hall of fame induction

The following text appeared March 11, 2004, with Chuck’s induction into the University of Minnesota Livestock Hall of Fame.

The Bobendrier legacy in the sheep industry spans four generations and almost nine decades, beginning in 1918 with his grandfather Jack. Chuck himself began showing sheep in 1954 with shropshires. The family added hampshires in the early 1950s, and in 1962, they dispersed the shropshires and concentrated on hampshires until the present.

Chuck’s interest in livestock began in high school, where he was active in FFA and was on the judging team. He continued that interest in college, where he was also on the livestock judging team at the University of Minnesota. He received a degree from the U of M in agriculture economics.

He married Jan Olander in 1968 and they made their home in Albert Lea, where Chuck was a lamb buyer for Wilson Packing. They moved to Pipestone in 1975 and have raised seven children. Both of their sons have been on university judging teams that won the sheep-judging division at the Denver and Louisville contests.

The Bobendrier Hampshire sheep flock is one of the premier seedstock operations in the nation and has been recognized as such for many years. Bobendrier genetics have been a part of numerous state and national champions for at least the past 20 years. Chuck has also hosted several sheep-judging workouts on his acreage for 4-H, FFA and college judging teams. Over the past 30 years, Chuck has also generously shared his sheep genetics with the University of Minnesota.

The Bobendrier show ring success includes the Supreme Champion Ram at the national show in 1996, the National Champion Ram in 1991 and 1998, and the first-place flock at the national show in 1998.They also won the Premier Exhibitor award at the national show five of seven years between 1996 and 2002. From 1980 to 2002, they won the Premier Breeder award at 61 of the 84 shows in which they exhibited, and from 1980 to 1999, they placed first in 479 classes out of 1,017 they entered — approximately 47 percent. During the years 1996-1999, they were undefeated as Premier Exhibitor at 20 state fair shows in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and four national shows at Louisville.

Chuck’s service began in college as he served on the Student Center Board of Governors. He has served locally as an usher at St. Leo Catholic Church, a 4-H club leader and on the Livestock Advisory Committee of the Pipestone County Fair. He’s also been the president of the Minnesota Hampshire Association since 1999 and a member and president of the National Board of Directors of the National Hampshire Association.

For his many breeding accomplishments and contributions to the livestock industry in Minnesota, Chuck is a worthy inductee to the Minnesota Livestock Hall of Fame.