistic about future opportunities.

• Advice for Show Parents ([27:44] - [29:44]):

  Offering heartfelt advice, Jimmy encourages show parents to “enjoy your time with your kids because man, it goes so fast” and to focus primarily on their animals rather than the judges’ perceptions: “If he doesn't look right, then you're not doing your job” ([18:10]). He underscores perseverance with his favorite quote: “Never give up...if you keep trying, you keep working hard...things are always going to work out for you” ([29:44]).

Key Insights:

• The sheep showing industry has become increasingly competitive and refined.
• Effective judging requires both technical knowledge and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
• Balancing personal breeding operations with professional commitments is challenging but rewarding.

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3. Sud Ram Showcases: Highlighting Top Breeds

Transitioning from the interview, Kaitlyn and Steva spotlight current Sud Ram showcases available on ChampionDrive.com, featuring standout rams that breeders should watch:

• Pink Panther: A registered Dorset, RRFF, known as "Cabana boy Lou Amic Slap Shot," bred by Sidwell Show Sheep.

• Head Honcho: A 2.0 Chief Drago, bred and owned by RCE Livestock (Ricky Stevenson and family) in Iowa.

• Chess (Not Checkers): An RRNNFD, full sibling to "What If," bred and owned by Rule Sheep Company.

Encouragement to Listeners: Steva urges breeders to explore the Stud Ram Showcase page for detailed profiles and to stay updated with the latest offerings.

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4. Product Spotlight: Essential Feeds' "Foundation"

Introducing a new and valuable segment, Product Spotlight, the hosts delve into Essential Feeds' latest product, "Foundation," through an interview with Dakota Quickle.

• Product Overview ([33:36] - [35:49]):

  Dakota explains that Foundation is designed to enhance gut health and increase feed consumption in show lambs, especially crucial during the high-stress state fair period. Key components include Zenpro (vitamins and minerals), probiotics, and an ionophore that helps lower body temperature and maximize feed conversion.

• Benefits:

  • Improved Gut Health: Enhances probiotic action for better digestion and nutrient absorption.
  • Reproductive Support: Boosts fertility and egg counts in breeding stock.
  • Temperature Regulation: The ionophore component assists in maintaining optimal body temperatures, crucial for animal comfort and performance.

• Availability: Foundation is packaged in 10-pound buckets, accessible via Essential Feeds' website and distributed nationwide through their representatives.

Takeaway: Foundation offers a multifaceted approach to maintaining and improving the health and performance of show lambs, making it a must-have for breeders aiming to excel at state fairs.

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5. So You Suck: ChampionDrive's Social Media Packages

Building on listener feedback, Kaitlyn and Steva introduce their "So You Suck" segment, focusing on tailored social media management packages to help breeders enhance their online presence.

• Package Options:

  1. On-Demand Package ([37:13] - [35:49]):

     Perfect for breeders needing polished graphics for specific events or announcements. Clients can purchase packs of graphics and request designs as needed.

  2. Social Media Strategy Package ([35:49] - [42:39]):

     Ideal for those feeling overwhelmed by social media. This package includes a content calendar tailored to the breeder’s goals, three custom graphics, and strategic posting schedules to streamline their online engagement.

  3. Social Media Takeover Package ([35:49] - [42:39]):

     A comprehensive solution where ChampionDrive handles all aspects of social media management, from planning and posting to engagement and analytics, allowing breeders to focus on their core activities without the hassle of managing online content.

• How to Access: Breeders interested in these packages can reach out via [e-mail] or call 800-713-50 for more information and pricing.

Key Highlight: These packages are designed to alleviate the stress of social media management, enabling breeders to maintain a professional and engaging online presence effortlessly.

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6. Closing Remarks and Final Tips

As the episode concludes, the hosts offer final thoughts and reminders to their listeners:

• Daily Updates: Listeners are encouraged to visit ChampionDrive.com daily for the latest updates on state fairs, show results, and new content.

• Kindness to Volunteers: Steva emphasizes the importance of treating results getters with respect, acknowledging their role in providing valuable support during the intense state fair season: “Just make sure you're nice to them. And good luck to everyone” ([43:52]).

Final Thought: Emphasizing community and mutual support, the hosts remind breeders to remain courteous and appreciative of the volunteers who play a crucial role in the success of state fairs.

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Conclusion

Episode 3.1 of The Championdrive Podcast provides a comprehensive look into the world of sheep showing, blending personal experiences with professional insights. The in-depth interview with Jimmy Davis offers valuable perspectives on the evolution and challenges of sheep judging, while the Sud Ram showcases and Product Spotlight segments highlight the latest offerings and innovations in the industry. The introduction of the "So You Suck" social media packages further equips breeders with the tools needed to excel both on the ground and online. Overall, the episode serves as a rich resource for sheep breeders and enthusiasts gearing up for a successful state fair season.

Transcript

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Now entering the ring, another episode of.

[Steva Robinson]

The Champion Drive podcast, presented by Novel Designs with your hosts, Kaitlyn Sister Urban and Steva Robinson.

