2022 Spring Farm Outlook

Page 40 Spring 2022 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March / April 2022 Spring 2022 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March / April 2022 Page 41 decided that he wanted something to occupy his time during the winter months when the soil lay dormant awaiting spring and the new growing cycle. He started out with what he called a “hobby flock.” During those early years he spent time with his neighbor Dale Steffens who raised Hampshire Sheep. He learned from Steffens and began perfecting the trade and felt the influence of his friend and neighbor helped him get off to a good start. Ten years into his ‘hobby’ Jim met up with Kurt Birky who had been raising sheep since he was 11 years old. Birky joined Peifer in the sheep breeding business in 1997 and together they established a goal for the herd. Those goals were to, “compete at the national level, to raise a “clean” flock, and to sell and be the “go to” flock for top breeders.” The pair met those goals and more. By the time the partnership dissolved in 2008, Peifer Suffolks were well known throughout the industry. To get the start they needed to achieve those goals, Peifer and Birky turned to another top Suffolk breeder, Steve George. They acquired six top stud ewes and leased two ram lambs from George, and gained some good leadership and advice as well. Taken from the biography presented at the Hall of Fame: “Once the flock was established, it consisted of 30 to 35 ewes most years. The most impactful sire during this partnership was George Brothers 3915. Through his son Doc and his daughters and granddaughters, their impact continues on today in pedigrees around the country. The most impactful ewe family was George Brothers 3898 and her daughter Peifer 1015. His ewe line goes back to George Brother’s great Bertha ewe and this line does not miss. “The most shining moments in Peifer Suffolks success were their four Louisville Champions: Stroker Ace - 2002; Cracker Jack, a Stroker Ace son - 2004 for Tom Burke; Strokin’ It, another Stroker Ace son - 2005; and Alpha - Champion Ewe in 2006 whose sire is 1186, son of 1015. “During their partnership, they also had multiple champions and reserve champions at the Illinois and Iowa State Fairs, the Ohio Suffolk Sale, and at Sedalia.” [Photo] from the left, Steve George, Jim Peifer and Kurt Birky Continue 8 Angie Peifer said that the partnership was very successful and that the show circuit yielded many several champions. She shared one photo of Jim and Kurt from the show days and noted that the photo included Steve George who was a great help to the two men throughout their show days. According to their biography, Peifer and Birky had a business plan that included the time in their career that they would retire from the sheep business. However, in 2008 the men had an opportunity to “disperse” their flock. While it was sooner than they had anticipated, it was perhaps the best time to do so. It was just one year later that Peifer was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia, a type of early onset dementia. Peifer’s illness became progressively worse and in 2013 Jim passed away. Birky had moved on by then and is now working mostly with Ruby Mountain Sheep Company in Spring Creek, Nevada. Birky is enjoying much success working with owner Cynthia Huckins much the same way he did with Jim Peifer. He advises her on breeding and genetics and helps to fit and show her sheep around the country. Noting that Jim and Kurt had established goals for their sheep breeding career, Angie was asked if being inducted into the Hall of Fame was something that the Jim had aspired to. “I really don’t think he ever considered that,” she said. “He was in the business because he loved doing it - taking care of his mama ewes and baby lambs; watching them grow and develop into beautiful show and breeding animals; going to shows and connecting with other Suffolk breeders who became his friends and coming home from those shows with trophies that recognized his hard work; welcoming prospective buyers and showing off his flock at the farm - and then depositing those nice checks when they bought.” In November, Angie Peifer and family members traveled to Louisville for the Hall of Fame Banquet. She said that it was a very meaningful event for her and noted that it was a celebration of Jim’s life. “It was a blessing to be there. The induction dinner occurred a few weeks after the eighth anniversary of Jim’s death and for me it turned that anniversary into a celebration of sorts. I had an opportunity to see and visit with some of the Suffolk sheep people that Jim had so enjoyed knowing and working with and to Continue 8