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Tribute to a Midwest Sale Icon...
Rollie Rosenboom
...
I’ve never seen or heard of 15 Hereford heifers that brought
that much!” Several years later, he teamed up with Riverwood
to buy the Champion Suffolk Ram in Sedalia for $25,000. Over
the years, he would frequently buy two or three top yearling
ewes to add to his flock. He started many newcomers in the Suf-
folk business, and encouraged, stimulated, and motivated many
others to raise their bar and do a better, more effective job with
their Suffolk flocks. When the United Suffolk Sheep Association
created their Suffolk Hall of Fame and
initiated their foundation group of in-
ductees, Roland Rosenboom was at the
head of the class.
As significant as his Suffolk affairs were,
it was his role as a major purebred
sheep auctioneer that projected him
as a legend in the purebred sheep industry. He joined the Auc-
tioneer Crew in Sedalia in 1985, teaming up with veteran Hobart
Farthing of Ohio, Russ Jackson and Doyne Lenhart of Illinois and
Kenneth Gregg of Texas. Rollie became a dominating force on
this crew for over 35 years as his imposing size, booming voice,
strong chant and knowledge of the people in all breeds through-
out the Country made him a force to be reckoned with.
Doyne Lenhart retired following Rollie’s initial year of selling at
Sedalia and he was replaced by Bobby Fletcher of Texas, who
was elevated from his Ringman position. Kenny Gregg retired
a few years later and was replaced by DeWitt Evans. Over the
years, Hobart Farthing retired and was followed by Russ Jackson.
When Russ Jackson retired he was replaced by Danny Westlake
of Ohio. Rollie continued to sell in Sedalia until 2004 when he
asked to be relieved of these duties due to the ever-increasing
demands of his real estate enterprises. It was then that Billy
MacCauley of Pennsylvania, Gary Saylor of Ohio and Curt Over-
cash were added to the Auction Crew.
Rosenboom and Fletcher shared another milestone each year in
Sedalia... their birthdays on June 25th... although not born the
same year. Still, Rollie cast a long shadow for these others to
perpetuate. Many record prices for both rams and ewes in most
breeds passed under his gavel. The Midwest Sale was his biggest
sheep event, but he also sold top sales from coast to coast such
as the National Corn Belt Sale in Iowa, the New England Sale in
Massachusetts, the Northwest Classic Sale in Oregon, the Na-
tional Montadale Sale in
Illinois, the North Dako-
ta State University Sales,
the Oklahoma Black &
White Sale and Club
Lamb Country Sales, plus
a whole series of other
sheep sales through the
Midwest. He ended up selling sheep in 42 states and seven dif-
ferent countries. One of his highlight experiences was as lead
auctioneer at the first World Sheep and Wool Congress in Ed-
monton, Alberta, Canada in 1986. He cried numerous produc-
tion sales including Four Star Sales in Ohio, the Shroyer Sales,
the Olsen Brothers, Caras Brothers, Norman Olsen, Eugene Batie
and Sterling Farms in Des Moines, plus Gary TeStroete’s Arlo
Farm Sales. These lists of top sales simply go on and on.
This legendary character left us on March 10, a premature death
at age 74 following a very lengthy illness with multiple compli-
cations. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ruth, who was
nearly always with him at the sales he conducted. He is also
survived by one daughter and one son, plus four grand children.
One daughter and his parents preceded him in death.
Editor’s note: Heartland Livestock Services gives a big “thank you” to Larry Mead
for his tribute to Rollie Rosenboom. We hope you have enjoyed reading about
some of the history of the first 50 years of the Midwest Sale and especially his
insights about Rollie.
Rollie cast a long shadow for those others
to perpetuate... He ended up selling sheep in
42 states and seven different countiries.
