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. God Bless.

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.  

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.