Alvin McNeil
I purchased my first Hampshire bred ewes in January of 1970. I paid $200 for four head from Tracy Hicken and Son’s in Wallsburg, UT. The money came from raising bottle feeder lambs the summer before.I chose Hampshire’s because at the time they were the “HOT” breed of the shows and sales at that time. My next purchases were ewes and rams from W.K. Matthews and Hampville Ranch both of Ovid Idaho. These two flocks were very well-known breeders on both a local level and nationally as well.
When I started, this was supposed to be my high school FFA project, but that concept went out the door when I fell in love with the sheep. My Dad always said if my Grandpa MAC would have been alive, he would have been my biggest cheerleader. Grandpa always had a range flock and some Hampshire ewes.
I truly believe having a passion for sheep is like an incurable disease. You are always striving to improve them and what works for your program. When driving home from a show no matter if I had done amazing or not so good my wife always waited about an hour and then she would ask, “So did you get it figured out?” Always trying to keep ahead of the game!
I feel very blessed that my son Ryan and all three of my daughters; Rachel, Kristin and Katie along with the grandkids also feel this way about the sheep.
My parents and I purchased my Grandpa Lewis’ cows in 1971 making me a third-generation farmer. Now my son and grandkids make it five generations of farmers on our Centennial farm. It is a joke in our family that when I die the cows will be sold before I am buried. When they close the lid, the gloves will go on with the dividing of the sheep.We live on a true family farm. Everyone helps do everything. I feel very fortunate to have grandkids that know the true value and joy of working on a farm, and they all know how to work.
McNeil Hampshire’s have been in the showring at the Utah State Fair for 50 straight years. This year would be 51 but COVID pushed us back a year. We have proudly consigned to the UTAH RAM SALE for almost that many years also. The older I get the more I realize how much more gratifying it is to produce rams to sell to commercial flocks that to chase State Fairs.
I could not do this without everyone of my families help. My wife Cathy and mother Lorene are my # one helpers behind the scenes my designers, my gofers and the very best cheerleaders.
Written by: Alvin McNeil
Kamas, Utah