[Kaylin]

Well, we are back with season three, and I know that we've had quite a lot that's been going on in our lives in between the end of season two and kind of and starting up season three. But I know, I'm sure excited to get back to podcasting. Shocker. I'm surprised. Nobody's. Nobody's surprised that I'm excited to talk to people again. But, Steva, I know we've had a busy summer, so what all have you been up to?

[Steva Robinson]

Well, we've kind of been in the summer rush for Novel Designs, which includes a lot of board catalogs that Kaylee's been working on, a ton of sud Ram showcases and such on ChampionDrive.com that Jill has been working on, and then just a lot of other projects that have been going from that standpoint, we've been busy. Like, personally, we've been busy going to sheep and pig shows, so that's always been fun. My daughter Corbin has actually been taking a little bit of an interest to showing sheep, which has definitely had its cha. Had its challenges. And for those of you that know Corbin, she is a girly girl, and she is not all exactly the most competitive person. So, you know, it's been interesting having to coach her a little different, but it's been really fun. And it's definitely all three of my kids have different personalities, so I've definitely had my hands full trying to work with her on stuff, but it's been really rewarding because we've seen some pretty good improvement from her and it's been really fun and kind of getting geared up into state fair time.

[Kaylin]

Yeah. And I know that I'm pretty sure that you've had a few interesting AI situations come up the past two times that you've AI'd. So do you want to tell everybody a little bit bit about how that's been?

[Steva Robinson]

I don't know if any of you listen to the Scott Van Pelt, the guy from espn, if you listen to his podcast, but he's gone off about his travel issues a few times on his podcast, and I'd have to say that I'd like to do the same, although I'll keep mine a little bit more more calm than his. But for my fall AI, I actually flew into Lubbock and then went to Neffs to pick up semen and had someone from Alanuka meet me at the Lubbock airport and was all set to fly out. Everything was going great. It's flying out Saturday night. I'd be home by like 11 o' clock at night. And I get to security, which I've flown with equitainers multiple times and never had any problems. And I get there like, no, no ma', am, you can't go through there. Like we're gonna have to put that on a cargo. I'm like, yeah, that's not, that's not how that works. Like, I was really nice about it. I knew I wasn't going to get anywhere being rude and it's not really the type of person I am. And so he just kind of explained this how we, you know, normally fly like through San Angelo or through Abilene. They just weren't having it. Like I didn't even get to security or to the point to go through the scanner or anything. And they said, well, we'll have to talk to someone to American Airlines. And I wasn't worried at that point. I was like, well it's kind of odd but you know, we fly American through the other airports, it'll be fine. And they weren't having it. They told me it had to go on a cargo plane. And, and I realized at that point there was no way I was getting on that plane and the cargo couldn't go until Monday because I didn't have the proper documentation. And I was really caught off guard because like I said, we've done this before. So I looked at my phone and I figured out we had 16 and a half hours till we had to start AI ing. And so I put in my map quick and I'm like, well, do I even have enough time to drive this? And it was a 15 and a half hour drive. So I had an hour to basically get a rental car, make my stops and everything. And so I went over and I looked up my boy. How much, how expensive is a one way rental going to be from Lubbock, Texas to Belmont, Wisconsin? And I'm thinking this is going to be, you know, just insane price wise. And it ended up being 130. I'm like perfect. So I went over to the desk and I told the girl, I'm like, I am in a hurry. What's the fastest? Do I book it online? Do I book it through you? And she was really, really helpful. And so she's like, book it online since you have an account and get everything, you know, all your information will be there. Just tell me what kind of car you're booking. I'LL get stuff ready on my end so as soon as the reservation comes through, we can hurry it through. She was awesome to work with. We get all the way through it. I get my reservation all the way to the end. And she's like, well, I'm sorry to tell you this, but you're on the do not rent list. I'm like, you have to be kidding me. For what? And she said, well, there's a claim from Phoenix, Arizona from December. And I said, well, that's been paid in full. I said, what? You know, like I kind of explained what happened. A little backstory I had. There are enough of us at Phoenix. We drove our truck and trailer, but I ended up getting a rental car as well because there were enough of us that we couldn't all fit one vehicle. And at Arizona Nationals this year, someone backed into my rental car. So I ended up turning into insurance. It was fine and. But it took a couple months to get settled out. But I had an email saying that it had been paid in full and satisfied. And I told the lady that and I showed it to her and all the information matched up and she's like, well, I don't know what I can do. It's kind of a process to get someone off of this, but it looks like it's been paid in full and they just didn't have you removed from it when your insurance settled it out. She's like, let me call my manager and we'll see what I can do. I'm thinking it's five o' clock on a Saturday. I have no idea what I'm going to do if I can't get this car. And she called her manager. Manager actually happened to be at the computer and got me off the list. She gets off the phone, she's like, I've never seen this happen as quick as it is. But she got it taken care of. You are good to go. It was our mistake. Here's your keys. Have a good trip. And so I drove from Lubbock. I left at like 5:30 or so that night and I drove all night and I used to pull a lot of all nighters for novel designs back in the day. But I will tell you, I am not cut out for it at this age anymore. So. But I made it. I had an hour to spare and it ended up being pretty good. It wasn't too bad of a drive. I didn't run into any bad weather and Reno had just finished that night. So a lot of people were leaving Reno. So I actually had quite a few people to chit chat with to keep me up on the drive like in that terrible midnight to 6am window. But that was pretty fun and unexpected. It all worked out and I kind of told myself, well after this trip I should be due for an awesome AI, right? Like I already used up all my bad luck so we should be good. And bucks were all good and it was, it was fine from there. So then we had our AI this week and I just ended up. I wasn't even going to try and fly it. So I flew down and then got a rental car to drive back. And of course I missed my connection because my flight got delayed and it's like, boy, we're starting this trip off again just like the last one. But it ended up working out. I ended up getting put up in a hotel in Dallas by American Airlines. And if they offer you the atrium hotel and they try and tell you it's a nice one, just go get your own hotel or just start driving. Because the atrium in Dallas is. I'd never stay there again. I've stayed at some pretty crappy hotels and that one's kind of right up there. Like it. I was, I was glad to make it home the next day. Let's just say that. So. But that's been kind of the, the weird crazy travel story and I don't know, maybe some of you can chime in. You know, some of our listeners, I, I know some others have had some issues flying or driving or we're always depending on UPS and there's so much on the line. We're all stressed about wanting to make sure our AI days go well. So that has been some nice added stress for, for me lately.

