The Championdrive Podcast - Episode 3.6

Barn Renos Part 3 + Flare from Essential Feeds
Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Championdrive.com
Special Guests: Chad Charmerson, Jake Warntjez, Brian Riley, Cody Schmincke

Episode Overview

This episode marks the final segment in a three-part series dedicated to barn renovations, focusing on practical insights, lessons learned, and innovative ideas from experienced show lamb breeders. Before diving into barn talk, the episode also features a product spotlight with Barrett Carlisle of Essential Feeds, who introduces the new product "Flare." The roundtable of breeders shares candid stories, tips, and advice for both new and established sheep producers on optimizing barns for the specific demands of the show industry.

Essentials Segment: Flare from Essential Feeds

Segment Start: [02:14]

Introduction to "Flare"

• Barrett Carlisle explains Essential Feeds' new "Flare" product, which targets "high protein, high fiber" needs for show lambs.
• Benefits: Promotes a fuller upper rib cage, enhances back shape, and improves handle quality.
  • “We've seen really, really help just in terms of like opening up their upper body, making their upper rib cage look real full and real opened up." — Barrett Carlisle [02:22]
  • "Adding center body, opening them up high and making their backs bigger and fresher … results have been very, very good.” — [02:30]

Usage Recommendations

• Can be started at any age, but earlier is better.
  • “The sooner you can start it, the better.” — Barrett Carlisle [03:23]
• Typical feeding rates: 2–4 ounces per feeding to start; up to 6 ounces for mature sheep; max of ½ lb for older, heavier animals.
  • "If you want to bump this up... you can go up to half a pound." [04:09]

Availability

• 40 lb bags and 20 lb buckets available via Essential’s website.

Barn Renovations Roundtable

Guests: Chad Charmerson, Jake Warntjez, Brian Riley, Cody Schmincke
Host moderates a Q&A style session on barn equipment, design choices, and “if I could do it again” stories.

Most-Used Unexpected Barn Items

Segment Start: [05:51]

• Leaf Blower Love

  • Chad gifted a leaf blower as a barn-warming gift, initially met with skepticism but now everyone uses and swears by it for cleaning feeders and dust.
    • “But it's a leaf blower and we use it to clean everything. But mainly its fence line feeders… makes cleaning feeders like a breeze and we use it every single day.” — [05:55]
    • "There's a leaf blower in every building on our farm...I drive everybody nuts. We blow these barns out two, three times a day." — [06:23]
  • Host agrees: “I don’t know the last time I actually swept, I just use the leaf blower.” [07:35]

• Skid Steer Features

  • Backup cameras on skid steers, initially doubted but now essential.
    • “It’s the first thing I turn on when I get in that thing. It is fantastic.” — [08:01]
  • In-floor heat for sheep areas deemed not worth the investment: “Not a good spend.” — [08:01]

• Concrete Alleyways and Cart Use

  • Retrofitting barn alleyways with concrete for cleanliness and equipment efficiency is highly recommended.

Features Not Worth the Investment

Segment: [10:32-13:19]

• Overhead garage doors with automatic openers—prone to malfunction and not used.
• Sliders preferred for ventilation and cost, especially in cold climates.
• Overhead “roll-up” doors in surgery rooms let in dust and are hard to seal; recommend big walk-through or double doors instead.
  • “Those little roll up overhead doors...I would like to change those out...” — [11:37]

Tips for Summer Heat & Barn Cooling

Segment Start: [13:55]

• Ventilation is key: Multiple fans (Sullivan’s show barn fans, 52” industrial fans) and high airflow are necessary.
  • “Spray foam or some sort of barn insulation is worth every penny...the amount of break that it gives you from the heat…is just amazing.” — [16:02]
• Porta-Cools for donors and bucks.
• Bedding management is crucial – keep pens clean and use straw carefully to not trap heat.
• Mini-splits (air conditioning units) used for humidity and temperature control, especially in special rooms.
  • “Mini splits in our part of the country to get rid of that humidity…my entire shop is done with that.” — [18:12]
• Some skepticism on coolers in more humid areas. “We just move air.” — Brian Riley [17:19]
• Design tip: Remove shrouds from fans to minimize clogging.

