2003 Year in Review

Geerts Family Show Sheep at State Fair

Manda give her brother Jeremy a ribbon at the State Fair.

Manda Geerts is the 2003 Columbia Sheep Queen at the Illinois State Fair

August means Illinois State Fair for the Geerts Family of Morrison. Parents Mike and Marna Geerts started Manda and Jeremy showing sheep as soon as they were old enough to handle a ewe. The family raises and shows Columbia Sheep. Friday was Jeremy’s last year showing in the Junior Division at the State Fair while Manda handed out ribbons as the 2003 Columbia Sheep Queen. Many of the ribbons she handed out were to her brother.

Some of the prizes Jeremy won were a 1st in its class for Fall Ram and Champion, a 1st and Reserve Champion in Spring Ram along with Land of Lincoln Champion. Land of Lincoln must be an animal born in Illinois. Marna said the ring cleared out when this competition begins as many exhibitors buy their sheep from out of state. Most of the Geerts Family sheep are breed and raised by the family. But an inexpensive sheep they bought as a lamb beat out a purchased animal that cost $1700.

Jeremy also won Yearling Ewe and Land of Lincoln Champion and won Late Spring Ewe Land of Lincoln and Reserve Champion. It was an excellent show for Jeremy.

Marna said the premiums are not great at the State Fair but the recognition and chance to sell animals are what brings them back. In fact, at a past show Manda was clipping her favorite animal when a man said “name your price”. She couldn’t part with the sheep even though it meant loosing more than a $1000. Experience in clipping ewes and rams is a key to the Geerts family success and it shows.

Monday the open show starts and Manda will be in the ring showing. She is a senior at Augustana majoring in Speech Pathology. One of the announcers interviewed Manda for the crowd and she explained she is an All-American Athlete in Track. If you are at the State Fair visit the Geerts family at the northern most brick sheep barn (AA on the map). Or visit the Ag Food Bldg for a smoked lamb sandwich or lamb burger and sweet potato fries.

To see more fair results visit the fair web site at www.state.il.us/fair/

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
August 9, 2003