[Kaylin]

Yeah, for sure. I didn't know all about the. You like being on the non rental list or whatever. I knew you had to drive, but I didn't know you had to go through all that to get home with that semen. So I guess it's pretty impressive that you made it back.

[Steva Robinson]

Yeah, I was not proud when she told me I was on the do not rent list. I'm like, that is not like me, like what is going on here? And when she explained it, I knew exactly what happened. I'm sure it took longer because it ended up getting turned into insurance and it was paid for. It just never got cleared from their system. But I was glad I had the email receipt because I'm not sure what I would have done at that point because I was the only car rental agency out of the Lubbock Airport that had a one way rental. That was the only, I think it was Enterprise. That was the only one that they would rent one way.

[Kaylin]

Yeah. Well, talking about rental cars, I tried to get a rental car this summer when I was up north and that was a fiasco and a half because I didn't have a credit card because I've never had a credit card before. And by golly, I got a credit card now because I'm never going through that again. I thought I was going to be like perfect on time and early and everything. And yeah, then they wouldn't let me get my rental car that I reserved online and not going to be doing that again without a credit card.

[Steva Robinson]

You couldn't rent because you had a debit card or what.

[Kaylin]

Correct. And I'm and like young and all this stuff. So they weren't, they weren't vibing with me so.

[Steva Robinson]

Well, lesson learned, I guess.

[Kaylin]

Yeah.

[Steva Robinson]

So. Well, let's get right into season three. We are really excited. We have a lot of good things planned. We've had a lot of good feedback and we're really excited for the guests we kind of have lined up for the season. But as always, if there's someone you want to have your on the podcast or topics you want us to cover, by all means, hop on champion drive.com go to the podcast page and there's a form on there you can fill out to let us know or you can shoot us an email as well to the same place you send your updates or which is updates at the novel designs.com to let us know who you had in mind. But who do we have up first on this episode?

[Kaylin]

Well, I'm sure many people know this guest as he's probably judging your state fair. As we're getting into state fair season, he is judging I think just about all of them it seems like this year. So we thought it was a, it was a great time. He's been on our la, he's been on our list to get on the podcast. But we thought, you know, now is probably the perfect time to have him on before he goes on his big state fair run starting this week in the Midwest. So we, our first guest is Jimmy Davis, who many of you guys know. I mean he's, he's been breeding cheap for as long as I can remember. He's an ag teacher here in Oklahoma and like I said, he's judging a lot of state fairs this year and he's judged multiple national shows as well. So I'm sure you guys have heard of him before and if not, I hope you guys enjoy this segment from when I sat down with him to talk to him a little bit about kind of his history in the sheep industry and kind of where he got to where he is. Well, Jimmy, thanks for joining me today. Do you mind telling me a little bit about your family and kind of what career path has led you to where you are now in life for our listeners?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Well, thank you, Kaylin, for having me. It's a real pleasure to get to do this. I grew up on a family farm. We raised sheep and pigs, had some cattle when we were growing up. And from a pretty young age I wanted to be an ag teacher. We had an ag teacher in our community that was a big influence on all the kids that went to school there. And, and he kind of, he just put the seed in, in me and my brother both and, and several other kids to want to choose that path. So I actually went to school at, at Stillwater and then I finished up at Cameron in 92 and I got the ag teaching job here in Walters and we, Jamie and I moved here and we've been here ever since. We, we had our family here, raised our kids here. They went to school and showed through the program and actually I was, I taught for 32 years and retired just this past summer.

