History

Origins in Scotland

In 1791 Sir John Sinclair brought 500 "long hill" ewes from the Cheviot Hills near the English border, to the counties of Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland. He named these sheep "Cheviots", after the hill area from which they originated. Later on , another hill breed was introduced into the ranges of central Scotland. Thus the Scottish Blackface created a definite separation between northern counties of Caithness and the Sutherland, and the border region in southern Scotland. Most authorities speculate that both English and Border Leicesters may have been introduced into the North County Cheviots at this time. The result was a larger sheep, that had longer fleece, and a sheep that matured earlier. Currently the North Country is about twice the size of its southern relative.

In 1912, Caithness and Sutherland breeders formed the North Country Sheep Breeders Association, to manage shows and sales. In 1945 this organization was reformed into the existing North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, for registration, exporting, promotion, and breed improvement.

Importation to North America

North Country Cheviots were first imported into North America in 1944 when Mr. W.A.M.M. Innes helped arrange the importation of ten ewes and two rams to MacDonald College in Quebec. These animals were the gift of Scottish breeders to the college. The offspring of this small flock made such a favorable impression in eastern Canada that in 1949 Mr J.W. Graham of the Canadian Federal Department of Agriculture was asked to go to Scotland and select 51 ewes and five rams. By 1953 several more shipments totaling 120 head had arrived, and some of these were used to establish flocks on the Maritime Provinces. It was also about that time that severe limits were placed upon the importation of sheep into North America because of a disease called "scrapie". The next large importation of North Countrys occurred in 1975 and 1976 when the Cape Brenton Development Corporation air lifted two plane loads into Nova Scotia. This large importation was only possible if some long term quarantine periods were established and enforced. The offspring of these animals were released from quarantine in the fall of 1978.

North Country Cheviots were exported from scotland only to Canada and then after specific quarantine regulations, imported to breeders in the United States. No North Country Cheviots have ever been imported directly to the United States.

In 1997, semen was collected from three selected Scottish rams and imported for use in Canada and the United States. United States breeders enrolled in the "Scrapie" program are allowed to A-I, under strict regulations and thus begins an influx of new bloodlines to North America.

United States Imports North Country Cheviots

As the size and usefulness of the North Country Cheviots gained recognition in Canada, some of the breeders in the united States began to import them into this country. North Countrys were imported into the United States along the northern border and as far south as Virginia. The early concentrations of these flocks were in Oregon, the Dakotas, and in Maine. In the late 1950's, Don Kessi, Eddyville, Oregon, was a pioneer in the breed and the Kessi family has been producing and promoting these sheep for more than forty years. In the Dakotas an early breeder Laurence Reimers along with North Dakota State University as an active breeder until the mid 1980's. The longtime producer in the New England area was Jim Davidson.

The rapidly developing growth of the North Country Cheviot in the United States prompted the breeders to group together and form The American North Country Cheviot Sheep Association in 1962. Mr John C. Goater Jr., Livestock Specialist in the state of Maine , devoted much time and effort to the organization and was the Secretary of the association for 15 years. A reorganization of the association began in 1975 with new officers and directors elected in 1976. Doug Chambers was elected President and the new by-laws were developed. In 1976 the office was moved to Brooks , Oregon, where Bonnie Henry served as Secretary and the second North Country Cheviot book was printed. In 1980 the office moved again to Longview , Washington where Ann Trimble served as Secretary for 11 years. In 1991 the office moved to Lula, Georgia where Theresa H Barefoot served as Secretary until 1995. Currently the office is in Reelsville, Indiana with past President Edward Racel serving as Secretary.

With the reorganization in 1976, the officers organized the first International Show & Sale in Macomb, Illinois, and has continued every two or three years since.