Bob Kimm brings his registered Suffolk operation to the Ozarks 
Bob Kimm was an unlikely shepherd, but after more than 50 years in the industry, he is considered one of the premier breeders in the Suffolk industry. 
Bob was a 2014 inductee of the United Suffolk Sheep Association Hall of Fame, is a well-respected judge and speaker, and a member of several Suffolk and sheep-related committees and organizations. 
The native Iowan grew up on a cattle operation, but as he advanced in his career in agriculture education at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, Bob became the beef and sheep specialist at the college in 1969. While there, a post he served at until his retirement in 2000, Bob began to appreciate the attributes of sheep, leading to the establishment of Kimm Suffolks. 
“It’s hard to raise cattle on minimal acreage, so I decided to get sheep,” Bob, who moved to Willow Springs, Mo., in 2018, said. “I had cattle too, but in 1970 I got a small group of black-faced ewes and worked my way up. In 1971, I bought some purebred sheep and it got started from there.” 
His roots in the cattle industry and career as an educator played a roll in the development of his flock. Kimm Suffolks’ motto is “The Home of Balanced Genetics.”
“I believe in records,” Bob explained. “The beef industry is very strong in EPDs, that’s why you have those numbers when you go buy breeding stock, so I tried to carry that same philosophy over to my sheep program when I started with Suffolks. I didn’t have the luxury of that information, but I soon found if I were to sell breeding stock, I would try to offer similar information to my customers that the cattle industry was doing; birth weights, weaning weights and I’d roll in whatever was available from the National Sheep Improvement Program, which allows you to get EPDs on sheep, so that’s what I did.”
The Suffolk breed is known for growth and carcass quality, attributes Bob appreciates and strives to follow. His goal is to breed complete sheep that are functional, productive, predictable, healthy and structurally correct, as well as having eye appeal.

At one time, Suffolks were the most predominant breed in the US, but that is not the case today,” Bob said. “I could have chosen a lot of different breeds, but I chose Suffolk; it’s my favorite breed.”
While Bob was still teaching in the animal science department, the Kimm flock grew to about 125 ewes. 
It was Bob’s late wife of 47 years, Barb, who prompted Bob to move from their home in Waterloo to an acreage near Dysart, IA. 
“I had my sheep at a leased farmstead near Waterloo and she said, ‘You’re never here, so if you’re going to do this, we need to have our own place,’” Bob recalled. “In 1974, we bought our own place and started to build the flock up.”
Part of building the Kimm reputation included participating in the National Lamb Show, where Kimm Suffolks found a great deal of success.
“My son (Ted) and daughter (Flo) showed, mainly because dad wanted them to,” Bob said. “We would go to the National Junior Suffolk Show which traveled  around; it was more or less our vacation. After they finished and went on to their careers, shows were no longer a part of our lives. We were selling breeding stock all along, but I started an on-farm sale in 1987.”
The annual sale continues to draw buyers from around the county. The first Missouri sale in 2019 was an on-line sale which is now held annually the last Saturday of April each year. 
After losing Barb suddenly in 2013, Bob found love again and married Lu in 2015. The couple made their home in Iowa, but Lu, who spent a great deal of her life in North Carolina and Tennesse , missed the warmer days in the South. 
“After we got married, she said, ‘You don’t want to live in Iowa for the rest of your life, do you?’ I told her I hadn’t planned on moving,” he recalled. “She said she would like to get closer to her daughter and grandkids in Louisiana. So we started looking at properties in Missouri and we ended up here in Willow Springs.”
Bob and Lu purchased 160 acres in Howell County, Mo., and reduced their flock, as well as dispersing three satellite flocks, two in Iowa and one in South Dakota, to about 40 brood ewes, all of which are from lines Bob has developed over his 50 years in the industry. 
“Over the years, people have asked if I could identify the bloodlines that were the most impactful, and I can,” Bob said. 
In addition to genetics, Bob said nutrition plays a pivotal role in the production of a high-quality animal. Moving from Iowa to Missouri, however, presented a few challenges for Bob and his flock.
“I saw all of this beautiful green grass,” Bob recalled. “We weren’t supposed to start lambing until January, then they started lambing in mid-December, about two to four weeks early. It was the endophyte toxicity in the fescue pastures.”  Bob was advised to add mycotoxin binders to his rations which has eliminated the problem thus far.
Bob said he soon realized he needed to supplement his ewes with grain and quality alfalfa in order to meet their needs. 
“You have to have that premium forage,” he said, adding that he purchases hay from producers in West Plains and Cabool. “My feed bill is much higher here than it was in Iowa.”
Forages may have been an issue for the Kimms, but the milder winter has been a benefit. He no longer needs a totally enclosed lambing facility, but can add windbreaks to his current three-sided barn, if needed, to protect young lambs, which typically are born in late October or early January. 
After moving to the Ozarks, it was suggested Bob convert his production to haired breeds. 
“A friend of mine said it would be like burning the church,” Bob said. “There would be a lot of people who would be very shocked if Bob Kimm switched to Dorpers or Kathadins. That’s not where my heart is. Suffolk is the breed I like and so I’m not going to change it now.”
After more than half a century in the registered sheep business, Bob hopes to continue his program as long as he can.
“There are days I question my sanity with having 40 ewes lambing,” he said. “I’m happy with between 35 and 40 brood ewes, and I don’t see any growth in that. I’ll be 77 in September and my wife has asked me how many years I’m going to keep doing this. I say I’m going to do it as long as I can physically do so; it keeps me young.”