[Kaylin]

So how's your first summer being retired?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

It's really been good. I was, I was ready to retire, but at the same time I was a little bit hesitant about it because, you know, there's, there's lots of emotions that go along with it and lots of, lots of good kids I had in school throughout the years and, and people I dealt with. So it was, it was kind of with mixed emotions, but it's, it's been good, honestly. We've increased our sheet numbers a little bit. We've got two grandsons and a granddaughter on the way, so I get to spend a lot more time with them now. So it's been good.

[Kaylin]

That's good. So, you know, you mentioned, you know, it's kind of a little bit bittersweet for you to retire and some different emotions that kind of came with that. What were some differences you have seen throughout students from when you started teaching several years ago till like just recently before you retired.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Definitely, definitely a change, maybe a little bit of respective authority and, and the kind of kids I deal with and you deal with, we don't see that. But in a general high school setting, I'd say there's, there's certainly some differences over Time.

[Kaylin]

And you know, you mentioned that you, you and your family kind of grew up on a farm. You and your brother showed. How do you think showing has changed since you were a showman yourself kind of to where it is today, or I guess even more so. I mean, your kids kind of showed the same time I showed. So, you know, kind of take that all into consideration.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Yeah, I think the breeders and, and feeders, showmen have just made so many strides in, and making animals better. You know, back then you'd go to a show and there, there'd be a few that you thought were special. And now, I mean like you go to Oye, there's, there's a bunch of good ones in every class you watch. So I think that's the biggest change.

[Kaylin]

Yeah. And kind of going forward off that a little bit, I know that, you know, you've judged a lot of shows. You judged. Honestly, a lot of shows that I showed at as a showman. And so kind of. What got you started into judging? You know, what, what's your perspective from a judge's standpoint as far as that goes?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Well, you know, we did, we weren't real competitive in judging when I was an ffa. I mean, we, we went to contest, we experienced those things. We judged livestock, we even did some dairy and some horses. I had an offer to judge in junior college and I wanted to stay closer to home and work with my, my brother and my brother in law and their business. So, so I didn't take advantage of that opportunity. So really I never judged any shows until I started teaching ag. And I guess just some guys trusted me that maybe I had a little bit of an eye for livestock and gave me the opportunity to judge. And then it, you know, word just kind of spreads and you get to do more and more things and eventually, I mean, it's led to some really good shows. We've, we've had the opportunity to, to sort through.

[Kaylin]

Yes, absolutely. And I know that you've judged a few, or I guess I should say multiple different major livestock shows. Do you mind telling us a little bit about which all ones you've judged and kind of what was the hardest one for you to sort through since they're all different in their own right.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Right. I, I think like, of, like, of all the national shows, I think Denver's probably the only one I haven't done. I've, I've done Phoenix couple times, Louisville, Kansas City, Exaron, several of them. Man, they're all competitive, they're all tough. I, I Think Kansas City, the American Rule was probably the hardest show to judge, and not because it's any more competitive than those others. I think they're all extremely deep, extremely competitive. But they were going through some new staff and management. Whenever I judge that. And the first class or two was pretty small, so we placed every lamb in the class. Well, when those classes got bigger, I was kind of thinking, you know, we'll pick out the top end, let the rest go. Well, they didn't want me to do that since we'd started placing everything. So those classes that had 30 or however many head, we. We lined them all up. And I think that made for a little more stressful day, because, I mean, you know, as a showman, you don't want to be the one that gets pulled over first and last in line. It would. It would be. It'd be so much easier to get released in a group of 20 and think, hey, you know what? I was probably going to be 11th versus being 30th, so that was kind of stressful on me and hard. But all those shows have been good. The competition's always good. It's just, you know, when they put you under a little more stressful situation like that, it makes it tougher.

[Kaylin]

Yeah. And I do feel like Kansas City, kind of the time of the year. It is the stage of the game. It is. I do think that that's probably one of the hardest shows that, like, you kind of get the most variety. You know, you have winners that could go on for oie, or you have some sheep that are past state fair that are getting shown there. And so I do think that. That that would be a tough show to judge. So I know with your judging experience, you know, you. You talked about these multiple different major shows that. That you've judged, and I know that you've judged different state fairs or county fairs or jackpots or whatever. So in with that being said, is there one sheep that didn't want to show that kind of sticks out in your mind that you always thought maybe would or maybe maybe you judged him early on in his career, and you thought that they had maybe win a big one down the road.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

The year I judged Houston, which It was like 22, I think when I judged that, the sheep, that one I thought I thought myself was a standout. I think a lot of other people did, too. But that one that was reserved. I mean, that's still one of the best sheep I've ever judged. He just happened to fall in behind one that I thought Was a little better that day. But of all the shows I've judged over the year, that's one that kind of stuck out to me, that when he comes in his class, you think, hey, here's a grand champion. And then at the end of the day, well, close, but. But not. But that. That. That's probably the one that sticks out the most to me.

