Age: 16
Hometown: Salem
Parents: Curt & Dani Baldwin
Siblings: Hailey & Khloe Baldwin
FFA Chapter: Salem
Chapter Advisor: Mr. Dalton Sanders
What is your involvement in agriculture? “I started raising hair sheep at the age of 6. I got into breeding sheep because of my great grandfather: he raised Katahdin sheep. My first sheep were purchased from his farm and I have continued to raise Katahdin. They are easy keepers and have a gentle temperament. My herd is 15 head, 14 ewes and 1 ram. I feed grain through-out the year.
My ewes generally lamb in late fall, but I have recently switched out my herd ram and this might affect my lambing season this year. I would like to experiment with spring lambing, due to the colder temperatures in the fall.
“This is my first year in high school FFA and I am doing my hair sheep production as my Supervised Agricultural Experience. In the past, I have been involved in my local 4-H club where I have shown my hair sheep along with meat sheep. I have shown ewes in breeding stock and I have bred and raised hair sheep to show in the market class. Katahdin’s are known for their meat quality, so they are generally sold for their meat.”
What is your favorite part of being involved in agriculture/living on a farm? “I love to watch my animals grow and reproduce. It’s something that I am honored to experience. Living on a farm has taught me a lot of responsibility.”
What are your future plans? “I would like to go into the welding industry, which is agricultural construction. Working on my farm has allowed me the opportunity to experiment with welding. I enjoy repairing and creating things around the farm through welding. I have worked on welding pipe fences, parts on trucks and equipment used around my farm, and my favorite is making gifts. My current project is welding a sheep fitting stand for shows.”
Awards:
August 2, 2019 – my home raised ewe “Ellie Mae” won Grand Champion of hair sheep breed stock at the Phelps County Fair.
August 7, 2020 – 3rd place Market Wool Lamb at the Phelps County Fair
August 6, 2021 – 1st place Market Hair Lamb
