Sheep Facility Tours

The Goeken family operates one of the larger and more progressive flocks in the Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program, managing approximately 1,100 ewes and actively participating in the program since 2006. Their operation includes 11 hoop barns of various sizes and purposes and one warm lambing barn. One hoop barn is devoted to a centralized sheep working facility, improving handling, processing, and day‑to‑day flock work. The original site included four hoop barns previously used for finishing hogs, and the Goekens have steadily expanded their facilities to accommodate continued flock growth. They also utilize a dedicated milk replacer barn attached to the lambing barn, providing an efficient, controlled environment for raising lambs artificially. Their accelerated lambing system is designed so many ewes lamb three times in two years. Visitors will see modern family housing setups, centralized feed alleys, and well‑managed lamb feeding systems. The Goeken family emphasizes labor efficiency, disciplined management, and genetic improvement using NSIP rams, demonstrating how thoughtful facility design supports consistent production and expansion.

Luke Warkentin has been a member of the Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program for 18 years, joining in 2008. He manages a well‑run commercial flock of approximately 200 ewes while balancing sheep production with off‑farm employment. Lambing takes place in a remodeled dairy barn featuring raised jugs, good ventilation, and a straightforward, practical layout. The operation demonstrates how existing facilities can be effectively adapted to support productive sheep systems without excessive capital investment. Luke focuses on simple, reliable management using hay, corn, and creep feed to support steady lamb growth. Recent facility improvements, including the addition of a large hoop barn and forage self‑feeders, highlight his commitment to long‑term efficiency. This stop provides an excellent example for producers looking to maximize productivity in smaller or mid‑sized flocks while keeping labor demands manageable. Visitors will gain insight into economical facility upgrades, labor-efficient feeding, and thoughtful flock management that fit real‑world time and labor constraints.

Bart Cavanaugh has been part of the Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program for 18 years, joining in 2008. Along with his family and business partner Patrick Wood, Bart manages an accelerated Polypay flock of approximately 900 ewes with a strong emphasis on genetics, facility function, and efficient labor use. Their operation features an expanded lambing setup with improved insulation, ventilation, flexible jug designs, and a well‑managed artificial rearing program. Visitors will also see a drive‑through cold housing barn used to feed and house ewe and lamb families. This building has a flexible layout that allows feeding with either self‑feeders or fence-line feeders to best utilize feed resources, and curtains on the north and south walls increase summer ventilation to maximize lamb comfort. The Cavanaugh flock incorporates NSIP genetics and disciplined culling decisions to maintain udder quality, reproductive efficiency, and consistent lamb performance. This stop highlights how accelerated lambing systems can be successfully managed with the right facilities, offering practical ideas for barn design, feeding strategies, and year‑round production success.

Kyle and Carrie Hurley have been part of the Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program for 11 years, joining in 2015. They operate a highly accelerated Polypay flock of approximately 1,000 ewes, lambing every eight months with a strong focus on reproductive efficiency and precise scheduling. Their modern lambing barn was designed specifically to support frequent lambing groups and labor efficiency, featuring drive‑through feed alleys, sidewall feeding, and well‑planned animal flow. Visitors will see multiple examples of cold housing as well as several fence‑line feeding systems used throughout the operation. A highlight of the tour is a tunnel‑ventilated lambing barn that utilizes radiant heat to maintain animal comfort during colder months. Milk replacer lambs are raised on plastic slatted floors positioned above a deep pit, supporting cleanliness, air quality, and labor efficiency. The Hurley operation showcases intensive flock management, strategic ewe lamb development, and innovative facility design. This stop provides valuable insight into how accelerated systems operate day‑to‑day and how facilities must support both high production demands and practical management decisions.

Greg Fehr and his son Cole are newer members of the Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program, joining in 2024. They manage a growing flock of approximately 200 Katahdin‑Romanov ewes while also raising organic crops and custom feeding lambs. Their operation demonstrates how formerly used livestock facilities can be successfully converted for sheep production. The Fehrs are actively building their maternal flock with an accelerated lambing system in mind and emphasize flexibility in both feeding and marketing. Visitors will see hands‑on management practices, including labor‑intensive feeding systems, lambing cameras for monitoring, and thoughtful use of barn space. The Fehr farm highlights the challenges and opportunities of scaling up a sheep operation, focusing on learning, adaptation, and gradual improvement. This stop offers a valuable perspective for newer or expanding producers interested in facility conversion, flock development, and practical steps toward improved efficiency and long‑term growth.

Lee Wojahn has been part of the Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program since 2019. He manages a commercial Polypay flock of approximately 400 ewes with a strong focus on simplicity, efficiency, and animal comfort. The operation features a well‑designed lambing barn with good ventilation, functional lambing pen layouts, and self‑fed rations that support a largely one‑person labor system. Lee emphasizes consistent lamb growth, strong udder health, and disciplined culling to maintain productivity while keeping management straightforward. Visitors will see how modest facility investments and smart feeding strategies can support a reliable, manageable flock without unnecessary complexity. This stop highlights practical solutions for producers seeking efficiency, labor savings, and consistent performance. Attendees will gain ideas for barn layout, feeding systems, and management approaches that fit operations where time and labor are limited but production expectations remain high.