[Kaylin]

And I know, you know, you mentioned that you judged Louisville, and so I know the age range from Louisville, 6 to 21. And so how do you feel about judging showman? Kind of. Of different ages. And what is something that you wish people would be more mindful of, like, when they're in the ring, when you're judging?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Yeah, that. That is a. There's a big difference in just ability, physical ability, and. And just the way kids have been trained to show. You know, those little kids, it always seems like mom and dad or whoever's helping them is. Is always pushing on them to pay attention to the judge, watch the judge, watch the judge. And some of them probably do that a little too much. Number one for me is you. You pay attention to your animal first and foremost. If he doesn't look right, then you're not doing your job. And I think if kids will just kind of stick with that focus, don't worry about me so much. Hey, if I need your attention, I'll get it. I'll come find you or talk to you or whatever. But I want kids, regardless of their age, to be looking at that sheep way more than they're looking at me. Making sure everything's in check and looking like it should.

[Kaylin]

Absolutely. And I know here in the next few months, you have a pretty busy season coming up. You're about to go on a pretty incredible state fair run, and you're getting to judge multiple different state fairs across the country. So with that being said, what do you feel like will be your biggest challenge judging multiple state fairs this year?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Well, you know, I think. I think the shows and the sheep are going to be pretty similar from. From show to show. I guess the biggest thing for me is, you know, I'm not as young as I used to be. And as you. As you grow older, things are a little harder on you, just physically and mentally. But I think one of the biggest challenges is all these state fairs come when most of us are trying to get sheep bred. We're doing our flush work and all that stuff. And I think, luckily I was able to kind of coordinate my AIs and all the shots and everything we have to do in between and, and, and so forth. So I don't think any of that will really interfere. There was, there actually was two more state fairs that called that I had to pass on. And I would love to have judged them, but they're, they're right there when we're giving shots and preparing for AIs. And I just couldn't make it work out. Hopefully we will in the future, but. But not this year.

[Kaylin]

Yes, absolutely. And with you being able to judge multiple different ones, what are you most looking forward to with your time in the ring with exhibitors or on the road, maybe with your wife or whoever is going to go with you?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Well, you know, when you're involved in, in the sheep industry, you know people from coast to coast, and I think one of the, one of the neatest things about traveling to all these places is just getting to see old friends and fellowship breeders that you don't get to see on a regular bas. I think that's going to be a lot of fun. So really looking forward to it.

[Kaylin]

Yes, absolutely. And I know that you're judging some northern state fairs to Midwest and also like, you'll wrap up, I think, with State fair Texas, if, if I believe. Right. So how do you think they will vary? You know, you're, you're going to start judging these northern ones, I'm honestly here in July, and you wrap up Texas later on in the season. So kind of how do you think it'll vary, I guess, from state fair to state fair at the beginning to the end of your run?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

You know, 20 years ago, I would have thought there would have been a big difference in just the type of sheep you see from state to state because, you know, back in the old days, Texas were known for being the more muscular and maybe the northern states for being a little more attractive and better looking. But I think sheep are pretty universal now. I mean, I haven't judged in a state that I haven't found the kind that I like and I prefer. So I think, I think the sheep will be pretty similar in type and kind, I guess, maybe maturity. I know a lot of these northern and Midwestern state fairs show some fall borns and maybe some sheep that are a little older than we probably show in Oklahoma and Texas. So I think that that might be the biggest difference. But I think just in general, I think the sheep will be pretty similar.

[Kaylin]

From state to state, for sure. And if you could describe your ideal sheep you like to use, how would you describe it?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Well, it's, it's hard for me to describe to people sometimes because, you know, we've all got a different idea of what we think balance is or structural correctness is. But I put more emphasis on soundness and structural makeup. You know, when a sheep walks in the ring, that's when you get a pretty good idea what you're dealing with. You know, front end extension, balance, feet and legs going the right direction. I've, I've told numerous people over the years, I think there are very few market animals anymore that don't have enough muscle. So for me, the, the sort comes down to just soundness and structural integrity. I think, I think they're all going to have plenty of shape, plenty of width as far as muscle goes, but bring me a good looking one that really gets out and moves around the ring sound and, and we'll be in business.

[Kaylin]

So let's kind of move right into your sheep operation that you run. You know, you already mentioned a little bit that you're kind of, you're kind of working your operation around these state fairs that you're judging. So let's talk a little bit about that. How many head do you run in your flock?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

We've got about 80 blackface ewes and then I think I've got about 60 dorset. Dorset crosses that we use for recips.

[Kaylin]

So while flushing and AI has become popular, what are your thoughts on it? Do you like it, do you not? Where do you see it kind of going in the future?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

You know, I think, I think it, like you said, it is popular and I think it's probably going to increase in popularity for me and a lot of people. I think it's honestly kind of a year to year deal if I really like it or not. You know, some years you have that good flush and things go well and you're like, oh man, I'm going to do twice as many next year. Well, then next year comes in and, man, it's just tough. We flushed six ewes a couple of years ago and ended up with seven live lambs at the end of it. So, I mean, it's one of those things. I think we got to try to keep improving and getting better quality sheep. But at the same time, when you have one of those bad years for as much as it costs, it really makes you scratch your head and think about, know, do I want to do this again or not? But we're back in again this year we're going to do, I think about 10, which is the most we've done and hopefully things will go well. Hopefully we got kind of the bugs worked out the last couple of years and this year goes better.

