Mt. Pleasant man named 2011 Lifetime Corriedale Sheep Breeder

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

Lanny J. Crawford of Mt. Pleasant was recently named the 2011 Lifetime Corriedale Sheep Breeder.

?This truly is the highest honor of the Corriedale Association, and recognizes everything I?ve spent my life working for,? said Crawford, who receiving the Guy Green Trophy at the National Corriedale Show banquet in Eaton, Ohio, on May 13.

Crawford, a retired industrial arts teacher at New London Community Schools, has been working with Corriedales for over 65 years.

?At a young age I did a lot of work with the sheep,? said Crawford, who began working with Corridales in 1945 in Birmingham. ?I was interested, and Dad bought me a couple of ewes.?

In 1971, Crawford started his own farm in Mt. Pleasant. He began working to build a more competitive flock for the show ring, while his father concentrated on maintaining more traditional Corriedale breed types.

In his early 30s, Crawford decided judging was the way to go and he has judged at various state and county fairs in addition to showing his Corriedales coast-to-coast.

?This gives me something to do and something to look forward to,? said Crawford.

Although his mother warned him that he might never expect a blue or purple ribbon, Crawford and his father found great success. He and his father had the champion ewe at the National Show and Sales in 1965, 1972 and 1974. They had 25 straight champions from the Iowa State Fair. They received the Guthrie Award for breeder of the year in 1971. His father was named the Guy Green Lifetime Breeder in 1979. In 1984, they had the national champion ewe in Louisville, Ky. At the Chicago International Livestock Show, the pair had two international champion rams, three reserve champion rams and two reserve champion ewes from 1963 to 1974. They also had the reserve champion ewe and best fleece of show at the International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. in 1990.

Crawford has also been featured in the book History of Corriedales in the United States 1914-2005, written by Dr. Gary Ricketts, a professor at the University of Illinois.

?Stuff like that?s kind of nice to look back on,? said Crawford.

He also enjoys being able to breed animals to sell to other breeders.

?It?s kind of fun to know that you have contributed to their program,? said Crawford. His bloodlines have been sold coast-to-coast, including Martha?s Vineyard Island and internationally to Peru, Columbia and Mexico.

Crawford credits his success to determination and a desire for competition. He also credits various friends and family who have helped him over the years as he began having health issues in the 1990s.

?I have several people that help me out,? said Crawford. He said that his former students Steve Blow, Sr., and Steve Blow, Jr., both of New London, have been invaluable, and they have been the brawn behind the operation for many years.

Although his health problems have left him disabled, Crawford uses a motorized chair to get out to the barn and has no plans to retire.

?Most people advise me to do so, but I?ll probably always have a few, as long as I can get out to the barn,? he said.