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Administrator Ozarks Farm & Neighbor Newspaper

Suffolk Conference, Sedalia Missouri

We are all prospective customers living in a world of vast marketing messages.  Each ad we read, hear or see is trying to convince us to spend money.  Like any business, a purebred Suffolk breeder also has the challenge of merchandising their genetics.  To sell their animals, producers must first develop a clearly defined marketing plan, just like any successful enterprise.  To complete this task you must “KNOW YOUR MARKET”.

Setting Goals/Mission Statement

To start developing a sound marketing plan you will need to establish some goals or a mission statement.  If you don’t know where you are going you will never know when you are there.  There are many different approaches to goal setting.  It is important to be realistic.  You can get started by determining what your short, intermediate and long-term goals are for the production and selling of your Suffolks.  To help establish your goals you should make a list of questions such as the following and answer honestly:

1. Will this be a business with a profit motive or simply a recreation for the family to spend time together?
2. Scope, how many ewes can you manage (financial resources, available feed, labor, facilities all must be addressed)?
3. What market are you aiming to serve: local, state, national?
4. How will you merchandise your genetics: private treaty, consignment sales, production sale, Internet sale?
5. What type Suffolk do you want to raise: frame, club lambs or production type?

Type of Suffolk You Plan to Raise?

Lets take a closer look at this last question.  In a system of free enterprise, each producer can raise and promote the genetics that best fits their resources and family’s interest.  The great thing about the Suffolk breed is its diversity and flexibility.  Taking a brief look at your options:

A) Frame Suffolks - Here the show ring will largely dictate what type animal you will be able to best market.  However there will be diversity with in this aspect of the breed (just as there will be for all three groups).  You may want to emphasize frame, volume, muscle, bone, breed character, soundness or all of the above.  To attain great success you may need to participate as an exhibitor, develop fitting skills, have time to attend shows and consignment sales.  Be involved with your state and national breed association will help you make important contacts.  Networking will assist you in attaining your goals.  Advertise in the Banner and USSA directory.  Your customers will be adult producers, youth and possibly some range rams buyers.

B) Wether types - Also driven by show ring trends, the major traits here would be muscle, style (balanced body dimensions that have the proper proportions), expressive rack and loin, square flat hip, thinner hided genetics and presently shag on the legs and /or actual bone.  Presently the Hampshire breed out number Suffolk genetics in this segment 10-1 or more.  Getting your lambs placed into the hands of experienced showman would be valuable to your success.  Having your own family successfully showing your genetics at jackpot shows and fairs would also serve you well.  With the right genetics, a Suffolk  wether breeding program can experience excellent financial success.  However securing and breeding honest registered Suffolk genetics will be extremely challenging.

