John Brodersen and his family specialize in raising high quality, registered, Polypay breeding stock to supply commercial and seed stock producers. They operate near Hartington, Nebraska and participate in the National Sheep Improvement Program.

“Above all … we use our farm to help improve the next generation. My 3 children learn hard work, determination, and entrepreneurship.”

13cofarms.com

Our Story

I am John Brodersen from Hartington, NE. My wife Tammie, my 3 children (Kate, Grace, and Ethan), and myself own and operate 13 County Farms. We specialize in raising high quality, registered, Polypay breeding stock to supply commercial and seed stock producers. Our mission is to provide the highest quality stock, be a trusted partner to our customers and the sheep industry, and be a reliable source of knowledge and genetics.

Our ewes run on pasture from May 1 to October 1 and are raised in confinement for the remainder of the year. We typically try to lamb all of our ewes in the month of January but will be switching all but the ewe lambs to a fall lambing schedule starting in 2026. This allows us to hit a better market with any fat lambs and provides time for our the ewe and ram lambs to be more mature when they go to their next flock. This, I feel, adds value to our customers and provides more flexibility.

Beyond selecting phenotypical traits, we utilize the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP). NSIP takes all the data points that we collect throughout the year and utilize that, along with decades of data collected from their lineage, to provide us with Estimated Breeding Values (EBV). EBV’s help us by separating genetic merit from environmental influences. In simple terms, it allows us to compare animals on a level playing field, regardless of management differences, and identify which sheep are most likely to pass superior traits on to their offspring.

By using NSIP alongside our own performance data, we can make more informed and confident selection decisions. This approach helps us avoid emotional decisions and instead focus on measurable, heritable improvement. It also provides transparency to our customers, giving them reliable information they can trust when selecting breeding stock to meet their production goals.

Above all, at 13 County Farms, we use our farm to help improve the next generation. My 3 children learn hard work, determination, and entrepreneurship. We utilize everyday decisions to build their confidence and leadership skills. These are skills that will help them long after they enter the real world. There are not many kids their age that have the business acumen they do and even less with their work ethic.

We are honored to be highlighted by the Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers and look forward to doing more amazing work with them in the future.

Some Favorite Photos

If you are a current NSGP member and would like to be a featured producer, please contact us!