The Persall family (Charles, Katie, Kelsie, Charlie & Catelin) started in the Southdown business in 1994 with a 4-H lamb project for our oldest daughter. A friend and Ag teacher got us in contact with a local breeder and years later we are still going strong.

Our families both have their roots in agriculture. So we think that raising Southdowns is a perfect way to honor our past and develop something meaningful for future generations. We would like to thank the many people who have supported and helped us along the way. Our appreciation goes out to Roddy Ordeneaux (friend and Ag teacher) who talked us into getting our first lamb and guiding us in the beginning. We will always be grateful to the families who accepted and helped us as we began our involvement with breeding sheep. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Junge family for their continued support through hurricanes, sick sheep and weary moments. To all our family and sheep showing friends, thanks for your support and friendship.

The Persall-Ballantyne relationship goes back to Charles, Katie & Clark’s (www.graceland.edu) college days at Graceland University (class of ’80) in southern Iowa. This friendship has been through weddings, children, and career moves. It is the basis that energizes this sheep breeding enterprise.
 
Clark 2nd from right, front row
Charles 4th from right, back row

The Ballantyne Family (Clark, Diana, Krista and Jared) came to the business in 2006, when work transferred Clark to the same area as Charles and Katie. It wasn’t long and a partnership was struck and the pursuit for excellence in breeding Southdowns was on.

Clark 2nd from left, front row
Katie 5th middle row