C) Production types – Also known as the middle of the road Suffolks, this group finds support from almost all aspects of the breed.  Frame breeders wanting to add muscle and correctness may be prospective investors.  Wether breeders looking for maternal traits and wanting to add performance for rate of gain competition in county fairs and state fair derby classes may also seek animals from this segment of the breed.  This group will need to have many of the traits mentioned for the previous two types but will especially need to express performance attributes.    Excellent growth, fertility, fleshing ability, longevity, structural soundness and moderate frame are just some of the traits this group should possess plus have excellent records to assist with marketing.  Personal production flock records, scan data (REA &BF) plus NSIP (Lamb Plan) epd’s will all add to the value of this group.  Here the customer base will be adult, youth and especially the commercial segment of the industry.
Remember, to have a successful seedstock business there must be a commercial sheep industry that needs and demands terminal sires of the Suffolk breed, plus a viable harvesting industry that finds value in those lambs not suitable for selling as seedstock.

Using the Internet

Today most all successful breeders have developed websites, they can be very beneficial.  Hiring a professional web developer will pay dividends.  Make your site informative, educational and unique.  Establish a flock logo and use it in all your advertising.  Keep your site updated and current with what you have for sale and the studs in service.  Learn to take good quality photos and use them.  Using a poor picture is worst then having no photo at all.  Offer buyer support on line and answer their question and inquiries in a timely fashion.  Many producers are also using the social media such as Face book with great success.  Place directory ads in sheep and farm magazines and Internet sites, this will help direct prospective buyers to your web site.

General Thoughts on Merchandizing

No matter which facet of the breed you choose, your goal should be to breed consistent, predictable, high quality Suffolks.  Don’t offer for sale anything YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO BUY!  Breeding sound, functional, useful Suffolks should be your ultimate goal.  Observe successful livestock producers who merchandise seedstock in all breeds and species and do not be afraid to emulate their marketing plans.
Consider sending a bag of feed along with those customers who buy young stock, this will help reduce stress on the lambs while making the transition to their new home. Maintain a healthy flock in good condition; thin sheep do not sell well.    Keep your farmstead clean and attractive when prospective buyers arrive for private treaty sales. You should have those private treaty animals properly sorted and in an attractive setting.  Have printed records with specific prices you are asking for each individual.   This will go along way in impressing the prospective customer and help in making the sale.  Work with buyers from out of state to arrange for the deliver of their new purchases. Practice good biosecurity for your flock, this will in turn protect the health of your buyer’s flocks.
            Work to build a good reputation for breeding and selling consistent honest genetics.  It takes a lifetime to establish that reputation but it can be lost with only a few poor judgment choices.  Word of mouth from satisfied customers, timely advertising and excellent flock records will be the focal points of most successful Suffolk seedstock producer’s agendas.   Trends change in all fields of livestock production so keep abreast and be flexible.  Make your stud selections with careful thought and diligence, as you will have to market their offspring.  When dealing with the buying public you should have a genuine concern to help them achieve their goals while possessing a positive attitude, which will help build customer confidence.  Most successful livestock breeders are ambitious and have a desire to excel.  This competitive attitude must be tempered with a sincere, modest belief in your genetics.  Stand behind and guarantee the animals you sell.  Make fair adjustments; remember a satisfied customer is usually a repeat customer.  What you sell will always represent your breeding program, good or bad; it will usually come back to either hurt or help build your reputation.  It is especially important in this business to pay attention to the youth, for they are a big reason why the current purebred/club lamb industry has a future.
Merchandising Summary

Establishing your goals, identifying your market and selecting the right genetics to serve this market will get you started in the right direction.  Don’t forget a sound health program, good nutrition, proper housing all tied with timely management principles will keep customers coming back.  Stay positive and show the customer you have a genuine concern to help them accomplish their goals.  Uniformity, predictability and reputation will consistently give you the edge but you first must make a commitment to MERCHANDISING.  

Key points to remember:

1.   Keep accurate flock records, accurate birth dates and accurate pedigrees
2.   Treat customers as you want to be treated
3.   Produce what the customer wants and represent it honestly
4.   Develop a website and keep it updated, use directory ads to promote your site
5.   Advertise and promote wisely using a flock theme and/or logo
6.   Maintain breeder integrity and develop a good trustworthy reputation
7.   Keep in touch with buyers, be a good listener and offer follow up service
8.   Make fair adjustments when necessary and stand behind your genetics.
9.   Keep your farmstead clean and inviting for on farm sales
10.   Have a positive attitude, no want likes to hear complaining 
11.   Work with youth as much as you can and sponsor and support their events
12.   Attention to details will go along way in helping a program stand out
13.   Remember if developing and implementing a successful MARKETING PLAN was       easy then anyone could do it!  YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN IF YOU ARE READY TO WORK.