Running Out of Lambing Jugs

Segment Start: [20:05]

• Never kick lambs out of jugs too early; build more jugs if needed — “When you run out, you build more.” — Chad Charmerson [20:05]
• Welded wire panels are cheap, quick fixes.
• For show sheep, jugs longer = better; ensure great start even if labor-intensive.

Must-Have Features: Rank in Barn Design

Segment Start: [24:21]

• (Jokingly) For the older breeders, "Bathroom comes first!" — Chad Charmerson [24:35]
  • “1A and 1B: ventilation, bathroom.” — [24:46]
• Ventilation and lighting are otherwise the top priorities, followed by layout, bunk space, and cameras.

If You Could Redesign: Regrets & Wishlist

Segment Start: [25:00]

• Build bigger than you think you'll need.
• Drive-through feeding capability is a huge labor saver.
  • “I would absolutely have it drive thru so where we could feed...inside and it would just simplify our feeding tremendously.” — Brian Riley [25:04]
• Place office/surgery rooms on the EXTERIOR of the barn to preserve interior pen space.
  • “I would have moved all of that to the exterior part of the barn and just done an addition to the front of these barns for that area.” — Chad Charmerson [32:25]
• Layout mistakes: not enough flow for movement/loading; must design for trucks, trailers, and pasture access.
  • “So many places…did anyone think about how you’re actually going to get into it...maximize your runs outside?” — Host [34:41]

Common Barn Design Mistakes for New Breeders

Segment Start: [29:47]

• Always underestimate need for space; build bigger.
• Ask questions, tour other barns, learn what works in your climate and for your needs.
• Locate support “rooms” (offices, surgery, wash racks) externally to avoid wasting core barn space.

Final Advice: Building or Renovating a Barn

Segment Start: [38:28]

• Iterative process: Accept that your barn will never be “done” — continuous adaptations required.
  • “As soon as you think you’re done…something will change in your operation…we've all had to do it in chunks.” – Host [38:28]
• Function over fancy. Focus on healthy airflow and adaptable design.
• Use “sweat equity” and labor; don't feel compelled to buy everything at once.
  • “You can get a lot done with Armstrong labor. You don’t have to have a tool for every purpose. A lot of it is how much motivation you have yourself…” — Brian Riley [39:54]
• Always put a lean-to on barns for shade and comfort—regretted by those who skipped this step.
• Plan so buildings can serve multiple uses (make all doors big enough for skid loaders, etc.).
• Ventilation trumps all else in long-term usability and animal health.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Unexpected Tools: “The joke around here is, as Amy says, the day I kick the bucket, the leaf blowers are going with me because I drive everybody nuts.” — Chad Charmerson [06:23]
• On Building Size: “It's not fun having to look at that bill for what you're gonna build. But…you're going to fill it up, you're gonna use that space.” — Jake Warntjez [31:02]
• On Learning from Others: “Ask questions, look at those other barns, go to places…figure out what you could make work.” — Jake Warntjez [41:41]
• On Slow Progress: “We didn't start where we are today…a lot of sweat equity put into it. So you can get a lot done with a little if you're motivated.” — Brian Riley [39:54]
• On Adapting Facilities: “Every building we build or redo, you always make the door big enough to get a skid loader in … if for some reason everything goes to crap in a handbasket … you got the ability to utilize those buildings in a different way.” — Cody Schmincke [45:01]

Key Takeaways

• Plan for Growth: Always overbuild on space, and structure your barn for future expansion and multipurpose use.
• Function First: Prioritize ventilation and workflow over flashy amenities. Keep your design flexible for evolving sheep operations.
• Utilities & Comfort: Concrete alleyways, easy-to-clean surfaces, and the humble leaf blower will transform daily chores.
• Iterative Process: Accept improvements and changes as your barn, flock, and show strategies evolve.
• Lean on Community: Visit and observe established operations, ask questions, and share lessons learned for the best results.
• Affordable Innovations: Mini-splits, portable fans, and auger systems for feeding automation can level-up both efficiency and animal well being.

For more details and resources, and to order Flare or connect with the barn renovation experts, visit Championdrive.com and Essential Feeds.