[Kaylin]

Yes. And I kind of think that your take on that is probably what a lot of people across the industry think about it. You know, it's just kind of if you hit the jackpot on that day. So kind of speaking of that a little bit, we. What has been your most influential you in your flock and kind of like what has she done that maybe has moved your program?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Well, we've, we've got a u. Her number is 0020 and she was raised by my neighbor and good friend who passed away a few years ago, Scotty Reed. And when after he passed and his wife wanted to to sell his sheep, we, we got that ewe. And she was one I really admired as a baby lamb when Scotty had her. And then one of my students actually got to show her and she, she won some shows and got along good. We flushed her that first year we had her as a virgin yearling and she had our, our lamb. That's, that's been our most successful win so far. And he was grand at at San Antonio in the spring of 23 for the Struby family from Texas and that, that you, you know, we flushed her multiple times since and, and every time she hits and. And does what she should, I wish they were all like her. But you know how that goes. They, they. They don't all turn out exactly like we anticipate or want them to. But that one's, that one's done more for us than any of them.

[Kaylin]

She has a pretty special story behind her as well.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

She does.

[Kaylin]

So I know that you've raised several bucks. Which one has been the most impactful in your flock?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Probably. Well, not probably. The one that's by far done us the most good was actually raised by my buddy Joe Harrell. His last lamb crop was. Was the crop that Superfly came out of. And he's been really good to us. He's. He's made lots and lots of good females. He's made weathers that have won in lots of states and, and he's one. We, we started selling semen on him when he was a yearling and he's, I guess seven now and still selling just about as much as we did when he started off. And that's, you know, how. How rams are kind of a here today, gone tomorrow kind of deal in our industry. And he's been one at least for us. It's kind of stood the test of time. And recently just Sired the Champion U at the all American champion Hampu for Eller Brock. So he's, he's still getting it done for us. And, and like I say, he's, he's been good to my family. Just, just all he's done for us.

[Kaylin]

Yes, for sure. And to be seven years old and to still be making, I mean as much income as you did the first year, really like that's, that's pretty impressive.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

It's been good.

[Kaylin]

So to wrap this up, I just have a few fun questions for you. You know, you are a show parent yourself. So what are, what is some advice that you would like to give those currently in that role?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Well, the most important thing to me is enjoy your time with your kids because man, it goes so fast. I mean you and your brother and my kids, like you said, you guys all showed at the same time and it, it seems like from when you started to, when you finished went by in an instant. And so my, my main thing would be to tell them just, just enjoy it. But along with that I think you need to associate your people or associate yourself with people who are going to be in your corner, who are going to help you, who are going to want to see you succeed. I think if you do those things, you're going to have a really successful show career.

[Kaylin]

Absolutely. And you know, we've kind of already talked about your judging career, but as you've seen many shows ran behind the scenes, which is not what everybody sees. You know what has surprised you the most about judging at different varieties of shows?

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Oh, you know, I'd say most shows over the, just across the country are well ran. I think the people that are involved are always there for the right reasons, which is, is the young people participating in the shows. I guess there's some that are probably just a little more of a well oiled machine as, as far as the way they, they get the animals in, we get them judged and they get them out. I think if the shows have that part down, let's, let's have them all here. Let's have them ready. Let's get them in, let's get them out. I think the, the judge can just stay on task and do a much better job all day than when you're having to sit around and wait and kind of contemplate things and think about things. You know, keep it rolling and I think it keeps everybody's mindset better and clear and ready to do the job at hand for sure.

[Kaylin]

And the last question I have for you is what is one quote you choose to leave everyone with.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

I guess I would say never give up. You know, I know it's pretty easy in our industry when you're showing to get discouraged. You know, hey, things don't always go our way. But if you don't give up, you keep trying, you keep working hard. I think things are always going to work out for you in the future. So, so my, my biggest advice to any kid showing never give up.

[Kaylin]

Well, I think that was some pretty good advice you had for us today. Thank you so much for joining me. For our listeners, you can find his lamb operation located in Walters, Oklahoma, if you're ever in need of any sheep. Thanks again, Jimmy.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Hey, thank you, Kaylin. I appreciate it.

[Steva Robinson]

Well, I think that was a great episode with Jimmy. Like you said, he starts judging several state fairs, including this week, which is Ohio State Fair, which keep in mind, visit championdrive.com for your results from that. Let's hop over to the Sud Ramp showcases. There's been a bunch of them up this summer. If you guys haven't had a chance to look at them, go over to Champion Drive to the Stud Ram Showcase page and browse through those. But what do we have up currently?

[Kaylin]

Our first one we have up is Pink Panther. He's a registered Dorset. He's rrff. He's a Cabana boy. Lou Amic, Slap Shot, bred by Sidwell Show Sheep.

