Championdrive.com is pleased to present this week's, “Beyond the Winner's Circle” featuring sisters Brittney (Knop) Roorda from Johnston, IA and Louise Knop from Ankeny, IA. We invite you to read our interview with Brittney & Louise below. Please continue to check back weekly for our next edition of “Beyond the Winner's Circle”.
 Married/Kids?
Brittney - My husband, Adam, and I have two children. Claire is 2 ½, and Nathan was born this January.
Louise - I am not married, but I have a wonderful boyfriend named Justin.
College/Major?
Brittney - I graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Public Service & Administration in Agriculture, with an area of emphasis in Public Relations.
Louise - I graduated Des Moines Area Community College in Agricultural Business, and then went to graduate with my Bachelor’s degree from Grand View University.
What is your job/career?
Brittney - Following my job as an account coordinator/manager for The Meyocks Group, a West Des Moines marketing/communications agency, after graduating from college, I accepted the communications director position at Des Moines First Assembly of God. I handle all internal and external communications efforts for the church.
Louise - While in school I worked for Hy-Vee (largest grocery store in the Midwest). I continued on in management once I graduated college. I am currently the Assistant Manager of Wine and Spirits.
 Has showing impacted your career?
Brittney - Without my experiences raising sheep, including my time in the show ring, I would lack a strong understanding of dedication, responsibility and how to handle life’s highs and lows. I am convinced it is hard to match what you gain raising and showing animals than with any other opportunity.
Louise - I have seen such a difference in my dedication and determination to get the job done no matter what circumstances. I can attest that showing taught me these skills.
What do you feel your biggest accomplishment is thus far?
Brittney - I value my career accomplishments, but they are trumped by the growth and change I have seen in my life since becoming a wife and mother.
Louise - After graduating school my mind was set to continue to educate myself in my job. I feel some of my largest accomplishments have been becoming a Nationally Certified Food Safety Manager as well as Certified Wine Specialist.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Brittney - In 10 years, Adam and I will have children reaching middle school-age. We hope to give them the opportunity to be involved with raising show animals.
Louise - In 10 years, I see myself married and with children. I would also love to continue to work on the genetics that my family has worked so hard to create over the years.
What was your favorite show? Why?
Brittney - Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, NE was always a favorite show for me. My family is linked with a rich history at the show. My dad and aunts showed champion Hereford heifers there, and one aunt served as an Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H queen. My own experiences, from various placings in class, all the way to winning grand lamb twice and  being named Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H queen, gave me a deep respect and love for the traditions that made Ak-Sar-Ben unique from all other shows.
Louise - Every show we went to has its wonderful memories, but I can honestly say that the Iowa State Fair has to top them all. Since my sister was 4 years older than me I grew up in the sheep barn at the State Fair. I remember when she won Reserve Champion, it was my family’s first lamb in the Winner’s Circle ever. Years later, I won Grand Champion and felt like I was on top of the world because it was my very own! It made such a memorable sight that Iowa Public Television recorded me winning and I was on the opening of their State Fair show for years.
Favorite lamb you showed? Why?
Brittney - I think everyone holds special memories of their first show animal. Mine was a gentle, doe-eyed ewe lamb named “Honey Bun”. Even though I did not win a class with her, she taught me my first lessons about the show ring.
Louise - After years of training and showing lambs, my second to last year I had one of the hardest lambs to train. His name was Ammo, and he tested the limits on everything. In fact, his name says it all. After one evening I gave up and told my Dad that I wasn’t going to show Ammo, he then told me that in fact, yes, I was going to show him. Hours and hours of working with Ammo, AKSARBEN came and I took him there. As soon as we got into the ring, my nerves were still a mess because I didn’t want him to bolt in the ring and embarrass me, but he was the calmest lamb out there. It was like he was meant to be in the ring. In fact I was nominated for showmanship and took him out and after an hour of testing the showman’s limits the judge named me Grand Champion Showman! Ammo taught me that everything I’ve ever claimed about showing, teaching kids about patience and perseverance was true!
 What did you enjoy the most about showing?
Brittney - I still value the bonds my family has because of the hours we spent raising these animals together. Plus, I still have great friends from across the country that I would not have met without showing lambs.
Louise - The family experience I had showing can never be topped. The joys and disappointments in this lifestyle taught me valuable life lessons and I would never give them up in the world.
What do you miss most about showing?
Brittney - On a cool and crisp fall day, I miss the family experiences of daily chores and getting lambs ready for the next show. On days like that, I can still feel the nervousness and excitement of arriving at the show and walking into the show ring. I can still smell the diesel engine exhaust from waiting in the pickup in the check-in line. I can still hear the clippers, blow dryers and muffled ring announcer calling the next group to the waiting area. I can still see my family pulling in the same direction to getting the lambs ready for the ring. Great memories!
Louise - The memories from showing will stick with me forever! I miss the family time my sister and I had in the barns from cleaning out the pens to working the lambs. I miss the excitement of loading the trailer up and waking up early and heading to the shows. I miss walking around the corner on our farm and seeing little lamb’s faces peering through the fence knowing I was on my way to feed them. Today, I can still understand the excitement in young people’s faces when I see them getting ready to walk into the ring, and it just feels like yesterday that it was me.
If you could go back and do one thing over (showing wise), what would it be?
Brittney - Besides wanting the change some answers I gave in some showmanship classes (which I am sure the judges found humorous at the time), my show ring experiences taught me a valuable lesson that I am much better at putting into practice now — valuing every individual no matter how they choose to react to you.
Louise - The 90’s had some interesting western wear that we all wore showing. I would take that back in a heartbeat! Other than that, there really isn’t anything.
Who helped you along the way the most?
Brittney - My dad and mom, Fred & Janine Knop, and my sister Louise. Without them, I would not be who I am today. (Thank you Dad, Mom and Louise from the bottom of my heart!)
Louise - I could never thank my Dad, Mom and sister enough. Like I’ve said before, showing was a family affair. The life experiences I had could never have happened without any one of them!
 What is one piece of advice for those looking to go into your career?
Brittney - You will be provided many opportunities in college. Weigh them carefully and jump on those that will allow you to meet and connect with people. In many opportunities I have been given in life, I have found that while what I knew was important, the icing on the cake was who I knew.
Louise - The people you meet over the years could be a huge help to you one day. Make sure you are being an example that you would want future employers to see always.
If you had two lambs in the grand drive, who would you get to show the other one?
Brittney - Once my sister, Louise, was old enough, she was my go-to-girl. Who better to have showing your lambs than the one who trained and cared for them with you every day?
Louise - My sister, who else to show your lambs than the person that taught you how to show? Once, my sister was too old my second showman was Amy Lund. She and I grew up together in the show ring because our sister’s were the same age and we were around the same age.
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