| Julius Topp |
My love of sheep started when I was very young. You might even say it is
genetic!!
genetic!!
Julius Topp was my Grandfather. He was
more than that, he was my friend. He had a
farm south of Crandon Wisconsin where we
spent many hours with him and his sheep.
more than that, he was my friend. He had a
farm south of Crandon Wisconsin where we
spent many hours with him and his sheep.
| JULIUS TOPP |
He had a quiet way about him.
SWALLOWED NIPPLE
One day I was helping feed the bottle lambs and the big fat lamb I was feeding pulled the black rubber
nipple off the soda bottle and swallowed it! The goat milk poured all over the lamb's face. I was so
upset and looked at Grandpa's face to see what he was going to do. He was trying his best not to
laugh. He said very quietly, "well, looks like we'll have to drive all the way to Antigo to get another
nipple since that was my last one." I was so humiliated! So I went with him to the feed mill in Antigo to
get more nipples. The next time I fed lambs I hung on much tighter!
TORN EWE
Another time my sister and I were sneaking through the one big sheep yard to go into the "back 40" to
explore. Grandpa taught us to move very quietly through the holding yard of all the ewes and lambs
because they weren't used to humans our size. We thought we were going quietly but then this one
big ewe jumped up from where she was laying under the big combine machine and her wool caught on
some metal part. We watched in horror as she struggled to get free. As she finally ran off we could
see a big gaping hole in her wool where flesh was showing. So much for our exploring that day! We
had to wait all day for Grandpa to come home to tell him. He never yelled, he just thanked us for telling
him and then told us that since we were responsible we would have to go along to the vet with him to
get her stitched up. He had an old car that he'd taken the back seat out of and that's where he
pushed the ewe. We climbed in the front seat and headed off to the vet about 45 minutes away. The
ewe had a nasty triangular tear in her hide that the vet had to sew back together. I remember watching
him clip the wool off all the way around and feeling badly that it had happened to her. We sat and
watched while he worked and I remember hearing the Whippoorwills calling while we waited. That was
pretty neat. When the ewe was finally done, back into the car she went. Grandpa told us that we had
to help him watch for deer now so that he'd not hit one on the way home. During the entire experience
he made us responsible for what had happened to the ewe. I do believe that his ways are the reason
that I take responsibilities so seriously.
One day I was helping feed the bottle lambs and the big fat lamb I was feeding pulled the black rubber
nipple off the soda bottle and swallowed it! The goat milk poured all over the lamb's face. I was so
upset and looked at Grandpa's face to see what he was going to do. He was trying his best not to
laugh. He said very quietly, "well, looks like we'll have to drive all the way to Antigo to get another
nipple since that was my last one." I was so humiliated! So I went with him to the feed mill in Antigo to
get more nipples. The next time I fed lambs I hung on much tighter!
TORN EWE
Another time my sister and I were sneaking through the one big sheep yard to go into the "back 40" to
explore. Grandpa taught us to move very quietly through the holding yard of all the ewes and lambs
because they weren't used to humans our size. We thought we were going quietly but then this one
big ewe jumped up from where she was laying under the big combine machine and her wool caught on
some metal part. We watched in horror as she struggled to get free. As she finally ran off we could
see a big gaping hole in her wool where flesh was showing. So much for our exploring that day! We
had to wait all day for Grandpa to come home to tell him. He never yelled, he just thanked us for telling
him and then told us that since we were responsible we would have to go along to the vet with him to
get her stitched up. He had an old car that he'd taken the back seat out of and that's where he
pushed the ewe. We climbed in the front seat and headed off to the vet about 45 minutes away. The
ewe had a nasty triangular tear in her hide that the vet had to sew back together. I remember watching
him clip the wool off all the way around and feeling badly that it had happened to her. We sat and
watched while he worked and I remember hearing the Whippoorwills calling while we waited. That was
pretty neat. When the ewe was finally done, back into the car she went. Grandpa told us that we had
to help him watch for deer now so that he'd not hit one on the way home. During the entire experience
he made us responsible for what had happened to the ewe. I do believe that his ways are the reason
that I take responsibilities so seriously.
Grandpa had 3 breeds of sheep that I
remember. He had Suffolks, Hampshires and
then this kind. I'm not really sure what he is
but this was his "wool" breed and the rest
were for meat. This guy I believe came from
South Dakota. He won all kinds of ribbons at
local and State Fairs.
remember. He had Suffolks, Hampshires and
then this kind. I'm not really sure what he is
but this was his "wool" breed and the rest
were for meat. This guy I believe came from
South Dakota. He won all kinds of ribbons at
local and State Fairs.
The barn was shaped like an "L" and
different flocks of sheep went in
different sides. That's how he kept
the breeds separate.
different flocks of sheep went in
different sides. That's how he kept
the breeds separate.
One of our "jobs" when we were up visiting was to
find sheep that were lost. At any given time he had
300 sheep or so, and we always wondered how he
knew one was missing! We'd wait until Grandpa
called the sheep home and then we'd head out on
the sheep paths to the back acreage. There were
bears and wolves in the woods so it was always
exciting in a frightening way! We'd always take his
collie dog along but little good he'd have been. We
would find where the sheep had knocked a woven
wire fence down and in the fence would sometimes
be a sheep caught. If the sheep was alive one of us
would run all the way home to tell him while the
other sat helplessly nearby and watched the poor
thing. Other times we'd find the sheep dead and
then the task was to bring back the ear with the ear
tag in it. Now that was not a pleasant task!
find sheep that were lost. At any given time he had
300 sheep or so, and we always wondered how he
knew one was missing! We'd wait until Grandpa
called the sheep home and then we'd head out on
the sheep paths to the back acreage. There were
bears and wolves in the woods so it was always
exciting in a frightening way! We'd always take his
collie dog along but little good he'd have been. We
would find where the sheep had knocked a woven
wire fence down and in the fence would sometimes
be a sheep caught. If the sheep was alive one of us
would run all the way home to tell him while the
other sat helplessly nearby and watched the poor
thing. Other times we'd find the sheep dead and
then the task was to bring back the ear with the ear
tag in it. Now that was not a pleasant task!
One thing I'll never forget was the ever
present bowl of bright pink wintergreen
candies he'd keep on the table next to
his chair in the sitting room. Whenever
I see the candies, to this day, I recall
his warmth and gentle spirit. I dearly
loved that man.
present bowl of bright pink wintergreen
candies he'd keep on the table next to
his chair in the sitting room. Whenever
I see the candies, to this day, I recall
his warmth and gentle spirit. I dearly
loved that man.
All material is owned by Judith Michels and should not be used without permission.
| Judith Michels Fond du Lac, Wi. 54937 |
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me that Grandfather's barn was built
by Chief Ackley. I wish I knew more!
by Chief Ackley. I wish I knew more!