Ballots will be mailed out  the 1st week of November, and are due back to the election chairperson by December 1st. Ballots will be mailed to all active members as of October 1st. Here are the candidates:

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT

Katie Sullivan

Cloverworks Farm

Albany, VT

Hi, my name is Katie Sullivan and I live in Albany, VT. l have been raising BFLs since 2016 but have been raising sheep since 2012.  My BFL flock is now 20 strong, with 25 Border Leicesters rounding out our numbers.

As a board member, I worked on efforts to update our logo, improve our website and participate actively in outreach to new shepherds.  As President, I would continue these efforts while also helping to initiate projects to keep BFL genetics sustainable long-term in the US in the face of a diminishing likelihood of further semen imports.

FIVE (5) CANDIDATES FOR BOARD POSITIONS

Kat Bierkens

Terra Mia

Days Creek, OR

Please consider Kat Bierkens as one of your next board members. She is running for a second term as a representative of the BFL Union of North America. Kat Bierkens is an artist and flocktender in Southern Oregon where she raises purebred Bluefaced Leicester sheep and a herd of dairy goats under the flockname Terra Mia. She has been working with livestock since 2010 when started attending local sheep and goat shows to learn more about the breed types and standards. In 2014 she acquired her first BFL and has been in love with the breed since. Kat has been working with children and livestock since she moved to Days Creek, Oregon in 2008. She is still currently a 4H leader and works directly with youth in the area providing animals for lease yearly to allow youth, who do not have the facilities, learn the joy (and hard work) that comes from working with sheep and goats. She is currently the youth committee chair at BLU. Kat regularly attends at minimum 4-6 sheep and goat shows a year to get more information about the direction she needs to go with her flock as well as gain insight on what the breed standard should look like. She also feels it is important for the BFL breed to be recognized locally and regionally for their value in breeding programs. This can only be done, she says, with an increased presence at livestock shows and wool breed events.

Kat currently has a small flock of 9 BFL breeding ewes and 4 rams along with her other fiber sheep and crossbred dual-purpose mule ewes, which total 26 head. She has learned to shear her own sheep, process the wool, dye and finally spin and/or craft with the fabulous bfl locks. She feels this hands-on approach is needed to have the ability to rate her animals fleece and make decisions regarding breeding and which sheep get to stay. Her goal is to keep her flock small and only keep the very best genetics and conformationally correct animals.

Related Experience: ~2017-2018 BLU board member and youth committee chairperson. ~2010-2018 4H Sheep and Dairy Goat leader in Douglas County, Oregon. Previous board experience: ~2017-2018 BLU board member and youth committee chairperson. ~6 years on the Days Creek Charter School Board and 2 years Days Creek Charter Fundraising Advisory Committee. ~Became a member of Bluefaced Leicesters Union in 2014. Education: Master Degree in Special Education U of P; Cross Categorical. BS in Liberal Arts, OSU Employment: 2008-2016 Teaching in Special Education Currently employed at the Oregon Virtual Academy

Lynn Braswell 

Lambie Pie Wool

Smithville, MO

Lambie Pie Wool is a small family owned wool sheep business located on the Willow Springs Horse Farm in Smithville, Missouri. Our ewes and rams and lambs are part of our family. We breed and raise our sheep for the wool only. They are well cared for, loved and very friendly. The Blue Faced Leicester breed wool is coveted and a spinners dream.

Retired from a 43 year career in nursing in 2015. In 2015 I purchased 6 pregnant Shetland ewes, 6 BFL/Corriedale cross ewes and one pregnant 3/4 BFL Cheviat ewe. A year later I divested all of the shetlands except for two wethers and purchased a registered BFL Ram from Jen Fitzwater. The following year I divested all of the Ewe crosses except for the Cheviat cross.  I purchased new ewes from Caryn Miller. 5 were registered, one died so today I have 4 registered ewes, three registered rams and 4 registered ewe lambs along with 5 cross ewes with beautiful fleeces.  My cross flock is 7/8 BFL or better and all are crossed with Cheviat except for one that is a BL/BFL cross.  Next year my plan is to divest all cross ewes and have a pure BFL flock (except for a multitude of wethers that my grandchildren have adopted!).

It didn’t take long for me to recognize the gentle nature of the BFL and fall in love with the breed. They are wonderful mothers and the lambs grow quickly and are very healthy.  Their fleece is a dream!  Lustrous, fine and the yarn is drapey and so soft.   

I have gone through a steep learning curve, made mistakes and have tried to go beyond just the basics of animal husbandry toward an understanding of the breed, where we  started and where we can go.  This led me to take a long look at my own flocks lineage and is why this year I traveled to Oregon to purchase a new ram (4G) and two ewe lambs ( Liongate). My plan is to change rams every couple of years until the Midwest BFL’s are more diversified.  

While at Nationals I visited with Karen Szwec about the fact that there are so few midwest breeders.  I have focused on  selling my lambs to people that are willing to get involved in the breed, are looking to develop mule flocks and want to raise registered flocks.  Thus far I have two that have purchased rams that have reserved ewe Lambs for next year.   

I must mention my mentors.  This is not a great business to get into without a guide.  Caryn Miller has been at my side throughout this journey.  She has educated me about the breed, taught me the basics of handling wool and helped me with a multitude of medical issues.  We are in dire straights here when it comes to veterinary medicine for the small ruminant.  Barbie Ernst (Heritage Shetlands) has also helped and holds an annual seminar on small ruminant health and management. Fortunately, my medical background has helped me manage most issues but having veterinary support is indispensable. I hope to hold a similar seminar here in northern Missouri in the near future.  Karen Szwec has helped refine my ability to process wool, introduced me to breeders in the northwest and is there to answer questions whenever I am nearing a panic attack!

