06/22/2026
OUR HISTORY
FATHER’S DAY: A CELEBRATION OF OUR GREATEST SIRES
On this special weekend celebrating dads, we want to highlight some of the most memorable rams from our flock. We certainly have many ram pictures from the early years, but there are few notations on the backs. Thus, we wish we could pay homage to some of those super stars, but that is not possible. Here are the ones that stand out from lore, pictures we found of purchased rams or from memories of those of us still living (* indicates a photo is included in this post) …
“Pop” and “Pop’s Boy” – We know from lore that “Pop”, a Pullin ram born and raised, was an amazing stud probably in the 1930’s or 1940’s. His son “Pop’s Boy” was sold in a sale, later repurchased and successfully followed in his sire’s footsteps. There are likely photos in the archives, but which ones?
Lawson & Moss Ram * – Picture found with the following notations: “Lawson & Moss $500 ram lamb. Holder Jackie Goater.” Our post last week had an article written by John Goater from Buck & Doe Run Valley Farms in 1938. We estimate this may be him or a brother, placing this picture possibly around 1940.
“Jake” Lundsford 363744 – Born in the spring of 1959 and deceased in June 1966 was noted in our 1965 and 1967 production sale reference sires as the father as a number of the top selling sheep in the sale.
MacCarthy 169 400883 – Born in February 1961, he was noted in our 1965 and 1967 production sale reference sires as “the sire of the majority of our 1964 show lambs that were so well received in the 6 states where they were shown … The top 5 yearling rams in our 1965 sale were sired by him!”
R.D.N. “Aristocrat” 392549 * – Born September 11, 1961, he was purchased as a ram lamb in the 1962 Corn Belt Sale. His lambs included the 1964 Missouri State Fair Champion Ewe.
“Hawkeye” 403304 – Born January 4, 1963, he was a Pullin bred and raised ram that was the 1963 Wisconsin State Fair Champion.
Roselawn 6829-1100 Reg 424364 * – Born January 12, 1965, he was purchased at the 1966 California Ram Sale jointly with Iowa State University. He sired many top sheep and is well remembered by the family.
“Ramrod” NDSU 63-373 Reg 404297 * – This was a very famous ram in Hampshire history that the family purchased in the 1966 Kopp dispersal sale.
“Crusader” * – Purchased at the 1968 Van Vleck sale as a yearling.
R.D.N. “America” – Purchased around the early 1970’s at the Nichols farm, this ram was very large for the time and made a tremendous impact on the flock.
“Mr. Bob” Bobendrier 7919 Reg 499304 – We purchased this ram as a yearling in 1980. His dam, Stuart 7813-1002647, was champion at Iowa and 3rd at the NAILE. He had a significant impact on our flock. We remember a great picture of him … but where is it?
“Mr. G” * – This Griswold ram was reknown in Hampshire history. We purchased him in 1979 as a 5-year-old and were able to breed him for one season.
Kirlin 220-88 * – We purchased this March 1998 ram at the 1989 Midwest Stud Ram Sale, and he sired a tremendous set of lambs every year including some phenomenal females.
“Power Point” Kjeldgaard 01-507 * – We purchased this March 2001 ram at the 2002 Midwest Stud Ram Sale. He put some beautifully extended front ends on his offspring that we still see today in his extended progeny.
Held 15-1656 NNP RR * - This was our pick of the Helds’ ram lambs in 2015, and he had a significant impact on our flock. Many of our top sheep go back to him today.
“Apollo” Pullin 137-18 * - This homegrown stud from January 2018 is one of the best sheep we have ever raised. He was very successful in the show ring as a lamb and yearling but even better in the barn until he passed last September. His bloodlines are in many of our top sheep. His half-sister “Reba” was the 2014 National Reserve Senior Champion at the NAILE.
Happy Father’s Day to all our great sires and to all you dads out there!