[Steva Robinson]

The next one we have up is Head Honcho. He's a 2.0 Chief Drago. He's bred and owned by RCE Livestock, which is Ricky Stevenson and family in Iowa. Be sure to check him out on the Saidram Showcase. He is rrff.

[Kaylin]

And our last one we have up currently is Chess, not Checkers. I'm sure you guys have probably seen his him advertised quite a bit already, but he's rrnnfd. He's a full sib to what if bred and owned by Rule Sheep Company and he's a walk this way. Break the Internet, ring the bell.

[Steva Robinson]

Yeah. And like I said, be sure to hop over to GP Drive and see more of those stud room showcases that have gone up between season two and season three. Also new on the on ChampionDrive.com is a page that we're calling the Product Spotlight. And that ties into our next segment. The Product Spotlight is going to be a resource on ChampionDrive.com where you can go and see different products that we mentioned on the podcast. It'll give you a link to be able to go directly to find out more information about those. And we kind of got some feedback that that would be a great way to, you know, get the word out about how to use products differently or how to use better, use them better and kind of tell the story of them more. So we're excited that our first product segment or product spotlight is essential feeds and their segment is going to be called the Essentials. I caught up with Dakota Quickle and we talked about their new product called Foundation. That came out not all that long ago, but I think it's been pretty popular. And Dakota will go into it more. But as if you're someone that's feeding show lambs, this is a product that you can top dress on top of your feed to help increase consumption and encourage their appetite. It's something that you can take along, you know, to a state fair to try and get them to eat more, especially in times of stress or feed daily as part of your daily feed regimen. And also it has a use that Dakota will talk about too. As breeders, we can use it on studbucks or on donor use. There's some ingredients in there that help lower body temperature. And let's get with Dakota and kind of see what he has to say about this product called Foundation. Well, it's time for the essentials from Essential show feed. This week I've got Dakota Quickle on with us and we're going to talk a little bit about some other products. I think the question that comes up a lot this time of year amongst showium feeders and kids that are showing is what products should I be adding to my feed to make sure that the gut health is good and that they stay on feed when we go into that state fair push?

[Dakota Quickle]

Great question for us here in the southwest and across the US we we feed Foundation. Foundation is a product that we have found acts in multiple ways. It helps in terms of improving gut health. It has the Zenpro in it which in turn is just vitamin minerals that help with with all things reproduction wise. And along with consumption, it is also high in manganese and zinc, acts as a probiotic that allows for maximum efficiency. You will see increased consumption. And the most important thing of this product is we have found that there, there is a new product in this particular pelleted form of foundation that we labeled as an ionophore. And with that, that ionophore helps decrease body temperature while also maximizing conversion through feeds and other products that you may feed your sheep, whether it's hay or even just regular old grain, they will be able to maximize efficiency, convert at a higher level and Also decrease body temperature, enabling better consumption and better feed re intake with that as well. We've also found from a reproduction standpoint with that same product that we're talking about the foundation there daily serve it to your use and your donors, your bucks, whatever it may be. From reproduction size, you will see increased fertility, you will see higher egg count, and ultimately, as we mentioned before, it decreases body temperature, allowing use and just general show lamps to stay more comfortable on a regular basis.

[Steva Robinson]

Great. So how would someone go about getting foundation if they were wanting to add it, you know, into their mix that they bring, you know, into their supplement arsenal they bring to their state fair or to have it in their buck barn or in their barn for their use? How is it packaged? How is it sold? Where can we get it?

[Dakota Quickle]

So foundation is easily accessible through our website. It comes in a ten pound bucket. That bucket there then is distributed all across the country. Get a hold of one of your essential reps, that's myself, Rowdy ray, Barrett Carlisle, J.D.

[Kaitlyn Sister Urban]

Pruitt.

[Dakota Quickle]

There's others in Texas listed on the website as well. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to one of us. But importantly, guys, just go to our website, scroll through the products, find the products you're looking for, order it, and we'll ship it directly out to you.

[Steva Robinson]

Awesome. Well, thanks for having us on. We're excited to have you guys as part of season three in our section called the Essentials. And as Dakota mentioned, you can find out more about essential feeds on their website, which is listed on championdrive.com as well. Thanks, Dakota.

[Dakota Quickle]

Yep, thank you.

[Kaylin]

Well, while you're on Champion Drive checking out the product spotlights that we have up, be sure to check out our judge spotlights as well as breeder and exhibitor spotlights. It's state fair season, so there's something new on Champion Drive every single day. We caught up with several different breeders that have already been posted for this year for some state fairs that have already State fairs or expos that have already went. But we have several different showman spotlights. And my favorite probably right now, honestly is the judge spotlights. I always try to think of something a little bit different to kind of ask them. And I think at times maybe we forget that these judges are human too. And so I just kind of wanted to make it a little bit more fun this year. And so we kind of did A hometown spotlight is what we call it, but just kind of learning a little bit about the hometown they grew up in, you know, how big were their class sizes and just stuff like that that kind of have made them who they are and kind of have gotten to them them to where they are. So those are all interest, those are all very interesting and I'm super excited to see those continue to come in. Steve, what all do we have up for the so you suck?