Knowing how these women have helped me I am now here for my clients as my lambs move onto other farms.  I send each farm off with a guide that I wrote on the care of sheep which includes links to some of the on line content that has helped me (including bflsheep.com) and am available at any time to assist.  

I have experimented with a couple of wool processors and continue to seek out the best for our type of wool.  I both knit and weave.  

I am interested in tracking our breed from its entry into the US and where the progeny have traveled to.  This interest comes from looking at the lineage of my flock and how best to diversify bloodlines.  

I am also interested in learning to show (I plan on showing at our next national show).  

Lastly I am interested in meeting more breeders from the country.  

Paul Genge

4 G Farms

Ellensburg WA

Hi, I would like to be considered for one of the board positions. I feel my passion for raising a traditional and correct flock of BFL’s while sticking to the highest standards would make me a good candidate for a position. My wife, Sharidyn, and I own 4 G Farms which is a hay and sheep farm in the heart of Washington State. My passion for Bfl’s all started when my wife wanted to get a small flock of fiber sheep (6 ewes and a ram) which were all BFL/Gotland crosses. Well, with four of the ewes being related to my ram that put me out on a mission for a new unrelated ram. That’s when I got my first BFL, a ram named Walden and his daughter, and that’s when it all started! Then, over the next couple years, I have done a lot of research into the breed and talking with a lot of great people. I found out what characteristics/genetics I wanted in my flock, and then purchased Blues from a few different Breeders from across the country that met my breeding standards. These would be the beginning of my foundation flock. I have put a lot of emphasis on increasing the frame size and color while maintaining the true traits. We have spent the last year and half transitioning to an all pasture/ hay flock. We currently have a flock of 30 BFL’s and still growing!! When it comes to my passion for the Blues, it doesn’t just stop at my sheep. Whenever possible, I try to promote the breed. This year, we donated a Blue to our neighbor who was in 4H and she showed the very first BFL in the history of our Fair. I could say it was an eye opener for everyone attending, which met with a lot of questions and I was all so happy to talk about. It was also the first year we showed our own sheep at Black Sheep Gathering (also Nationals for BFl’s) which was a great experience and one that we will continue to do.I look forward to my involvement in the BLU, while also continuing to promote the breed!

Margie Smith

Marlindale Farm

New Oxford, PA

My name is Margie Smith and I would be interested in running for the BLU Board. I’ve been farming as an adult since 1980 in Frederick County Maryland. I worked for a dairy farmer, raised my own milking herd and also worked as a DHIA tester for a couple of years. Working in the dairy business gave me the experience with genetics that I now use with my BFL sheep.

In 1982, my children wanted some lambs. We started with Hampshires, then moved to Hampshire/Suffolk crosses. They lost interest, but I didn’t! I loved working with the genetics to see if I could make a meatier animal. We did get almost there, but it just made me rethink is that all there is to sheep? We were throwing away the fleeces which as a farmer, was something you just didn’t do. I experimented with Montadales, but again, as a cross-over breed, I just thought we could do better. I was introduced to Nancy Starkey who had Border Leicesters at the time. So we experimented with crossing the Montadales with the BL’s. The first generation crosses were OK, but not what I wanted. We then saw a BFL standing in Nancy’s field – the 2^nd time I went to purchase sheep from her. I fell in love with the shimmer and her quiet disposition – so, my first BFL came home.

With help from Emily Chamelin as well as Nancy Starkey, and many others including my wonderful veterinarian – we arrived to where we are now. Only one of my ewes is not born and bred here. I have some of my first generation Marlindale lines still here and still going strong. We are a small farm – only 4 acres, of which we use 2.5 for livestock. My fleeces have been shown since 2000, and we’ve won 1^st place in the BFL division for the past 6 or so years at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

I retired from teaching in 2013, and have worked in retail since then, giving me a sense of marketing of my sheep and fleeces. I have mentored a few people getting started in sheep and in the BFL breed. I am also serving on the Council of our church- 1^st Lutheran Evangelical Church in New Oxford. From farming and teaching (as well as motherhood!) I have developed managerial, organizational and goal-oriented skills. I am a member of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association, Frederick County (Maryland) Sheep Breeders, Pennsylvania Wool Growers Association and Farm Bureau.

I feel I could bring those skills, especially with producing quality fleeces to the BLU. Actually, some of what I’ve learned has been used to develop Face Book “how to’s” for using sheep sheets. We’ve also created a video on skirting a fleece for show and sale.

Thank you for considering me!

Margaret VanCamp

Pitchfork Ranch

Swartz Creek, MI

I’m Margaret Van Camp, and I am running for election to the BLU board. I have been a partner in Pitchfork Ranch in Swartz Creek, Michigan since 1996, where Cindy Cieciwa and I have a flock of 40 ewes, one third of which are BFLs.

I have served as President for the last four years, and am well acquainted with the operations of the board. The policies and practices we have implemented have the BLU on a solid financial footing, with an excellent outlook. I am willing to use this experience to help the board continue this progress. BFLs are increasing in visibility and appeal to breeders with many different goals, and I hope to help continue this progress. In particular, I and encouraged by the growing interest of young breeders in our breed, and would love to see this growth continue.

I would appreciate your vote.