The Dona family is successful in the show ring

The Dona family from Glenrock has been producing club lambs for decades, featuring over 25 years of wether sire bloodlines from some of the best genetics in the U.S.

The family operation

Jim Dona is no stranger to the agricultural industry, as he grew up in Glenrock where his dad was the local veterinarian and they raised a herd of Black Angus cattle.

“It all started in 1997 when I bought two ewe lambs at the Casper College Lamb Sale,” Jim stated.  “I showed them both and kept them to start raising my own.”

Five years later Jim, went off to college and left the small flock for his sister and dad to raise.

He explained, “When my sister aged out in 2010, I took back the operation which had been reduced to seven ewes at the time, but I kept it small and simple for a few years.”

Jim and his wife Erin introduced their children to the ag industry at an early age, their son Brady was three and their daughter Peyton was just a baby.

Jim said, “In 2013, we decided to build our flock both in size and quality and began to get serious about building a group of ewes that raised competitive club lambs. We began looking at an artificial insemination program and started flushing donor ewes and transferring embryos in 2016.” 

At the time, it was believed to be the first time embryonic transfer performed in Wyoming on sheep, Jim mentioned.

Since then, Dona Livestock has grown from three donors to 13 to 15 donors every year, and they have built their own recipient program and raised their own replacements. 

“Over the last eight years, we have come so far. We sell lambs from California to Pennsylvania,” Jim said. “The kids, including our youngest daughter Blakeley, have been a huge part of our growth. They work every day on the family business and are involved in every aspect.”

The trio

Brady attends Glenrock High School as a junior and has been participating in 4-H and FFA since he had the opportunity to join.

“I enjoy ag because I can be around animals and participate in other agriculture events in the classroom,” Brady said.

 He has been involved in the family livestock operation and especially enjoys the process of breeding and training lambs to show each summer. 

“I bond with my animals when they are young so they get used to me, and we are ready to compete at the fair when the time comes,” he continued. “I have a passion for showing lambs, and I have been doing so since I was eight years old.”

During Brady’s ag career, he has shown cows and pigs but his favorite is sheep.

 Last year, Brady exhibited the Champion Market Lamb at Central Wyoming Fair (CWF) with his 4-H lamb, and in the following week, he took home the Reserve Champion Market Lamb with his FFA lamb at the Converse County Fair.

“I won’t forget winning those two events in the same year,” Brady said proudly.

Besides showing animals, Brady loves to participate in outdoor activities including hunting, fishing and hanging out with his family. 

He concluded, “I also enjoy helping my grandpa spray weeds and fix fence during the summer.”

 Brady aspires to own and raise his own sheep and start a new herd while continuing to enjoy outdoor activities.

 A freshman at Glenrock High School, Peyton is also involved with 4-H and FFA and has participated in the Wyoming Junior Rodeo Association for a few years.

 “I love ag because I can be around animals and be a part of a farm,” Peyton stated. “I also like our process of breeding and lambing all of our sheep to make lambs for summer showing.”

“Showing sheep is at the top of my list of favorite things to do,” she added. “I like the bond I get to create with my show animals all summer while getting them ready for the fairs. I love showing pigs and have shown cattle since I was able to.”

Peyton enjoys spending time with her family and friends during her free time and hopes to continue running a farm or ranch when she is older, with a variety of farm animals including cows, horses, chickens, dogs and sheep.

Two years ago, she had the Division One Blackface Market Lamb Champion at the Wyoming State Fair (WSF) in Douglas.

“Even though I have been overall champion at county fairs, this was our first division win at the WSF and it sticks with me the most,” she expressed.

More recently, Peyton took home Grand Champion Market Lamb honors at the 2024 CWF, held in Casper July 5-13.

The youngest of the trio is Blakeley who attends Glenrock Intermediate School and participates in pig and sheep events.

“Last year, I had the CWF Division One Market Lamb Champion at the Central Wyoming Fair in Casper and I also won Champion Junior Sheep Showmanship,” she said. “I had a class winner with my barrow last year in the pig show too.”

This year, Blakely had the CWF Division Two Grand Champion Barrow and the third barrow overall.

Her favorite part of showing animals is getting to spend time with them and getting to know them and their personalities.

All three Dona children are involved in sports year-round, including football, basketball, volleyball and track. 

Peyton and Blakeley also participate in livestock judging and raise show steers as well. 

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.