R & G Montadales’ Flock History

From 1976 through 2005, our R & G Montadales sheep flock was one of the most successful Montadale flocks in the northwest and very competitive nationally.  During that 30 year period we won the Premier Breeder award at Oregon State Fair more than 60% of the time, including a twelve year stretch where we were undefeated.  Our flock was beginning to make a name for itself when our ram lamb named Trailblazer won a national sponsored show in Portland, Oregon in 1980, then went on to place 3rd as a yearling ram at the 1981 National Show & Sale in Springfield, Illinois.  One year later we truly reached national prominence when our yearling ram, Orange Express, was named national grand champion at the ‘82 National Show & Sale. Over the years our flocked produced more than 15 national champions or reserve champions.

During their years of involvement in Montadale production, Ron assumed a significant leadership role with the Northwest Montadale Association, the Oregon Purebred Sheep Breeder’s Association, and the national Montadale Sheep Breeders Association.  In June, 2005, he completed his twenty-seventh year on the national Board of Directors and was named a lifetime Honorary Director.  He served five terms as president of the northwest association and two terms as president of the national association, plus a stint on the board of directors of the Oregon purebred association. Included in his contributions were:

• Chaired committee to re-write the bylaws and reorganize the national association with expanded geographical participation
• Regular columnist in the Montadale Mover breed publication
• Started and published the Northwest Montadale Newsletter
• Proposed, then started, along with friend George Murdock, the national Montadale Regeneration Project (returning to the foundation breeds that were used to create the Montadale breed in order to establish a new line of Montadales)
• Co-authored the publication - History of the Montadale Sheep: Fifty Years from Dream to Reality
• One of the original sponsors of the Oklahoma Project which established a ewe flock at Oklahoma State University and ewe lamb essay contest for youth
• Provided rams for test at the Meat Animal Research Lab in Nebraska and for a commercial ram performance test at Oregon State University
• Donated numerous animals to various avenues to promote Montadales among youth in the northwest

The R & G Montadale Flock was founded in 1976 with nine ewes from NW flocks. To speed the flock’s progress, Ron and Gail attended the ‘77 National and purchased McGrew’s Champion Yearling Ram - “Geronimo”, Dunseth’s 3^rd yearling ewe, and Morehead’s 5^th yearling ewe. They also purchased three yearling ewes from Christophersons in South Dakota.  Additional ewes were added from Crome, Dunseth, Handy, and McGrew flocks in ’78 and ’79.  Probably their biggest leap forward came with the addition of five closely related ewes from Morehead’s 1980 Dispersal sale and the private purchase of “Morey” - their 1^st Ram Lamb from the ’78 National.

Stud rams that followed “Geronimo” and “Morey” included “Broken Arrow” – a “Jackpot” son, “Western Express” – an “Orange Express” son, and “Kansas” a Stauffer “Buckwheat” son.  It is important to note that each of their first five stud rams produced at least one national champion for R & G Montadales.  With a move to Walla Walla, Washington in 1990, R & G began to share rams with their good friend George Murdock.  Shared rams included “Expectation” – a “Transamerica” son, “High Profile” – National Reserve Champ out of “Grand Design”, “Attitude Adjuster” – out of “New Dimensions”, “SJ” - a grandson of GiGi, plus several other rams of their own breeding. A career move back to Oregon in 1998, along with George’s sale of his Walla Walla farm resulted in their forming a partnership with the Wilkinson-Murdock Montadales from 1999 through 2004.

Most Montadale flocks on the west coast include significant influence from R & G or Wilkinson-Murdock breeding.