Berks Sheep Family Heads For The Farm Show
CONNIE LEINBACH
Berks Co. Correspondent
LENHARTSVILLE (Berks
Co.) Sheep figure prominently
in the lives of the Bowman family
here.
From the more than 60 head of
Dorset and Corriedales on their 25
acres along Old 22 to the numerous
stuffed and wood sheep toys
placed throughout their home, it’s
obvious sheep farming is a way of
life.
Mother Nancy, a third-grade
teacher at Kutztown Elementary
School, laughingly describes the
family’s life as "work, fun and
chaos.” i
Along with attending all the
shows in Berks County, the Bow
mans look forward each year to
participating in the Pennsylvania
Farm Show.
It was father, Roger, an eighth
Taking time out from farm chores and school activities,
Stephanie Bowman spins some yarn from raw wool while
her family looks on: mother Nancy; brother Michael and
father Roger.
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grade science teacher at Fleetwood
Junior High School, who got the
family involved many years ago
when he bought his Erst head of
commercial sheep.
Stephanie, 16, can say matter
of-factly: “I’ve been around sheep
all of my life.”
Once Stephanie showed inter
est, the family purchased some
purebred Dorsets for her to breed
and raise.
Maybe it is the way the sheep
become snowy white after they are
shorn that endeared this breed the
Stephanie and her brother
Michael, 18, as they began to get
involved in 4-H and started win
ning prizes.
“(The Dorsets) also have good
mothering instincts,” Stephanie
said.
Almost every year since Stepha
nie has been involved with 4-H
VISIT US AT PA FARM SHOW
Ground-driven drag chain
Hydraulic spinners (No PTO)
Walking-beam suspension
Banding deflectors
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sheep projects, she has won fitting
and showmanship awards and
Blue Form awards as she gained
experience.
“As I got older I’ve gotten hea
vier competition and more experi
ence,” she said about her progress.
Right up there as well, Michael
has consistently captured show
manship awards around the coun
ty. In 1993, he won the 4-H senior
showmanship prize.
As the Bowmans’ sheep get bet
ter, they hope to capture more
market prizes, and they seem to be
on their way.
Last year, Stephanie won the
reserve champion market lamb at
the Reading Fair, for which she
received $385.
“We’re still celebrating,” said
Nancy. “It look a week for (the
winning of) that award to sink in.”
Winning awards is not the only
pursuit of Stephanie and Michael
as they engage in their sheep
careers. They also are involved in
leading the troops.
Michael is the president of the
Kutztown FFA, and Stephanie is
vice president. Both attend Kutz
town High School and both are
active in the Berks County 4-H
Sheep and Lamb Club.
In addition, Stephanie, who also
is the Berks County Wool queen,
following the footsteps of her good
friend, Amy Eshelman of Shilling
ton, who was the Berks County
Wool Queen for two years and also
slate wool queen.
Stephanie hopes to copy her
friend once again and eventually
capture the state wool queen title.
But that competition is about a
Booths 2-6
year away.
As wool queen, Stephanie will
be expected to do at least three
wool promotions in county schools
this year.
Michael holds one of the award-winning ewes from their
flock.
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Projects using wool are nothing
new to Stephanie, because she is
also involved in clothing and tex
tiles in Fleetwood Community 4-H
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