Sale prices were strong at this year’s Canadian Western Agribition, reflecting the current economics in the sheep business
REGINA — A familiar name was back in the sheep show and sale ring at Canadian Western Agribition last month.
His university hockey career over and business degree in hand, Jordan Mish returned to the family farm last May and took over the sheep operation.
He and his mom, Janette, brought animals to Regina for the first time in years.
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The Glenavon, Sask., farm’s genetics were always popular and drew big prices again.
A ram lamb, which was show reserve grand champion, drew $3,400, and a yearling ram sold for $4,600 to top the sale.
Jordan said his mom passed a really good flock into his care.
“Jeff and I had stopped showing back in 2016 and have not really sold much in the line of breeding stock since then,” said Janette.
“So it was the first time in several years that these genetics have been back in the show ring.”
That, along with some new producers entering the business, pushed prices upward.
“This was just a lucky bonus,” Jordan said.
“I don’t think we’ll ever really see that again for quite some time, but it was definitely nice to see.… It wasn’t just our breeds. It was everybody in the sale that did really well.”
The Mish family at one point was lambing about 140 ewes a year, but that was when their children were all at home to help.
This year they have about 80 ewes and 10 rams.
During the drought they had cut back to about 50, and Jordan said now that he’s back he hopes to build the flock to about 100 and keep more replacements.
The family also produce grain and have set up the lamb operation so that they don’t have to be in the pens during seeding and harvest.
“It’s just a nice little break from the grain aspect of the farm and it keeps you busy in the winter time. I just kind of enjoy being around them,” said Jordan.
The return to Agribition was something Jordan said he thought would be fun for him and his mom to do together. Although he has taken on that side of the farm, she is still very much involved.
He said his business degree will be put to good use on the farm.
The Mish rams that sold at Agribition didn’t have far to travel, considering new producers Staci and Wade Sydorko of Sydorko’s Katahdins are also from Glenavon, and bought both of them.
Another sale highlight included a North Country Cheviot ram lamb from Hanna Penner at Claresholm, Alta., selling for $3,600 to Genetics of the UK, Patty Smith and Clint Wiens.
The high selling ewe was Sandy Hill Jules 55J from Sandy Hill Charollais in Alberta’s Red Deer County. It went to Bar J Genetics in Amaranth, Man.
Ewe lambs averaged $757 each, while market lambs averaged $535 and commercial ewes $479.
The sale average overall was $1,119 on 47 head, compared to $690 on 61 animals in 2023.
In the show ring, Sandy Hill Charollais showed the Supreme champion ram, Sandy Hill Korona 19K. Furze Farms from Maryfield, Sask., showed the Supreme champion ewe, Furze Lynn 137L, a Dorset yearling.
Furze also had the grand champion market lamb, while Cool Ally Livestock from Tompkins, Sask., showed the reserve.
Cool Ally had the top pen of commercial ewes, and the ribbons for purebred ewes went to Mish Katahdins and the Govan Ranch at Englefeld, Sask.
Josephone Moats from Regina had the grand champion ewe in the junior class, MacKid’s Lass 83K. Kerri-Ann Walker from Maryfield showed Moon, the reserve winner.
