For the Love of Sheep

It’s a little hard to explain Wil Matthews’ love of sheep. When pressed to answer why he enjoys a life filled with feeding, mucking, worming, shearing, mucking, immunizing, doctoring, and more mucking, Wil says, "I guess I don’t really know why. I just do."

Wil, who turns 15 this spring, started raising sheep three years ago with one 4H project ewe and a commercial-style ewe. With help from his 4H leaders , Paul and Diane Johnson, his first year was a fun and successful one, winning his novice showmanship class. Last season, he ventured into the registered Suffolk sheep world, buying a yearling and lamb from the McAsey Farms. Another year of learning, fun, and more blue ribbons including Supreme Champion Ewe at both the Redwood Empire Fair and Mendocino County Fair.

But Wil’s greatest adventure has been taking up Jenny Smith’s offer to come and learn about the commercial sheep world at the Hopland Field Station. Once a week, or several times a week during the busy lambing season, Jenny teaches Wil everything from handling a difficult lambing to training sheep dogs. So, now Wil works his own flock that has grown to over 20 ewes and lambs, with his border collie, Kip.

"Lambing is my favorite part of having sheep because it’s always interesting to see what you’ll get from the different ewes," he said. It has been a steep learning curve. All three sheep-types – club lambs, registered sheep and commercial animals – have different needs. Wil is grateful to his many advisors for sharing their knowledge and experience. He also thanks Rainbow Ag and Purina Feeds for consistently sponsoring the county’s youth programs.

Though he enjoys showing and breeding club lambs and registered sheep, Wil really looks forward to working his own commercial flock someday – just him, his dog and lots of sheep.