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Larry managed the MWSRS for over 51 years.
Perhaps no other person has done
more to promote the Purebred Sheep Industry than Larry Mead.
Larry took over the management of the MWSRS in the early 1960’s. At that time, the
sale had been managed, I believe, by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The sale
had actually been canceled the year before Larry took over management, because of a
lack of interest.
Under Larry’s management the sale grew to the largest Purebred Sheep Sale in the Unit-
ed States. The sale garnered entries from the top purebred sheep breeders in the coun-
try and generally produced the highest selling prices. Many breed sales records for price
were established at the Midwest Sale. The sale drew an audience that included both
consignments and buyers from nearly every state in the union. It was the first sale to
gross over $2 million, and has accomplished that feat twice, while consistently grossing
nearly that total over the past 10 years.
Larry Mead, as most people in our industry will acknowledge, simply knew everyone.
He does not only know the Purebred Breeders, he knows their family members, home
towns, and occupations. Larry is a real historian for our industry. He can tell what people
do, how they got their start, and most of their successes. Larry enjoys his politics and
can tell you how many sheep producers are connected politically in contributions to our
country.
There is more to Larry Mead’s promotion of the sheep industry than just publishing his
purebred sheep magazine the Sheep Breeder and Sheepman, and managing Purebred
Sheep Sales. Larry really cares about people and helping them do well. Larry is a real
People Person, and that is so evident with his promotions of our industry.
Inmy early career in the purebred sheep industry, I was a young Hampshire breeder from
Illinois. Within ten years of purchasing my first Hampshires, my good friend Greg Deakin
and I decided to start a purebred sheep magazine of our own. We called our publication
the Suffolk Banner, and in the spring of 1978 we were out with our first issue and on our
way to attending purebred sheep events. As we arrived at our first major sheep sale,
it would also be our first meeting face to face with our competitor Larry Mead. At this
event, I would be engaged in taking my first pictures of sheep for consignors and buy-
ers. These pictures would be used to encourage breeders to advertise in our magazine.
Upon setting up for perhaps my first picture ever, Larry stopped me and helped to usher
me into proper position to take a good picture. I later asked Larry why he had helped
me; he could have just let me take that bad-angle picture. Larry said, “Curt, someday
my camera is not going to work, and I certainly did not want to have to use that picture
you were about to take”. I never forgot that, and I never forgot how Larry Mead, my
competitor, became my friend and mentor in the business of promoting purebred sheep.
For you see, Larry Mead is much more interested in helping others succeed than pro-
moting himself. That is lost on some people, but not on Larry Mead. We will forever
acknowledge his great contributions to the purebred sheep industry and to the breeders
that engage in our business. Thank you, Larry Mead, for all of your efforts to promote
both the sheep and the people. It is so greatly appreciated, and you are to be respected
for such a prominent role in promoting the Purebred Sheep Industry and its People.
The teammanaging the 2015 Midwest Stud Ram Sale, Heartland Livestock Services, LLC,
was formed in the summer of 2007. Nearly all of the members of our group had attend-
ed the 2007 MWSRS to help Larry Mead as part of the crew that works in various capac-
ities during sale week. We approached Larry after that sale to offer our services to help
in the operations of conducting the back office work for sale week. We did so as friends
of Larry Mead, and out of a determination to help with the massive amount of work that
goes on during sale week.
Heartland Livestock Services, LLC began clerking the Midwest Sale in 2008 and have
done so at each sale since that date. The 2015 sale will be our first sale as the Sale Man-
agement Team. We would not have had this opportunity had it not been for the support
and cooperation of Larry Mead. Larry has been very supportive and cooperative with
this transition, and he has provided us with the records and details for all aspects of the
sale. We are truly grateful for Larry’s support and mentoring.
Heartland Livestock Services LLC looks forward to continuing to manage the Midwest
Stud Ram Sale with the same enthusiasm for quality and excellence as Larry Mead has
done for over 51 years.
--Curt Overcash
Heartland Livestock Services Managing Partner
Longtime Midwest Sale Auctioneer
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