William and Jodi Kelley of Sturgis were recognized during Michigan Shepherd's Weekend as the state's commercial flock of the year representing the Michigan Sheep Producers Assn.
"It really was quite a surprise," said Bill. "I don't think we fit the profile because we are part time farmers and not as large as most commercial flocks; yet there are a lot of flocks out there that are smaller sized."
Both Bill and Jodi work off the farm, so ewes that can handle lambing without their help is a major component of keeping the flock productive.
"We cull heavily on anything with lambing problems, health problems and mothering ability. We can't afford to have problems out there," Bill said. Bill takes a week of vacation when he thinks there will be a flush of lambs.
Lambing begins in late April, winding up in mid to late May. The 125-ewe flock lamb on pasture where the ewes harvest most of their nutritional needs through rotational grazing on the alfalfa/grass mix forage.
The Kelleys have relied heavily on pasture since they began raising sheep thirty-five years ago. They have winter grazed cover crops since the 1970's when rye grass was used to capture chemical build up in the soil. Eighty acres of irrigated crop land owned by family members provide winter pasture area that carries the ewe flock through much of the winter. Seed is either flown on or disked in, depending on the crop and timing. Rye, oats, wheat and wheat/rye combinations have been used along with turnips and radishes. The tuber seeds work best when worked into soil.
"We can actually irrigate once after planting to get the crop started," Bill said. "The cover helps retain nutrients and gives erosion control on our light sandy loam rolling soils. Because of cover crops, most years we can keep stored feed down to less than 90 days and 30 of those days will be in September when the cover crop is establishing."
Rotational grazing fits nicely with Bill's favorite part of sheep production. "I just like watching them graze," he said.
Bill and Jodi began the flock with black faced ewes for the club lamb market, but eventually moved to a commercial flock of crossbred sheep that includes a cross of Hampshire, Suffolk, Dorset and Polypay. Lambs are weaned around sixty days, finished in the feedlot, then sold at nearby markets at 130-135 pounds.
A friend in need of an emergency home for a llama introduced them to the species that soon became their permanent guardian animals. "I've seen them stand off dogs and run off coyotes, and I'm unaware of any predator kill," Bill said. The homeless llama remained on the farm for nearly fifteen years.
"Llamas seem tolerant of certain wildlife and if it doesn't see it as a threat, will leave it alone."
Foxes have raised kits among the sheep on the Kelley farm while the llama guarded both the flock and guests.
Jodi and her mother are organization leaders for the Fawn River 4-H Club, providing project leadership for things like cooking, crafting and candy making.
"If we can't find someone to teach the project, we try our best to do it ourselves," Jodi said. Bill is a sheep project leader and is also the assistant sheep superintendent at the St. Joseph County (Mich.) Fair. Jodi assists with the sheep when extra hands are needed during shearing, moving, and weaning.
The Kelleys' farm is located on a major road. While some folks would keep their livestock as far as possible from traffic and the public eye, Bill makes it a point to keep sheep in pastures near the road as much as feasible, especially on holiday weekends when family members return home. It's his way of advocating for agriculture and providing a pleasant bit of community service.
Each year Bill gathers ewes that haven't lambed by Mother's Day weekend and places them in a pasture near the road. "It usually works out that we have lots of lambs that weekend. There will be dozens of cars lined up to watch the lambing and ewes with babies; cars come and go all day long," Bill said.
"When it goes well, it's great. When something goes wrong, well, then it's not so good," he joked. "I just make an effort to keep them visible because so many people don't see livestock anymore."