Celebrating the Journey: Our Unforgettable Valais Blacknose Grading Milestone
From 2019 UK roots to a local Swiss evaluation, why authentic standards, intentional scale, and grassroots passion matter in raising Valais Blacknose sheep.
Back in 2019, we made the trip to the Blacknose Beauties show in the UK to help us decide if we wanted to dive into raising Valais Blacknose sheep. It’s safe to say that experience helped us make up our minds! Ever since, we’ve looked at photos and videos of the grading events in Switzerland, watching experts in their iconic grayish-blue jackets evaluate sheep against the backdrop of tradition. Seeing those judges wear the specialized patch of the Upper Valais Blacknose Sheep Breeding Association always left a lasting impression on us.
While watching those traditions from afar is incredible, and noting that even the very first Blacknose Beauties show back in 2016 featured a delegation of official Swiss judges coming over to do the honors, making that trip to Switzerland remains high on our bucket list.
A Full-Circle Tradition
Looking back, it’s easy to understand why those early UK breeders were so inspired when they brought professional Swiss graders over to guide them. It was all about making sure the breed stayed true to the rigorous standards and genetic history the Swiss spent centuries developing. Seeing how deeply everyone in the UK valued and doted on that Swiss expertise in the beginning makes it all the more special for us now. Having those same authentic Swiss grading roots brought right to our doorstep in the U.S. feels like a wonderful continuation of that very same tradition, proving that no matter where we are in the world, the dedication to preserving the true spirit of the Valais Blacknose remains the same.
That is why having the opportunity right here at home felt like such an unforgettable milestone.
An Authentic Swiss Experience, Right at Home
Being a bit old-school, it meant the world to us to have our sheep evaluated by Phillip Truffer, a Swiss expert grader with over 20 years of experience and one of the most senior, respected graders within the Oberwalliser Schwarznasen Schafzuchtverband (Upper Valais Blacknose Sheep Breeding Association). Having Dr. Marita Tauni, DVM from Sweden, one of the first officially recognized Valais Blacknose graders outside of Switzerland, right alongside him wearing her culture-based attire made the experience truly special.
Seeing that iconic grayish-blue coat and association patch in person brought all those images from Switzerland, something we never imagined would happen right here for us, to life on our own turf. Connecting those distant Swiss traditions to our little corner of Ohio wasn't something we ever thought we'd see in person. Now we've connected our own farm's story to those images with our own personal experience. It was a joy to honor the authentic roots of the breed and learn we're doing OK.
Growing the Breed Worldwide
At the same time, we have so much admiration for all the dedicated individuals stepping up, learning this rigorous grading process, and implementing it to help this magnificent breed grow and thrive worldwide. Let’s face it, as wonderful as it is, an expert grader from Switzerland simply cannot travel the globe to grade every flock, especially with how fast the breed is growing everywhere. Having passionate, trained people taking on active roles as graders is not only helpful; it’s genuinely needed to keep up with that expansion. Seeing folks around the globe put in the work to uphold these standards is a wonderful thing, and we are deeply grateful for everyone helping advance the breed.
Looking Ahead
With everything we juggle on the farm, I’m planning to keep our blog posts to about once a month moving forward. When I sit down to write, I want to focus on the pure joy of farm life, the milestones that make the hard work worth it, and the wonderful memories we're creating along the way.
Here’s to keeping it grounded, celebrating the journey, and always staying true to the love of the breed.
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