The Engle family believes that 4-H is a family affair. Pictured above with Curt, left, and
Tim are their parents, Sharon and Jerry.
BY KIMBERLY HERR
ELIZABETHTOWN - When Tim
and Curt Engle, two brothers from
Elizabethtown, step into the show
ring, they usually walk out with
ribbons.
Although they have only been
raising and showing sheep for a
few years, they will be making
their second annual trip to the
Farm Show this week.
Tim, age 14, will be showing a
ram lamb, named Chester, a
market lamb, weighing 125 pounds
and a ewe lamb. Curt, age 11, will
be showing one breeder sheep. The
boys, sons of Sharon and Jerry
Engle, have approximately 11
sheep at their home, Engle Acres.
Both boys are members of the
Lancaster County 4-H Woolies
Club.
“He (Tun) started and then I got
it off of him,” Curt said, explaining
how the brothers got started
raising sheep.
“We lived in town, and we
always wanted sheep,” Tim added.
“It was one of the reasons we
moved to the country. ’ ’
The Engles moved out of the
town and into the country about
Tim Engle, age 14, washes one of the lambs he will be
taking to the Farm Show. Pictured above is a ram lamb,
named Chester.
Brothers Make a Winning Team
five years ago, according to Mrs.
Engle, who explained that raising
sheep was “a lifelong dream of my
husband’s.’’
That dream has turned into
reality of Tim and Curt. At last
year’s Farm Show, Tim placed
eighth with his breeder sheep in
the junior class, and Curt placed
seventh with his market lamb.
This year, the brothers com
bined have won champion market
lamb at the Lancaster County
round-up, first place in
showmanship at three local fairs,
champion ram at the West Lam
peter Fair, champion Suffolk at the
Manheim Fair and champion of
the breeding stock at the county
round-up, just to name a few. They
also had champion and reserve
champion at the Elizabethtown
fair. This honor was a special one
as both of these sheep were bom
and raised on Engle Acres.
To what do they attribute their
success?
“We walk them to get their
muscles built up,” Curt said.
And Tim explained how the
feeder they have makes the sheep
jump up on the hind legs in order to
get the food. “This stretches their
legs and builds up good leg
muscles,” Tim said.
The Engles’ sheep are also on a
“fitting ration,” according to the
boys, that contains oats, corn and
molasses. About a week before
shows the market lambs go on a
diet.
“We just don’t give them as
much of anything,” Tim said. The
breeding sheep do not have to
worry about being placed on a diet.
“The breeders get all the fattening
stuff,” Tim laughed.
And in addition to the above,
there is also the time factor in
volved. The week before the Farm
Show, the Engles were busy
washing their sheep on a chilly day
that made the water freeze as it
ran into the yard.
“Because of the weather we
haven’t been putting in as much
tune as we normally would,” Tim
said.
Although their sheep require
much of their time, both of the
brothers are active m school and
church. Tim plays basketball for
the junior high team at
Elizabethtown Middle School and
is on the Lancaster County judging
team. He is also a member of a
quiz team at the Elizabethtown
Brethren in Christ Church. This
year, Tim helped out with the Lady
Lead Line competition at KILE.
Curt is also busy playing
basketball at the Fairview
Elementary School and is active in
boys club at church.
But with all these other activities
Curt and Tim still find time to care
for their sheep and practice their
showmanship abilities.
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Cold weather or not, sheep going to the Farm Show have to be washed, and above Tim
and Curt Engle are engrossed in the job.
Curt Engie, age 11, will be taking one breeder sheep to the
Farm Show this week. Above, Curt washes the sheep in
preparation for its trip to Harrisburg.
“One wrong move and you sort
of blew your chance,” Tim said,
explaining why it is important to
practice being a good showman.
Curt explained that when they
walk their sheep, they will often
stop halfway through the walk and
set the sheep up as they would in
the ring. This, according to him, is
good practice.
Do the boys still get nervous?
“For about five seconds you are
nervous, then it’s all over,” Curt
said.
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This year at the Farm Show, Tim
will have some extra strain on his
nerves as he is the only 4-H’er from
Lancaster County participating in
the block and fitting contest.
“They give you an hour to do the
best you can,” Tim said, ex
plaining that he will have to groom
a sheep that is right out of the field.
Claiming that experience is the
best way to learn anything new,
Tim said, “You just have to do it,
then you see what you did wrong.”
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