There was once a time in Oregon Sheep Industry history when ewe and ram sales were plentiful and the chance to get out multiple times a year to network with your peers over a complimentary meal,welcome new folks into the sheep family and quite honestly just compare notes about genetics over a steel railing were plentiful. These wonderful social gatherings also afforded producers an opportunity to exchange great innovative ideas, pick up some wonderful genetics to add to their flocks, and allow juniors to be able to purchase some very competitive sheep to add to their summer show strings, all without a lot of drive time, travel expenses, and transportation hassles.
Then something happened and the historic sales started disappearing one by one until the Willamette Valley Ram Sale held in Scio every summer is the only one remaining.
While the sales have slowly disappeared, one thing hasn’t changed through this transition.
Oregon shepherds still produce some of the top sheep in the nation!
Sought after by many and regularly shipped throughout the nation and into Canada for premium prices, Oregon sheep are truly some of the best in the country! Oregonians can be counted among the elite consignors and competitors at many of the top national shows and sales! This isn’t a new thing and honestly this isn’t by chance. It is because our shepherds focus on quality!
Quality genetics! Quality Breeding Programs! Quality People
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*** SUCCESS ***
It is this great history that has spurred on a group of dedicated purebred sheep enthusiasts into starting up a new sale. The inaugural Oregon Purebred Sheep Breeders Ewe Lamb Sale is set to be unveiled this Saturday April 25th in Scio, Oregon, Chalked full of a nice, solid set of ewe lambs from some of the top breeders and producers in the state, this sale is sure to be hit. The show is set to start at 11 AM with the sale to follow at 1 PM.
The Line-up
Sixteen head of great quality ewe lambs from a variety of elite level producers are set to walk through the sale ring Saturday. The breed breakdown will include: four wetherdams, two Horned Dorsets, a Southdown, two Suffolks, two Shropshires, a Katahidin, and four Natural Colored ewe lambs.
Fallesen Sheep Farms-2 Wetherdams
Longtime auctioneer and producer Jake Fallesen from Crabtree, Oregon has two great wetherdam ewe lambs consigned into the sale this weekend. Jake was “Mr. Club Lamb” in Oregon before most of us even knew what the term meant and his sheep have withstood the test of time. I have watched him time and again put good lambs into the hands deserving kids who have gone on to be successful in a lot of show rings. He is and always has been focused on producing good sheep that will go out and work for the buyer! You can check out Fallesen Sheep Farms on Facebook or give Jake a call at 541-979-0868 or email him at jake101@netscape.com.
Silver Creek Farms-2 Wetherdams
With a history of exhibiting high quality sheep across the United States, Billy and Michelle Wade and their family have staked their reputation on producing exceptionally sound sheep that will perform in someone else’s barn as well as they do in their own. With a number of state, regional and national titles under their belt as well as years of a sound breeding program in the pedigrees these two ewe lambs are a sure bet to be exceptionally good quality sheep. Check out the Silver Creek Farms website or give Billy a call at 503-931-6827 or email at wadewesthamps@yahoo.com for more information.
Silver Creek Lambscapes-2 Horned Dorsets
Maria Rooney from Silverton has been raising quality sheep for a number of years now and the quality of the genetics show her dedication to raising great all purpose sheep. Although, primarily known for her nationally acclaimed Romneys and Coopworths, the farm’s Horned Dorsets are quickly building their own reputation for success based on accomplishments both in the show ring and on the farm. As one of the few remaining show/commercial flocks, this pair of ewe lambs are sure to work for anyone. Maria can be contacted via phone at 503-480-9455 or by email at kendalls@frontier.com.
Abell Family Farm-1 Southdown
This multi-generational family of shepherds have been successfully producing great quality Southdown sheep in Oregon for years. The family can generally be seen successfully showing their sheep at a number of county, state and national venues every summer and have not only several breed titles under their belt, but several Supreme Champion titles. Add their outstanding resume to a great family focus toward kids and you have a recipe for success. Patty Abell can be contacted at 503-266-2229 or via the farm email at abellfamilyfarm@yahoo.com.
South Beckman Suffolks-2 Suffolks
Bruce Murphy and his wife Arlene of Oregon City have been working diligently over the past several years to raise and exhibit high quality and productive Suffolk sheep that can be competitive at a number of different levels. The farm’s great show results over the past few years have certainly spoke to their hard work, including exhibiting the Reserve Champion Suffolk Ewe at the 2014 Oregon State Fair. Bruce and Arlene can be reached at 503-266-2229 or via email at honeymooners@ccwebster.net for more information on their consignments.
Kalina Shropshires-2 Shropshires
The Kalina Family has been raising great quality Romney and Shropshire sheep for generations in Albany, Oregon. Over the past fifty plus years the family’s sheep have racked up some pretty competitive titles at not only the county and state level, but also the regional and national levels. In addition, Sue Kalina and her late father Jack have served in a number of leadership positions to help further the industry. The Kalina family can be reached at 541-928-9865 or via email at skalina26@gmail.com.
KRK Katahdins-1 Katahdin
KRK Katahdins is known as the leading Katahdin producer in Oregon. Passionate about the breed and passing along their many productive attributes, owner Karen Kenagy can often be found singing the many “easy care” praises of the breed to anyone and everyone. Add in great quality sheep that are deeply competitive and easily marketed nationwide with a compassionate shepherd that is focused on quality ethics and one has a wonderful success story. With so many wonderful sheep to choose from on the farm I am sure Karen is bringing a good one to bid on. Karen can be reached at503-351-6978 or via email at krkenagy@hotmail.com. You can also follow KRK Katahdins on Facebook.
Salisbury’s Sheep-2 Natural Colored Dorset & 2 Natural Colored Merino Cross
If you are looking for some great natural colored sheep genetics, here is your opportunity. Up and coming young producer Terri Salisbury is offering up some of her rare Natural Colored Dorsets for sale this weekend. These exceptional quality dual purpose sheep are sure to put dollars and cents back into the buyers pockets in the way of some great hand spinning fleeces as well as pounds of lamb over the scale.
Over the years, Terri has also invested in some elite Merino bloodlines from the famous Mendenhall Wool Ranch out of California. Terri has went on to be successful with her sheep at a number of venues throughout Oregon and to get this sale off to a great start she will be sacrificing two of her top Merino cross ewe lambs for the show and sale. This is a great buyer’s opportunity to get some premium natural colored genetics.
CONTACTS
Oregon Purebred Sheep Breeders Association President Maria Rooney along with sale committee members Bruce Murphy and Terri Salisbury have worked diligently alongside association members to get this inaugural sale up and going. More information can be found at the Oregon Purebred Sheep Breeders Association website or you can join the Oregon Purebred Sheep Breeders Association open group on Facebookto check out the latest information about the consignment sheep and the sale.
Stop by and support the sale and come help be a part of reviving our Oregon Sheep Industry history!
Oregon Sheep Connection 