This edition of A Few Minutes is with Keith Berry from Sac City, Iowa, the market judge for the Indiana State Fair Market Lamb Show. Enjoy reading our candid interview with Mr. Keith Berry and be sure to check back for more state fair judge interviews!
Why do you take the time out of your busy schedule to judge market lamb shows?
I feel it is one of the best ways to have your ideas and thoughts shared with others in the industry today. Judging is also a great way to keep up with the ever changing types of sheep that are out there and see what is available in the world of genetics.
I also enjoy the challenges of sorting and evaluating the projects being exhibited, along with the interaction of the kids. I remember my daughter's first T-ball game - I was there early and we didn’t have an umpire, so I got volunteered for the job. I thoroughly enjoyed being that close to the action and decided if I was to umpire I might as well be one step closer, so I began helping coach. Judging is a lot like coaching---if you don’t like what is being called in the game, get involved and try to make a difference.
What is your background and current involvement in the sheep industry?
I grew up on a grain and livestock farm and have never gotten very far away from those roots. I grew up showing sheep [both purebred suffolks and market lambs]. My father and I ran around 200 ewes in my youth, along with a herd of 70 Simmental cows bred for raising production bulls, and a farrow to finish hog operation. I have always enjoyed trying to make a better animal than the parent stock . Upon graduation we increased our ewe flock to 550 ewes and eliminated the hog and cattle operation to solely concentrate on the sheep flock. We attended many sales throughout the US every year selling market lambs and breeding stock. Today my family and I run around 340 ewes strictly for raising market lambs to show and farm 1500 acres of row crops.
How does your current operation effect what you look for when evaluating sheep?
Through the 37 years of raising sheep I have seen many types and kinds come and go. I tend to be not as trendy as some of the younger generation judging today. The pendulum swings wide in the livestock show industry, but always passes the center point at each swing. I have come to accept that the showring does not always stay as closely in tune with the commercial industry as maybe it should. I still believe in having some grow in our projects, especially at $2\lb. for fat lambs. Why not raise a lamb that weighs 140 lbs as opposed to a lamb that weighs 120? We have more feed sources available in the Midwest than any place in the world, so why not utilize them?
What person/people influenced or helped to shape your view on what the ideal sheep should possess?
I believe as you grow in life you develop your own views through your own experiences about the ideal sheep and that is what makes each judge unique in their own way. My father taught me a lot about animal husbandry growing up. He maybe didn’t influence me as much on the ideal sheep, but the other assets such as integrity, honesty and hard work have not been fogotten. I’ve always appreciate Bob Kimm’s lectures on the sheep industry when we visited. I still like the Jerry Fitch phrase and use it a lot “from the last rib back.” There are a host of great breeders out there that I value their thoughts and opinions about the business. I suppose the ones I respect the most are the ones that helped us get our start in the late 70’s and early 80’s. They are still very competitive and visual in the business today. To me that means they’ve done some things right for an extended period of time.
What are your initial sorts when evaluating market lambs?
My first sort comes as they walk in the ring—do they look like a champion? Is the lamb balanced from front to rear, with good structure? Does it have enough muscle?
When you get down to those top end lambs, what separates them for you?
When the heat gets turned up, the lamb that is firm to the touch with an expressive rack will get me excited. If he is long hindsaddled with a level, big hip I will get even more enthused about him. I like him to be taller at the point of his shoulder than his hip. I will use varing degrees of muscle as long as the lamb is smooth and blends well from front to back. I am not a fan of huge boned, short bodied or quick maturing sheep!
Do you consider yourself more of a handle judge or a profile judge?
I would say most think I am a profile judge. In the end I will want him to look like a champion if I am to get in the picture with him. The lamb still has to be handled by me for fat cover and length of loin. The rest can be visually seen.
What would you consider an acceptable fat range?
I would like my champion to be in the .18 to .25 fat range. At a mid summer show I think that is plenty. I would tolerate a bit more as we go into the fall and winter season.
What is an acceptable weight range for this time of the year in your eyes?
At a state fair in the summer with lots of numbers 135 to 145 would be in the ideal range for me. Every lamb has its point of looking its best so there are exceptions.
What’s your biggest pet peeve in the showring?
#1. The kid who has his lamb out of line in the side view so I can find him.
#2. The one who is trying to see what the sideline coach is instructing them to do while I am trying to evaluate their lamb.
#3 Too much paint that smears!
What’s the best market lamb you have ever seen?
My favorites that I have judged would be the lamb shown to me at the 2006 NAILE by Amburgey family, Vinyard lamb of 2009 OYE, and Banbury lamb of the 2009 Ohio State Fair Junior Show.
Who’s the person you most like to sit down and watch judge? Scott Griener
What do you think is the most important issue facing the sheep industry?
I feel that we need to get more people involved in the production of sheep in general. I’m afraid if we don’t, we will slowly run out of numbers of slaughter lambs which in turn leads to a decrease in slaughter houses. That over time leads to less competition in the market place and we all know what that leads to.
You’ve got one night to go anywhere in the country and watch one band, where is it and who you watching?
Growing up I loved the “Head East” band at Okiboji by the lake. For those of you that are too young to know them, I would like to see the Zac Brown band play some day.
Who is your favorite sports team? NEW YORK JETS
What is your favorite place to vacation?
At a sheep show somewhere with the 3 kids, as that is where most of them have been.
Thanks Keith for your time!
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