From the Secretary Welcome to the Shropshire office this spring! So far the change of seasons is a week or more away but instead of spring, I think we’re getting a new start on winter. We’ve had some bitterly cold weather of late and are expecting yet another dump of snow this week. So, I am actually looking forward to the deluge of pre-sale Shropshire registration work that means spring is here. Actually the desk has been busy for March and I appreciate it that folks are getting a jump on it for the year. I know there will be plenty of last minute work before the shows and sales so I will work at getting the jobs turned around as quick as I can to allow for the urgent “I meant to send this in last month” projects. When you send your work in, please double check the information and make sure your sires and dams, birthdates and birth types are accurate. Ownership of the mother is always important, also.The registry program lets me know when the applicant is not the registered owner of the mother and when there are multiple offspring of one ewe in one year with different birthdates. Then I have to contact you and get it straightened out. It creates delays for your papers and also for the next members on the day’s work list. So your attention to detail and accuracy will be appreciated by all. I just want to say “Thank You” to all of the breeders that support the activities of the Shropshire Registry.Your advertising support of the Voice and website makes it possible to continue to put information about the breed out in front of prospective new owners. Producing either information venue is no easy task, often done in the late night hours by myself, Rinda Maddox and her daughter, Amanda Rull. We can only disseminate the information you give us or that we spend time finding on the show results websites. I suppose everyone can research the state _______ Page 4
fairs for the show results on their own but we put that information where you will know to find it, in the Voice! Also we appreciate the generosity and support of those who continue to support the various activities with their donations. Most of these are geared toward the youth one way or another. Whether it’s funding for the two college scholarships, the Starter Flock, the Junior Association or the awards for the All-American Junior Show, we appreciate every penny. Without your help, the coffers of the registry would soon be depleted and our support of these programs would end. There are a handful of people who give to every cause we have in addition to paying their dues and registration and transfer fees and we applaud their support. In this issue you will see an article about the updating of the Shropshire Breed Standards, Please take the time to read it then look within your flock for those individuals that really look like the Shropshire that you are all looking for today. Be aware that really not much has changed here but that the Shropshire breeders really need to consider the characteristics their sheep have and make sure they are contributing to the “staying within the standard” and not introducing something that will become a topic of ugly conversation at ringside of some prestigious show in the future. When you receive your first registration work of the year, there will be included five raffle tickets for the All-American Junior Show cause. The first prize in the drawing at the show on July 2 is $1000 in cash. A Sydell Hydraulic Trimming Stand is the second prize and a Kindle HD Fire 7 is prize #3.The money raised by this raffle goes directly to the show. Consider purchasing the five tickets for $20 Continued at right __________________ Shropshire Voice