​Blaha Columbias & Hampshires

​Rafter Bar B, our little piece of the prairie, is home to Blaha Columbias and Hampshires.

 

Located in southeastern South Dakota, Blaha Columbias and Hampshires is family-owned and operated. We entered  the sheep business by purchasing a few commercial Polypay and crossbred ewes with the purpose of weed control. After much discussion and exploration, we decided to raise registered Columbia sheep. Our Columbia program began in the summer of 2010 with the purchase of ewes from Casteel Sheep Company, Wyoming, and AA Columbias, South Dakota. The bloodlines were diverse and included Bauck, Peterson, Kitzan, NDSU, and SDSU. Hampshires were added when Rachel purchased ewe lambs from Peterson and Chapman at the 2014 Newell Ram Sale.

 

Blaha Columbias' vision is to offer quality Columbia and Hampshire sheep that will contribute to the genetics of their breeds through the careful attention to, and selection of, our breeding stock.   Our mission is to provide the  highest possible quality of livestock that will be productive and profitable. To assist us in this endeavor, we have elected to participate in the National Sheep Improvement Plan which allows us to gather and analyze data on our individual sheep. We are also members of Columbia Sheep Breeders Association of America. Rachel is a Junior member of the American Hampshire Sheep Association.