We are pleased to announce our results of the 2013 All Canada Classic Dorset Show!
- McDermit Ranch had the first place Senior Ewe Lamb who went on to win Grand Champion Dorset Ewe.
- Our first place Junior Ewe Lamb won Reserve Champion Dorset Ewe.
- Then our first place Junior Ram Lamb won Grand Champion Dorset Ram. He tied for high selling Dorset ram.
- Our fall born ram lamb was second place Senior Ram Lamb.
- We also had the Champion Dorset Flock.
Lot 118 – McDermit 46A – 1st Place Junior Ram Lamb, Grand Champion Dorset Ram and tied for High Selling Dorset Ram. Purchased by Finlay Farm, Albert & Dena Finlay, Armstrong, BC.
Lot 83 – McDermit 2103Z – 1st Place Senior Ewe Lamb and Grand Champion Dorset Ewe – Purchased by Anita Wiens, Drake, SK. Photo credit to Andrea Blair.
Lot 90 – McDermit 302A – 1st Place Junior Ewe Lamb & Reserve Champion Dorset Ewe – Purchased by Chris & Marianne Heeroma, Neilburg, SK. Photo credit to Andrea Blair.
Lot 91 – McDermit 316A – Second Place Junior Ewe Lamb – Purchased by Barbara Ringstad, Enderby, BC. Photo credit to Andrea Blair.
Lot 112 – McDermit 45Z – Second Place Senior Ram Lamb – Purchased by Glen Alwin Farm, Mr & Mrs Tom Smith, Courtenay, BC.
Lot 108 – McDermit 222A – 6th Place Yearling Ram – Purchased by Spokin Lake Farms, Anna Doherty, 150 Mile House, BC.
Grand Champion Dorset Flock. Photo credit to Andrea Blair.
Our trip to the Classic was a lot of fun. We haven’t shown sheep for 12 years and it was always something we enjoyed doing together.
A big thank you to all the buyers and bidders because without you, there would be no sale! Also, thanks to all the BC producers and volunteers who put so much time and work into planning and organizing the sale. They did a great job of putting on the Classic.
Here is a little bit about our trip. Just after we loaded the sheep on the trailer, there was a beautiful double rainbow over our house.
Double rainbow over the house.
We left the ranch at 7:10 pm on Wednesday. Due to the flooding around Calgary, we decided we better take the Yellowhead highway through Jasper. We’re glad we did because it’s a beautiful drive with gentle grades and light traffic. Apparently, it’s not much farther than the Crowsnest Pass, either.
First view of the Rocky Mountains on the Yellowhead highway.
Just west of Edmonton, we met a gentleman from Athabasca that we delivered a ram to. We chatted for a few minutes then were on our way.
We took pictures of some wildlife along the way – big horn sheep, a bull and cow elk, 2 black bears, a mountain goat and a whitetail deer. We didn’t see any moose until we were back in Saskatchewan near Davidson.
We got into Barriere on Thursday afternoon and unloaded. The sheep had settled in and travelled well, arriving in good shape.
Our sheep in their pens.
The facility was a beautiful new building that was paid for by donated money and was built entirely by volunteers. Pretty amazing.
The new North Thompson Agriplex
On Friday, we put finishing touches on the sheep and had vet inspection and paint branding. It was great to visit with people that we hadn’t seen for many years and also to meet new sheep producers.
Saturday was the show with two rings and two judges keeping busy. Raymond Read from South Africa judged the Dorsets. We are very happy with how our traditional Dorsets placed. When the judge announced our flock to be the Champion Dorset flock, he commented that these were sheep he would like to take back to South Africa with him. Such a nice compliment!
After the show, we went to the delicious lamb banquet then back to the hotel. It had been a long, busy day and it felt good to get some sleep.
The sale started at 10 AM on Sunday and was done around 3:30. It was well attended and prices were good. The sale’s average price for rams of all breeds was $613 and ewes was $451. McDermit Ranch’s ram average was $733 and ewe average was $516. The high selling ram was Lot 321, first place junior Suffolk ram lamb bred by Jordan Livestock. He sold for $3400. The high selling ewe was Lot 269, first place junior Suffolk ewe lamb bred by Jordan Livestock. Congratulations to Rod & Tracy Jordan!
Here is a link to the Classic results on the CSBA website.
We headed home after the sale and got as far as Edson, AB. There had been a major accident just east of town so they had to close the highway. We stayed in Edson overnight. We stopped in to visit some friends in Alberta on Monday and got home at about midnight. Logan had stayed home to take care of things on the ranch and everything was under control when we got home!
