Canyon FFA Member Manages and Expands Sheep Production Operation
Friday, August 29, 2025 | Author: Texas FFA News
Kaylee Dunn, a Canyon FFA member, has been named the top Sheep Production proficiency in the nation at the 97th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo.
The high school student works on her family’s sheep operation. Dunn has learned how to keep and cull ewes and how to pair sheep for breeding and shows.
“In the operation, we have 153 Dorper breeding ewes, 8 Dorper breeding rams, two half Dorset half Dorper breeding rams, 15 southdown breeding ewes, and multiple show sheep on feed at any given time,” said Dunn.
Her knowledge has also expanded to include the rise and fall of market prices within the industry, the best time to sell ewes, and how to market a wether sheep to fit customers’ needs.
"We base our operation on two different markets," said Dunn. "One is breeding registered Dorpers, and the other is Dorper wethers intended for a market show.”
Dunn’s responsibilities include feed management, cleaning waters, cleaning pens, ear tagging new lambs, record keeping, keep and cull decisions, and vaccinations.
With a new addition of 15 Southdown ewes and three Southdown rams, she has been given the chance to continue to grow in her responsibility.
“I have been given the chance to be in charge of most of the management decisions of the 15 new ewes,” said Dunn. “In the future, the plan is to flush the best three ewes to grow the Southdown herd."
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