North Dakota sheep producers were presented "Master Sheep Producer" awards at the annual banquet of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association in Bismarck, December 3. The banquet and awards presentation were a part of the tenth annual North Dakota Sheep Convention.
Each was recognized for their excellence and efficiency in sheep production as well as their contribution to the North Dakota sheep industry and their communities. The awards are sponsored by the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association and the NDSU Extension Service.
Lyle and Noreen Hankel
Oakes
Lyle and Noreen Hankel of Oakes were a couple honored as North Dakota's 1989 Master Sheep Producers. Their operation, located in Dickey County, consists of 350 ewes. Sheep have been a part of their farming operation for 26 years and make up 65% of their farm income.
Utilization of records, a good feeding program. and the involvement of the entire family in the operation are keys to the success of the Hankel operation. With Lyle taking care of the feeding and Noreen the lambing, their lambing rate has been 170%. In addition, their death lose has been 5% or less. That in itself speaks about good management practices.
The facilities consist of a 36' x 56' lambing barn, a 36' x 70' insulated barn with lambing jugs, a 24' x 40' pole barn, a 18' x 16' pole barn, and a 40' x 48' barn. Ten drylot pens plus 450 feet of fence line feeders serve as feeding areas for the lambs as well as the ewes. Ewes graze pasture plus Sudex during the summer plus in the fall they graze cornstalks. Hankel's grow their own roughage, but purchase their grain and concentrates.
Each ewe's records are kept on individual index cards. For identification, ewes are double tagged with tag colors changed each year for easy sorting. Lambs are temple-tagged, changing color every week to 10 days to help aid in sorting and weaning.
Hankel's use an early weaning system to a no-hay concentrated ration for the lambs. All lambs are fed out and sold mostly through the tele-auction.
The Hankel's are members of the NDLWPA, Farm Bureau, and are 4-H leaders. They belong to St. John's Lutheran Church where they are Sunday School teachers and on the church board. Lyle and Noreen have three children, Jeremy, Jeff and Shawn.
Carmen Richard
Rolette
Carmen Richard of Rolette is the other North Dakota 1989 Master Sheep Producer. Her flock consists of 50 registered Columbia ewes. The farm is located in Rolette County where Carmen's husband, Floyd, raises Hereford cattle and does small grain farming. Registered sheep have been a part of Carmen's life for the past 9 years.
A unique combination of initiative, a willingness to learn, and excellent relationships with her customers are keys to Richard's success.
Carmen started raising sheep an alternative to working outside the home. She found that additional income could be made from the sheep. Because of the size of her facilities, the flock will be kept small. An older barn that has been converted serves as the lambing shed.
The flock in 1988 had a lamb drop of 181% during the winter and 144% in late spring. Death losses were at 12% during the winter and 6% during the spring. The average fleece wt was 13.5 pounds per ewe.
Production records are an important part of the Richard's operation. The flock is on the North Dakota Sheep Testing Program. Carmen has found that her customers are very interested in production records. Prior to advertising her sheep, she prepares a data sheet on each ram, including all sire and dam production information. She feels this helps the customer in making their selection.
Richard is a member of the NDLWPA, a 4-H leader, a member of the 4-H livestock committee, and on the Extension Advisory Council. She has been the church organist for 30 years and is a former Altar Society officer and circle chairperson. Carmen and her husband, Floyd, have six children; Cheryl, Danny, Curtis, Craig, Mark and Sheyna.