The Championdrive Podcast
Episode 3.4 – Barn Renovations PART 1 + Repro Plus from Essential Feeds
Date: September 8, 2025
Overview
This episode kicks off a special three-part roundtable series focused on barn renovations in the show lamb industry. The host gathers a panel of experienced breeders—Jake Warntjes, Brian Riley, Chad Charmerson, and Cody Schminke—to discuss their barn setups, lessons learned, renovation priorities, and practical advice for sheep operations of different scales and climates. The episode opens with a product spotlight on “Repro Plus” from Essential Feeds, explaining its role in reproductive performance and lamb development.
Product Spotlight: Repro Plus by Essential Feeds
[00:10–04:00]
- Purpose: Repro Plus is highlighted as a versatile feed designed for ewe lambs, donors, recips, and stud bucks, targeting both growth and reproductive success.
- Usage: Rep Barrett Carlisle explains the product’s uses, feeding rates, and adaptability for different types of breeding stock and management styles.
Key Takeaways:
- Repro Plus serves as a transition feed from show diets for ewe lambs into breeding rations.
- Recommended feeding rates:
- Recips: 1–2 lbs/day (increased for larger-framed ewes)
- Donors: 2–3 lbs/day
- Bucks: Fed straight, sometimes top-dressed with “Foundation” for fertility boosts
- Pelleted, bagged feed, positioned for affordability and flexibility.
Notable Quote:
“We like to think it's priced at a point where you can also utilize it for those recips as well, to help make them just a little more sticky.”
—Barrett Carlisle (01:46)
Roundtable Introductions and Barn Operation Overviews
[05:27–14:54]
Each guest shares details on their sheep operation, barn sizes, approaches to pasture and drylot management, and their experience with expansion or retrofitted facilities.
Panelist Summaries:
Jake Warntjes (Mulhall, OK)
- Runs ~60 ewes; newer, growing operation with an 80x80 barn and 20x80 outdoor runs; drylot, gradual property improvements, experience building from scratch.
Brian Riley (Shelsburg, WI)
- Runs ~300 HAMP-based ewes on several renovated and new barns (largest: 80x200); significant pasture underutilized due to management style; heavy on recips and embryo transfer.
Cody Schminke (Van Horne, IA)
- Multi-generational, multi-species operation (sheep and swine), ~300 ewes, all heated and enclosed, drylot system, frequent barn reconfiguration for dual/multi-purpose use.
Chad Charmerson (Hennessy, OK)
- Runs ~200–250 ewes, started from scratch, prioritizes pasture utilization and access from barn, gradual downsizing and increased IVF work, heavy on barn design/layout planning.
Notable Quote:
“You end up filling it up and you're going to want to build it even bigger once you get it filled up.”
—Jake Warntjes [17:03]
Approaches to Barn Construction and Renovation Prioritization
[14:55–31:36]
General Themes:
- Budget influences whether to start from scratch or retrofit.
- Previous experiences, peer advice, and farm visits shape design choices.
- Most panelists stress building as large as possible within the budget—expansion always needed later.
Key Priorities Identified:
- Automatic Waterers: Essential for labor savings and animal health in cold climates.
“Number one was I wanted automatic waters everywhere.” —Brian Riley [18:21] - Ventilation: Exhaust fans and the ability to open barns up is vital for air quality and temperature control.
- Concrete Floors: OCD tendencies and desire for easier cleaning/maintenance drive early investment.
- Multi-Purpose & Adaptability: Particularly in operations sharing space between species or rotating barn uses (e.g., lambing vs. show barn).
- Heating: Secondary importance, but critical in upper Midwest and for lambing jugs.
Quote on Adaptability:
“We have to figure out a way to benefit both sides of the operation. So a lot of our buildings are multi-purpose driven.”
