Bill's father purchased
3 bred Hampshire ewes for him and his brothers in 1950. It became
a 4-H project that continues to this day. These 3 ewes are the base
for our current flock of 100 registered Hampshire ewes.
The original Fuller Bros. & sister,
Laraine, in 1957.
We exhibited our
Hamps extensively during the late 1950's and 60's, before family obligations
became a priority. We now exhibit our home bred and raised Hamps throughout
the upper Midwest, showing at North and South Dakota, Nebraska and
Minnesota State Fairs plus several large county fairs. Bill has exhibited
Hamps at the South Dakota State Fair for 53 consecutive years.
Our Hamps have
established a reputation for fast gaining, long deep-bodied rams and
ewes. These sheep do well for the commercial producer and seedstock
breeder. Our many repeat customers are the reason for our success.
1967 Twin Ram Lambs (picture used
on Christmas card)
We will not offer
ram lambs for sale unless they have a daily gain of over one pound
per day of age. Many wean at 1.2 to 1.5 pounds per day.
We purchase a
few stud rams to bring in new bloodlines, but also use many exceptional
home raised rams from our different ewe family lines. Our current
flock is a uniform, predictable Hampshire type sheep that is useful
for the present day sheep producer.
Today, Icky guards his flock.
In addition to
the Hampshire sheep, we have also accumulated a vast collection of
Hampshire Flock Record Books. These volumes record all the registrations
and transfers for each year going back to 1889 when Registered Hampshire
Sheep were first introduced in the United States. We are currently
missing volumes 1 and 2, 6, 7 and 8. The hunt for these books has
been a very interesting adventure with the addition of many new sheep
friends along the way. We believe we have the most complete set outside
the office of the American Hampshire Sheep Association.
We include pictures
of some of the champion ewes and rams we have produced down through
the years. You are welcome to take a walk down memory lane with these
"vintage" pictures.
