Colorado’s first family of lambs will be lauded tonight as recipients of the 2008 Friend of the National Western Stock Show by the Red Meat Club. The Harper family, owners and operators of Harper Livestock of Eaton, have been the backbone of sheep competitions at the show, an event that was flagging before the family brought it back. The Harpers sell a quarter-million lambs a year, as well as 3,600 head of cattle. Since the early 1980s, they have provided animals for sheep-shearing contests and the accompanying banquet.
“Without their support it probably wouldn’t be in existence today,” said Bret Fox, a Denver lawyer and chairman of the Red Meat Club, a social and professional organization that promotes the beef and red meat industries. “The National Western and the red meat industry owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Joey Bunch, The Denver Post