—Cody Schminke [27:21]
Pen Size, Setup, and Modular Flexibility
[31:37–42:51]
- Preferred Pen Sizes:
- Most groupings: 15–20 ewes (ideally less to avoid overcrowding), with 20x40 or 22x40 pens common
- Square footage guideline: 1 ewe + lamb per 50 sq ft.
- Creep Pens: Placed at the front of larger pens for lamb access and visibility.
- Feeders: Fence line feeders (e.g., Rivera brand) and homemade walk-through bunks for labor efficiency.
- Adaptability vs. Permanency:
- Modular/portable panels favored during early years or evolving needs; more permanent fixtures after layouts are proven.
Notable Quotes:
“If you think you've got it figured out, your flow changes, or you notice something that just isn’t working for you.”
—Jake Warntjes [38:17]
Lighting and Electric – Best Practices
[42:51–50:35]
Lighting:
- Over-illuminate—preferred advice is “as bright as you can get it.”
- Transitioning from fluorescent to high-bay LED lights is recommended for efficiency and brightness.
- Install lighting in logical zones/switches for flexibility.
Electric:
- Start with the biggest service you can (200amp panels standard for all new barns).
- Over-install outlets, especially above pens for heat lamps, around waterers, and working areas.
- Plan for potential heated waterers and heavy equipment loads.
Notable Quotes:
“You never can have enough places to plug something in… more is certainly better in this scenario.”
—Chad Charmerson [44:29]
“If you think you might need a plug somewhere, put a plug somewhere… they are not that expensive in the grand scheme.”
—Jake Warntjes [47:16]
Gates, Flow, and Working Facility Design
[51:15–55:27]
- Gates should be angled and designed to swing and latch for easy sorting, blocking, and directing traffic—minimizing the need for additional panels during working sessions.
- Wire or open panel gates preferred for visibility unless animal behavior requires otherwise.
- Custom-made gating (DIY or local fabrication) allows for best fit but requires thoughtful planning; modular tube panels are gaining popularity.
Memorable Comments:
“I want to be able to swing that gate open and it blocks the place they don't need to be at and it turns them into where they need to as opposed to going and grabbing a panel or a couple of panels…”
—Chad Charmerson [51:15]
Chute/Working Alley Systems
[55:28–61:43]
- All operations but Jake’s currently use some version of a sheep chute/working system, typically placed inside for climate control and labor efficiency.
- Auto-sorting chutes are intriguing but may not fit everyone’s dynamic sorting needs.
- Common setups include central placement, access from main pens, and direct integration with heated medicine areas.
- Training sheep to flow through alleys outside of working sessions is helpful for easier handling.
Chad Charmerson [57:03]:
“It’s the shoot deal is ideal... I like our setup and where we moved it since we moved it inside. The outside shoot was brutal. But having that ketchums on the inside has been really nice.”
Final Thoughts
Key Lessons and Advice:
- Don’t underestimate how fast you’ll outgrow a barn.
- Seek advice, visit peers’ setups, and plan with flexibility in mind.
- Over-invest in infrastructure that saves labor long-term (waterers, lights, electrical service).
- Modular, multi-purpose spaces maximize utility and farm ROI.
- Crowding is the enemy—good flow and adequate space support animal health.
Panel Tone: Friendly, practical, and occasionally self-deprecating; heavy emphasis on learning from both peers and one’s own trial and error.
Additional Notable Moments
- [17:03] — “Build it as big as you can afford.” – Jake Warntjes
- [18:21] — “Automatic waterers everywhere” as highest initial investment—Brian Riley
- [38:17] — Keeping barn setups “changeable” enables smoother expansion—Jake Warntjes
- [44:29] — “The more lighting the better…more is certainly better in this scenario.” – Chad Charmerson
- [51:15] — “Functionality part of gates is very important…block where they don’t need to be.” – Chad Charmerson
Next Episode Teaser
This is only part one of the roundtable on barn renovations. Upcoming episodes will dive deeper into details on flooring, more specific renovations, and common pitfalls.