The Rural Voice, 2003-08, Page 24In for the
long haul
The Todd family has been raising
championship sheep for
3 generations
Story and photos by Janice Becker
For generations, the Todd family of St. Helens has
been raising championship animals — showing them
at local, provincial. national and international events
and bringing home trophies.
It all began more than 70 years ago when Hugh Todd's
grandfather Frank first took his Aberdeen Angus cattle on
the show circuit. He captured numerous trophies and
plaques throughout the 1920s and '30s. The family still has
the baby beef contest medallion he received in 1929. In
1939 he even showed in Chicago.
Things changed for the Todds after the war.
Hugh's father, Thomas, traded a few heifers to Don Head
for some Southdown sheep and that is how the current
legacy began.
In the early years, another family big in sheep had shown
the Todds' animals and won, said Hugh's wife, JoAnn.
"Thomas decided (the family) could do the same," she
said.
During Hugh's youth, he showed both cattle and sheep
through 4-H events.
"Before he was old enough to show at the Royal, Hugh
would prepare and show other people's animals for fairs,"
said JoAnn. This included showing market sheep in
Walkerton.
"Dad bought a ram in Chicago in 1967 that I started
20 THE RURAL VOICE
Keith Todd, holding
a Suffolk-Dorset-
Texel cross Iamb,
carries on a three -
generation family
tradition in sheep.
Above, Todds
Suffolks and Polled
3orsets enjoy a
shady pasture.'