Ballots will be mailed out by the 15th of December, and are due back to the election chairperson by January 10.

Here are the candidates and their bios:

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT:  Julia “Duckey” Chute, Granite State Sheep Co., Lempster, NH

Hello. My name is Julia “Duckey” Chute from Lempster NH. My husband Scott and I are owners of Granite State Sheep Company. Currently we are raising and breeding primarily Natural Colored Blue Faced Leicesters.  I have been raising and showing sheep since the mid 1970s as what started as a harmless 4-H project. I started with Suffolk sheep until 2009 when our son Daniel got us hooked onto the Dorper breed. We enjoyed the time spent together as a family raising and showing the Dorpers, enough so that I went through the Dorper Judging Certification course. This allowed me the opportunity to Judge the Dorper National Sale this past April.                                                     What led me to the BFLs, you ask? I have always admired the beauty of this breed when The Chapin Family from here in NH raised and showed them. So when given the opportunity to purchase their Natural Colored flock I couldn’t resist.  Currently I am finishing my term as President of New England Sheep and Wool Growers Association. I am serving as a board member for the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Growers Association.                                                                                    Youth programs are very important to me, they are our future. So with that being said I have been heavily involved with the North East Youth Sheep Show since the early 1990s. As an exhibitor at the beloved Eastern States Exposition I am serving as one of the two sheep representatives on the livestock committee. In conclusion I am passionate about the sheep industry as a whole and even more excited about my BFL adventure.

CANDIDATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT: FLOYA HAWKINS, Floya’s Fleece, Chana, IL

I would like to introduce myself.  I’m Floya Hawkins.  My family has had sheep for the past 47 years.  Since I’m a hand spinner I do take the time to fight with ewes and lambs to keep their jackets on.  I fell in love with Bluefaced Leicesters at the Maryland Sheep and Wool show.  Then I bought my first breeding pair from Kelly Ward.  Since then I have many breeders I need to thank for helping to build my blue flock.  I’m in the process of learning how hard it is to get AI to be successful with a ewe.  I truly want fellow breeders to be successful with AI since we desperately need new genetics in the United States.  This breed is so special.  I love their fleece and personality as well as their ears.  I enjoy promoting this breed and talking to anyone interested.

CANDIDATES FOR FIVE (5) BOARD POSITIONS

Kelly Cooper, Fusilier Sheep, Major, SK, Canada

Good day, my name is Kelly Cooper, along with my husband Jason, run a flock of 20+ BFL ewes and a few rams in Western Saskatchewan, along the Alberta border.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   We got into the breed in the intent to make mules with our NCC ewes.  The purebreds quickly became one of my favorites.  The bonus of the BFL’s was the fleece in which I have shipped right across North America.  We sell long yearling rams and ewes as we lamb later in the season, so our lambs are to small for the local shows and sales.  It was quite a challenge to keep them through our harsh Canadian winters but after 10 years we have it figured out.

Rachel Green, The Green Farm, Greenbush, MN:

My husband Roger and I raise BFL’s in far northern Minnesota, close to the Canadian Border. Over the years there have been several breeds of sheep raised on our farm. In addition, we have a herd of Boer goats. My interest in BFL’s started due to my love of all fiber arts, and the strength, crimp and micron count of BFL fleece. They have proven to be prolific mothers and gentle giants. They are well suited to their role as a multipurpose breed and we enjoy their meat, fleece and pelts in a variety of ways. Our original flock began with a trip to Michigan and purchases from both Brenda Lelli and Pitchfork Ranch. This gave our flock great structure and we continue to improve our fleece with selective breeding and the purchase of some ewes from Floya Hawkins. We enjoy the show circuit when we can get away from our off farm jobs.

Ruth Pohl Hawkins, Little Hawk Farm, Baldwin, KS 

Hi, I would like to be considered for a position on the BFL board. While I am new to BFLs, I am not new to the livestock and fiber world or holding a board position. In 2011 I started our farm with a few Pygora Goats. While I absolutely love the goats, the farm was missing something… SHEEP! I added BFLs to the farm, in 2020, and fell in love with the Bluefaced Leicester breed. With a background in sheep and showing in 4-H, it is wonderful to have a small flock of sheep again! As a weaver & spinner, having my own wool to work with is pure joy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               I have read over the Bylaws and Operations of the BFL Union and feel confident that with my experience I can contribute and help the BFL Union to continue forward.

Randy Pritchard,  Regal Blue Sheep and Wool, Ft. Collins, CO

My wife and I have been raising Bluefaced Leicester sheep in Colorado for about six years. Rainey loves to spin, dye, and create with wool and we started looking for a breed of sheep to raise for both meat and wool on our small acreage. After researching many breeds, we decided on BFLs…and we couldn’t be happier! They are easy to handle, interestingly entertaining, and they work well for our situation. Our foundation flock came from Montana and are of the Bitterroot line that Judy Colvin carefully developed using artificial insemination from most of the UK sires that were available at that time. I am a veterinarian and we continue to use artificial insemination from UK rams to raise BFL seedstock. We hope to continue to improve on the BFL genetics in the US while staying true to the breed standards.

I am running for a position on the BLU board of directors because I believe that BFLs have a lot of untapped potential to become a more popular breed here in the US. I would like to contribute to that effort in any way that I can.

Sharon O’Donnell, Shepherd’s Run Farm, Auburn Twp., OH

My husband Bill & I have raised sheep all our married lives (54 years).  We were high school sweethearts.  We were both in 4-H – me with sewing projects and Bill with his market lambs and Oxfords. But in my senior year, I had my first market lamb. And so it began.  Our 3 kids raised market lambs and breeding sheep.  We’ve raised Oxfords, Hampshires showing at country fairs and the Ohio State Fair.
After the kids left home it was time for a change!  WOOL SHEEP!  We started with natural colored Lincoln Corriedale crosses.  Then came Border Leicesters in the 90s and learning to spin.  If Mom is going to be in the barn, I want something I can spin.  We discovered BFL’s in 2012.
I belong to a spinning guild and love talking about new lambs.  I would enjoy being on the Board and promoting this wonderful breed and our association.