[Steva Robinson]

Well, the so you suck has been really popular and I think after the end of season two at the party sale, the some of the novel designs girls and myself did like a live present or like a live session of so you suck. And the feedback was really good. The questions were really good. It was a really good group of people. They're really engaged. And it actually was really helpful for me as well to kind of learn what people were kind of stuck on or where their questions were. So this episode so you suck is about the social media packages that we put together. And we've always done social media work for different breeders or different companies, but after that, so you suck live at the party, we actually came up with three different packages based off of kind of those questions and the feedback. And if you have any questions on any of these or want to get pricing or you know, have a conversation about what might work the best for you, you can reach out to updates at the novel designs. You can give our office a call, 800-713-50. Or you can reach out to any of the novel design staff via text or whoever you know from our staff and we'd be happy to explain them more. But the first one is our on demand package. This is kind of for the person that knows what they want to say, but they just need it polished up so you have a general idea of the content, but you just need a graphic to bring it to life. This is something that a lot of our producers have been utilizing. They'll buy like a 5, 10 or 25 pack of social media graphics. So you pay for the package and then you just shoot us an email when you say, hey here, I've got an online sale coming up this week. I need graphics for announcing a date, a thank you and you know, use four or five lot pictures to kind of, you know, help promote that I can post and you and these are for people that can take care of the posting themselves. They just need us to make a graphic. It works out really well. You don't have to use all the graphics in your package at once. So you just kind of have a bank and then anytime you need something, you just shoot us an email and we create them then and send it back to you and then you take care of executing the posting of it. The second package is the social media strategy package. And this is for one that I came up with after the party event, because the question that we got from so many people or the statement from so many people were, I don't really know where to start. I know I need to post, but I don't really know. I'm overwhelmed. I don't understand what to post or when to post or I'm not sure if this is relevant. And I don't want to come off as, you know, I don't want to do it wrong. So I just don't post anything. So our strategy package is kind of tailored to that type of person. You have us, our team puts together a posting schedule based off we have a conversation with you. We kind of understand what your goals are, what your tone wants to be, what you have to promote, and then we come up with a schedule that you can kind of go off of. So basically you get a content calendar outlining exactly what to post and when, and we tailor this specifically to what you have going on that month. The package also includes three graphics that we designed to go with it. Some posts, like winners updates, might not require a post. So we don't make it where it includes a full month's worth of graphics. And some of it might be, you know, posting a candid picture, you know, of your use on pasture or something that you're doing so people can get to know you a little better. Obviously you might not need a graphic for that. So it includes three graphics, your content calendar. And then if you need more than the three graphics, we found a lot of the people that have signed up on this end up needing more. It's not a problem at all. You can add on additional graphics, and, you know, those are just an additional cost. So this has been really popular. I had never thought about doing it until we had that live session. And it was really clear that a lot of people were just kind of overwhelmed with what to do. In this scenario, you take care of posting everything on your page or whatnot. But we kind of give you the ideas and when to do it and help you with the graphics. And then you. You kind of take care of execution, executing, and rolling them out themselves. The last package or the third package is called the social media Takeover package. And this is also one that has been pretty popular. This is for if you think social media is just not my thing. I know I need to do it, but I don't like it. I have no interest in learning how. I don't have the time to do it. This is the package for you. We do. We take care of everything. We do the posting, the planning and everything in between from, you know, know getting with you to figure out what kind of tone you want to have, kind of content you want to have. We take care of posting it. We take care of managing engagement in terms of like people follow your page, we take care of getting follow backs taken care of. And it's just basically a. It takes it off your plate. By all means. We want to make sure that it represents you and your tone. So it's not like we're going to go post stuff and just go wild on your Facebook page or your Instagram, but we take care of having a plan. We take care of the graphics and making it, you know, look great and professional, but we also to make sure that we get to know you so it can kind of match your vibe as well. So those are the three packages. By all means, they're new. Reach out with any questions that you might have if there's any way that we can help you. Obviously social's become, you know, a big part of marketing today. And I. It was interesting to me how many people were frustrated with. They didn't know what to do to do on social. So there is this week's so you suck.

[Kaylin]

Well, that sounds really good. And I know that we have multiple state fairs coming up, so be sure to visit Champion Drive every single day as they're like I have mentioned before that there is something going on new there every day. I know we have a Midwest state fair starting up here in a few days, so be sure to check out that. And if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us. Or I guess X is what it's called now. Be sure to follow us as well on that. And you can kind of get on demand updates as well from there.

[Steva Robinson]

Perfect. Yeah. And as a friendly reminder, be nice to your results getters. We have a lot of volunteers or people that are willing to help us get results. And every year there always seems to be someone who gets a snippy tone from someone when they're asking what the breeders are. They're not being nosy. They're just getting it to post on Champion Drive. I know the emotions are high during state fair season. Everyone wants to do good. But just a reminder to be nice to those results getters. We're fortunate to have them and we really appreciate what they do. So make sure you're nice to them. And good luck to everyone.

[Dakota Quickle]

Sat.