Tracy
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
ELIZABETHTOWN (Lancas
ter Co.) —Like hundreds of other
exhibitors, Ryan and John Tracy
are hoping to take top ribbons at
the Pennsylvania Farm Show dur
ing the next few days. The two
brothers each have a market lamb
and a carcass lamb to enter in com
petition. They will also participate
in showmanship.
“No matter how good the sheep
look,” their dad said, “we always
keep our fingers crossed.”
Last year 1 , one week before
Farm Show. 13 of the Tracys’
sheep were killed by stray dogs.
The dogs were not tracked down.
A woodlot with hundreds of acres
lies adjacent to the sheep bam.
A month after the attack, the
Tracys purchased a donkey. Donk
eys are said to be aggressive in
scaring off dogs.
“We haven’t had any trouble
since then,” Tracy said. “I don’t
know if it’s because of the donkey
or a coincidence.”
If the Tracy name has a familiar
ring, it may be because Ryan’s and
John’s 22-year-old brother Mark
has been showing sheep since he
was six years old. Although Mark
is no longer eligible to compete,
his interest in sheep is intact
Home from college for the holi
days, Mark said, “I like to see how
the lambs progress and I like to
watch competitions.’’
Mark is enrolled at Penn State
main campus studying animal sci
ence, but is considering switching
to art education.
All three toothers have left a sig
nificant mark on showing at the
local level. It’s tougher at stale
competition, but Mark showed the
middleweight champion, a light
weight reserve champion, and the
Southdown junior breeding sheep
champion twice.
For Mark, it was the showman
ship competition that he preferred.
“I like the challenge,” Mark
said. Although he never took
champion honors, he was happy to
end up in the top five placings.
Mark has participated in many
roles in the 4-H program. He work
ed as a summer intern in the Lan
caster County 4-H office and was a
state representative for 4-H ag bus
iness sponsored by Purina Mills.
Gerald Is both dad and 4-H leader fbr sons gives Ryan and John. Here, he gives
them some pointers while they prepare their sheep for Farm Show competition. In the
beekground ere the Angus and Shorthorn steers they raise.
Family Keeps Their Fi
To achieve the appointment by
Purina State. Mark had to compete
in a county-wide and in state com
petitions involving essays and
interviews.
Mark met with ag industry lead
os to discuss ag as a whole. He
especially enjoyed learn ign about
motivational techniques and plant
and animal genetics and
biotechnology.
“Every paper I wrote at college
was about genetic engineering and
biotechnology,” he said.
Mark’s brother Ryan will be
joining him at Penn Stale in the
fall. Ryan plans to study landscape
architecture.
John is in the seventh grade at
Elizabethtown Middle School
Parents Helen and Gerald Tracy
are staunch supporters of their
sons’ 4-H involvement Helen
serves as prime chauffeur, cheer
ing section, and helps during lamb
ing season.
Growing up Tracy was a 4-H
member in York County where he
participated in beef and swine
clubs. It wasn’t until after he was
married and bought a few sheep
that his interest in the breed was
kindled.
In 1980, when the Tracys
moved from Centre County to the
Elizabethtown area, they had 60
ewes. The flock peaked in 1982
with 90-100 ewes, but has since
been reduced to 30-35 head.
Mark began showing in open
shows before he was old enough to
participate in 4-H. At his first com
petition, be showed the supreme
champion over all animals at the
Elizabethtown Fair. This amazing
feat was duplicated by brother
Ryan in 1992.
When the Tracys first moved
into the county, TVacy was farm
manager for Masonic Homes, a
long term health care and retire
ment facility for Masonic Lodge
masons and their families.
With 1,405 acres, Tracy over
sees the farm crop program, dairy,
beef, swine, and orchard opera
tions. Since then, Tracy has been
appointed director of environmen
tal services and land manager. In
addition to the farm operation,
Tracy also oversees housekeeping,
healthcare, and more than 900 staff
people.
Of the beauty of the grounds and
icy w lly will participate in sheep competition again at the Pennsylvania
Farm Show. From left, parents Gerald and Helen Tracy with sons Ryan, John, and
Mark.
the opportunities of Masonic
Homes, Tracy said, “The worse
day I ever had here is better than
the best day I ever had woridng
elsewhere.”
Although the Tracys live on the
grounds, they keep their livestock
at their 40-aoe farm located one
mile from their home.
In addition to breeding sheep for
their own use, the Tracys also sell
sheep to other 4-H members.
Although they generally show
the sheep they breed, at times they
purchase some if they don’t have
the right lamb size and weight for
competitions.
“We try to gear the sheep to
peak at the right time, but some
times it doesn’t work out,” Tracy
said
“We have had equal success
with home-bed and purchased
sheep,” Tracy said “Both were
homebred lambs that won their
classes at Farm Show last year.”
The Tracys noted they don’t
have any trade secrets to share
I »4 4 *5 A » m
about raising lambs. “We weigh
routinely to monitor and adjust
weight We use a basic com radon,
feed oats if too fat and add com if
not finished.”
Several weeks before a show,
the sheep are given added exercise
to firm diem up.
In 1980, Mark showed the mid
dleweight champion in market
lamb competition at Farm Show.
In 1990, Mark showed the reserve
champion at Farm Show, and the
following year die champion. In
1997, each of the brothers had a
first in the class.
In 1993. Ryan was die novice
showmanship winner. In 1991 he
showed the champion lightweight
market lamb.
This year has been a great year
for John. He showed the 4-H
Roundup market lamb champion
and with the same lamb at Eli
zabethtown Fair took the reserve
champion sale lamb title.
Naturally as the youngest of
lo showing thosp, ths brothort share artistic
latent.
. 'I , •H * 1*
is Crossed
three brothers. John wants to do as
well or outdo his brothers’ accom
plishments. He said, “I really want
to get supreme champion at E
town,” he said.
“Four-H was a good experience
for me,” Tracy said. It was his 4-H
experience that prompted him to
go to college and pursue an agri
cultural career. Tracy continues to
participate by serving as a 4-H
leader in the county Woolics Club.
‘The county 4-H has a fantastic
program. I can’t say enough good
about Chet (Hughes), livestock
agent, and the excellent extension
staff,” Tracy said.
His three sons are also members
of Demolay, a Masonic youth
fraternity that provides recreation
al and community activities. All
three have served as altar boys and
participated in either soccer or
football.
Ryan traded soccer for football
when he was in 10th grade. He
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