Currently viewing the tag: "2020 Shepherd of the Year"

Mary Ellen Clark, President, Frederick County Sheep Breeders Association

Each year, the Frederick County Sheep Breeders look back at the year in reflection during its annual meeting, which was held virtually in December 2021. They use this time to take note of their successes, as well as what they would like to improve for members and the community going forward. 

During this meeting, the association reviewed the financial statement, functional reports, 2022 schedule of events, and elected a new officer team. Outgoing President Patty Sanville led the meeting by greeting attendees and managing the agenda.  The new officer team includes: President—Mary Ellen Clark of Thurmont; Vice President—Polly Matzinger of Frederick; Treasurer —Kristan Latham of Thurmont; Secretary—Dawn Viands of Frederick. The newly elected directors include: Charlotte Dutton of Thurmont, Debbie Wagner of  Frederick, and Karren Sowell of Thurmont.

As part of this reflection, they also like to acknowledge the contribution of the members to each other, the Frederick County area, and broader.  They honor this with the Shepherd of the Year award.

The recipient of the 2021 Frederick County Shepherd of the Year was awarded to Jim and Kristan Latham of Thurmont (pictured right). The year 2021 was a very busy year for them, not only with their own daily chores but in the community and beyond. There were very few moments available that were not consumed by taking care of animals, maintaining the farm, the family, and supporting fellow members. Their involvement in the community includes a strong faith and fellowship in their church community. They are always willing to lend a hand to larger services to support friends and family. This willingness to help and go the extra mile carries over to the care they offer to their menagerie of livestock, which has grown over time since establishing their farm operation. As we all know, managing a farm and family is a never-ending job, which only gets more complex over time. Just like children, the sheep are always in need of something.

Jim and Kristan’s lives have been localized in Frederick County for nearly 30 years. With a large family, there is little time left for themselves.  Community agriculture organization events such as 4-H and FFA have been primary time consumers for them on top of everything else that they do. Sporting events, showing sheep across the State of Maryland, lending a hand in fundraising, educating others about sheep, repairing machinery, making hay…they are always doing something. Their roots are strongly established in agriculture from a lifetime of work, which has also been passed on to their children. You could say that it has become a labor of love.

Their contribution to the community is notable and appreciated. Since 2003, they have been a part of the Frederick County agriculture community, when they purchased their farm in Thurmont with Kristan’s sister and brother-in-law. Their children started in 4-H in 2005, when they opened the flood gate to sheep (Border Leicesters, Hampshires, Suffolks, Lincoln Longwools, and commercial), dairy cattle, beef cattle, market hogs, and rabbits. They are natives of Ohio, where they grew up in 4-H and attended college. After graduate school for Kristan in California, they moved to Maryland. Three of their daughters have attended or are attending college at The Ohio State University, majoring in agriculture: Aislinn, Brietta, and Kallan. It has yet to be determined where the youngest, Trennen, will end up (no pressure there).  We congratulate Jim and Kristan and look forward to their continued support for our organization and community in the coming years.

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Patricia Sanville, Frederick County Sheep Breeders Association President

The 2020 Frederick County Sheep Breeders Association held a virtual annual meeting this year to bring sheep breeders together in a safe manner. At the conclusion of the business meeting, President Patty Sanville moved onto new business, which included the presentation of the Shepherd of the Year award. The decision to give this award virtually, and whether or not that was less exciting or somehow less of an honor, was certainly considered. Ultimately, the board voted to honor this member at this time.

There were members who were still out there, sharing their time and talent whenever possible. These members consistently raised their hand to help with virtual events, with shows that were now different, with youth programs that needed to shift gears, and with brainstorming how things could be done safely in our new reality.

The challenges our industry faced this past year and continues to face going forward into the next are no match for this member.

These members signed up for several of the demonstrations we are involved in, both by bringing sheep and demonstrating fiber arts. Again, these events will eventually resume, and I am quite sure these members will again raise their hand.

The award was presented to Mary Ellen and Matt Clark of Thurmont. Both Matt and Mary Ellen grew up in agriculture and have never shied away from a hard day’s work. As a former 4-H member in Carroll County, Maryland, and now 4-H volunteer, Mary Ellen’s roots in agriculture and Matt’s work ethic were a match made in heaven. They were married in 2000, and very soon after, began planning for their own future in production agriculture.

Clark Family Farms consists of 300 acres of crop production, including corn, soybeans, wheat, straw, timothy, orchard grass, alfalfa, and now also a commercial sheep flock. The sheep flock was added in 2013, once their daughter, Caroline, now 14 years old, joined 4-H. Mary Ellen wanted her children to represent the third generation of agriculture in her family, so a 4-H animal project was a perfect way to accomplish this. The Saylor Family helped them get started as they navigated raising market lambs with great success. With the support of fellow breeders, the commercial flock now stands at more than 25 in the breeding program.

Once the family was comfortable with a meat flock, Caroline then became interested in a heritage breed, which was being raised by the Sanville Family. The intrigue of raising an animal, harvesting wool, and making her own yarn became her number one priority, and who could stop a child from learning this art form. The registered Leicester Longwool flock was started with a ewe named Patty, purchased from Carolann McConaughy of Stillpoint Farm. This ewe became the family’s prized animal and quickly multiplied into a flock of ten and growing. The fleeces of this breed are known for the beautiful luster and ease for hand-spinning.  As members of the Livestock Conservancy program, the family has been focused on breeding and exhibiting this rare heritage breed to promote its versatility to other sheep enthusiasts. Matt and Mary Ellen have expanded their business by preparing sheep pelts, handmade felted crafts, dryer balls, yarn, roving, and fleeces.

Over the years, this couple has promoted the education of their children by participating in and attending numerous programs. In addition to countless 4-H livestock judging, livestock skillathon, and entrepreneurship courses, they have attended FAMACHA classes, and the Twilight Tours hosted at the Western Maryland Research Center. This family has been focused on improving its business acumen through the many educational experiences available in the Maryland area. The children have become active sewers, exhibiting wool clothing at local, regional, and state events. The highlight of the year includes the MD Make It With Wool Contest, which three of the family members have entered annually. Preston commented, “If we could only get Dad to sew, well, that’s not going to happen!” This year, the family lambed over 16 ewes and raised the most market lambs since starting out, but did not take them to all of the shows as planned due to COVID-19. The ewes are bred again, and the family will start watching for lambs again in January. 

Mary Ellen is a board member of the Frederick County Sheep Breeders and is also employed by AstraZeneca, located in Frederick. In addition to managing several farms, Matt is employed as a sales manager for Devilbiss Construction in Frederick.

Congratulations to Mary Ellen and Matt Clark, Frederick County Sheep Breeders 2020 Shepherd of the Year.

Mary Ellen and Matt Clark of Thurmont awarded Frederick County Sheep Breeders 2020 Shepherd of the Year.

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