National Shropshire Sale Results
    The National Shropshire Sale (Ohio Showcase) was held May 7-9 in Greenville, Ohio. 
    Champion Ram was the yearling ram from City Limits. The Reserve Champion Ram was from the fall class and came from City Limits.
    Champion Ewe was the yearling from Land Run Shrops. Reserve Champion Ewe was shown by City Limits and came from the yearling class.

Deaths in the Industry

Ronald L. Evans, age 90, of Ada, Ohio passed away on Friday, Feb, 13, 2026 at his residence. He was born on March 1, 1935 in Vaughnsville, Ohio to Donald “Fred” and Mary (Anderson) Evans, who preceded him in death.
    On Dec. 23, 1955 Ronald married Patsy (Spellman) Evans and they were married for 70 years. Patsy survives in Ada.
    Ronald is also survived by three of his children: David (Sallie) Evans of West Mansfield, Daniel (Angela) Evans of Ada and Martha (David) Nau of Ada; daughter-in-law, Chris Evans of Whitehouse; 11 grandchildren: Wesley (Melissa Wytko) Evans, Jena (Tyler) Spanyer, Paige (Pedro) Ka’awaloa, Mary (Joe) Culp, Madison Nau, Seth Evans, Hayden Evans, Reece Evans, Maddie Grace Deatherage, Alyssa Nau and Kyleigh Nau; three great grandchildren: Sawyer, Slade and Alice; a brother, James Evans of Bluffton; sister, Karen O’Dell of Capital, MT; and a sister-in-law, Sally Evans of Marietta, OH.
    He was also preceded in death by his son, Thomas Evans; mother and father-in-law: Von and Ruth Spellman; brother, Robert Evans, brother-in-law, Charlie O’Dell; and sister-in-law, Judy Evans.
    Ronald was a 1953 graduate of Vaughnsville High School. He graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1957 and received his Master’s Degree from Bowling Green State University. He previously taught at Sulphur Springs High School, Ottawa High School and Ottawa Glandorf High School. In 1967, Ronald became a math professor at Ohio Northern University, Ada, where he worked until his retirement. Ronald was the “Voice of ONU” for basketball and football for 50 years, and was inducted in the ONU Athletic Hall of Fame.
   He served as president of the Ohio Shropshire Breeders Association. He was a member of the Vaughnsville United Methodist Church and attended the Ada United Methodist Church. Ronald was a former little league coach and 4-H advisor. He loved baseball, singing in the choir and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. Ronald also enjoyed farming and raising sheep.
   A memorial service was held Feb. 21 at at Ada First United Methodist Church with Rev. Brandi Rigsby officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hancock County 4-H Endowment, 7868 County Road 140, Findlay, Ohio 45840.

Nancy K. Avery, 81 of Bremen, Ind. passed away peacefully with family at her side, at 10:10 a.m., Dec. 10, 2025 at Bremen Signature Health Care after an extended illness. She was born Feb. 2, 1944 in East Chicago, Ind. to Donald and Eleanor Louise (Everson) Coahran. She has lived the last 29 years in Bremen.
On Sept. 1, 1996 she married Dennis Avery.
    Nancy attended Warsaw High School. She had formerly owned Geils Key Board Music in Benton and Goshen. She had also owned consignment shops in Warsaw, Goshen, and Wakarusa. She attended Nappanee Missionary Church.
    She loved children especially her grandkids. Nancy had volunteered at the Lutheran School in Bremen She had many interests; she loved flowers, bowling, playing organ and loved music, enjoyed roller coasters, traveling, and dogs especially her dog, Avery. She and Dennis also raised Shropshire sheep.
    Nancy is survived by her husband, Dennis; daughters, Angie (Carl) Yoder, Millersburg, Lisa Gillis, Bremen, Tina (Rodney) Smythe, Claypool, Tonya Avery, Warsaw; sons, William (Michelle) Avery, Bremen, Milan (Lauren) Avery, Syracuse; 20 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; sister, Donna Long-Smith, Syracuse. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Brian Beehler; and sisters, Sandra Gerth and Karen Boss.
    Graveside services were at Bremen Cemetery Tuesday, Dec. 16th. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Bremen or Teen Challenge of Northern Indiana.

Past Deaths in the Industry available here

Spring Issue of Shropshire Voice mailed and available online!

Updated Work Order & Fee Schedule
    Effective January 1, 2026, new fees went into effect for ASRA members. Senior dues are now $30. Single junior members' dues are $20. Multiple juniors on the same accounts' dues are $30. There is no option to register and/or transfer Shropshires as a non-member.
    Also new in 2026 anyone who buys a Shropshire must be a current paid member of the ASRA to own a Shropshire. Please keep this in mind as you sell Shropshires this year. Either you or your buyer will need to pay the membership fee. Click here for current work order.
    Now is a great time to submit your 2026 dues so they are current and do not delay your registry work or receiving your certificates on animals that you have purchased.

Online Shropshire Email Blasts The ASRA is again offering the opportunity for breeders the opportunity to promote their online sales. The cost remains at $100. If you are interested, please contact Jeff at 785-458-9174 or by email at nationalsheepregistry@gmail.com. Please submit your ads at least two days before you would like the ad sent to the membership.

Shropshire Judging Standard –available here.

Dwarf Gene Policy News
In 2023, after 2 years of discussion, the ASRA Board instituted a project to assess the presence of the Dwarf gene with in the Shropshire breed. The Dwarf Gene is a simple autosomal recessive defect that is characterized by the affected offspring being proportionally reduced in frame size and weight to approximately 80-85% of normal size.  These individuals are often characterized by “increased muscle shape” in the show ring.  It is unclear at this time if the difference in phenotype of the muscle is due to a change in the size of the muscle fibers or due to differences in the distribution of muscle related to the change in frame size.   Carrier animals (and in some cases affected individuals) cannot be easily distinguished from dwarf-free animals due to normal differences in phenotype between different bloodlines and individuals. The Dwarf gene is present mostly in the black-faced wether-type sheep.
    At any sale where Shropshire Futurity Ewes may be consigned, Shropshire consignors must be able to guarantee, by testing or parentage, the DNA of their sale entries. All sheep offered at these sales must be guaranteed to have the genotype FF, no Dwarf gene carriers  (FD) or Dwarf animals (DD) will be offered for sale. These genotypes will be posted on the sale orders at such sales or in online catalogs. This will continue into 2024 and 2025. In addition, some animals at designated shows be sampled and DNA tested through a recognized testing facility. All test results will be confidential and only the exhibitor will be informed of the result. Shows at this time include the All American Junior Show as well as the NAILE Open and Junior Shows. Other shows may be designated in the future. All Champion and Reserve Champion Rams and Ewes as well as 5 previously random drawn placings will be tested as well as the Ewe Lamb and Yearling Ewe Futurity winners.  There will be no penalty in 2024 for animals testing with 1 or more Dwarf alleles (D). In 2025, there will be penalties levied. The ASRA Dwarf/DNA committee will hear all appeals. The ASRA currently does not prohibit a breeder from registering animals with 1 or more D alleles but suggests that breeders use the technology available to make wise breeding decisions.
    In 2023, 26 samples collected at the AAJS and NAILE were sent to GeneCheck. A total of 3 samples had a result of FD. No results were DD. The exhibitors of these animals were notified by the secretary but otherwise, results are not shared.
    Further information about Ovine Dwarfism can be found at this link.