Raising Rambouillets: Forbes, Rabel and McGivney Rambouillets carries on tradition 

Since their first venture into the registered Rambouillet industry 50 years ago, Forbes, Rabel and McGivney Rambouillets has produced quality Rambouillet rams and ewes for a variety of customers.

Jim Forbes calls the operation a “team effort” built upon deep roots in Johnson County’s sheep industry, spanning several decades and multiple generations.

With the help of his sister Rosemary McGivney, nephews Matt Rabel and Ian McGivney and several other family members, the operation serves customers across the nation and into Canada with performance-tested stud rams, range rams, herd ewes and fine wool products.

Deep roots

The Forbes name has long been associated with agriculture in Kaycee. 

Jim explains his ancestors came over from Scotland and sheep have always been central to the family’s operations, although other ventures have been added throughout the years.

“Ranching is a whole family affair,” says Jim. “We all help each other and band together to keep it going.”

Jim’s two brothers, Emory and John Forbes, raise cattle and bucking horses in Kaycee. His sister Rosemary is the ag teacher in Kaycee and was responsible for the family’s original venture into the registered Rambouillet industry. 

Rosemary continues to play a large role in Forbes, Rabel and McGivney Rambouillets, along with her son Ian.

Another sister, Ethel, and her husband Mike Rabel have helped with things like feeding out rams from their home in Cheyenne, and their son Matt is involved with many aspects of the business from his home in Buffalo. 

Jim says help from his nephews have allowed him to continue the way of life he’s always known, while helping the next generation get a foothold in an industry that can be challenging to break into as a young producer.

“I’ve helped my nephews get into it, but they’ve also helped me continue on,” Jim says. “Sheep come with quite a few challenges, but we’ve hung in there and done pretty good so far.” 

Sheep are raised on Jim’s place in Kaycee and lambed through a shed. 

The flock spends summers on a mountain lease in the Big Horns 14 miles from the ranch, where livestock guardian dogs, weekly checks and good neighbors help ensure safety from threats like predators and weather.

“It takes quite a bit of help along the way from family and neighbors to make it in agriculture – especially nowadays,” says Jim. “We all look out for each other in this neighborhood, and it’s the same way on the mountain.”

Performance tested

The Rambouillet breed is a dual-purpose breed known for their fine wool quality and high carcass merit. 

“The first thing a Rambouillet should have is a fine fleece,” Jim says. “They should be able to shear a lot of pounds of wool, and it should clean really well.”

“Performance wise, they have to be sound, thick and well made,” he continues.

Jim further notes the breed’s strong flocking instinct and hardiness helps them thrive in wide-open spaces and occasional harsh weather conditions associated with the mountain.

After spending the summer in the Big Horns, the top bucks from the season’s lamb crop are sent to the University of Wyoming to be feed tested in September. 

According to Jim, this test helps determine what aspects of the program are working and what needs improvement, while also securing information for potential buyers.

Rams are sold at a number of sales including the Wyoming Ram Sale in Douglas and the National Ram Sale in Heber City, Utah and have earned high-selling honors on many occasions.

Generations of Jim’s family, including Ian and Matt, have also exhibited animals from the homegrown herd, earning top placings in livestock and wool shows alike.

Online auctions and private treaty sales have allowed the family to reach a wide variety of customers.

“I’ve sold sheep to North Carolina, New York and even Canada,” Jim says. “It’s pretty impressive what you can do nowadays with advertisement, transport companies and everything else.”

Changing times, new opportunities

Jim has witnessed several changes to the sheep industry and Johnson County throughout his life. 

“At one time I would say 99 percent of the places in the area had sheep,” he says. 

“It used to be raising sheep bought and paid for places, but a lot of things have changed over the years,” he adds.

Factors like feed costs, lack of help, poor market conditions and predators present major challenges to multigenerational operations and producers looking to get started in the industry alike.

Despite its many challenges, however, change also brings opportunity. Learning to adapt to the times has kept Forbes, Rabel and McGivney Rambouillets afloat and profitable.

Although he says he often struggles to understand it, Jim admits the internet has been essential to expanding markets and reaching more customers on both the livestock and wool side.

He remains optimistic about the future of the wool market and even says a potential opportunity to collaborate with the Canada-based saddle blanket company F10 Ultra is on the horizon.

“Even though a lot of things about the industry have changed, you just have to try to keep changing with it and do the best you can,” Jim says. “I’m grateful for all of the help I’ve had along the way.”

For more information about Forbes, Rabel and McGivney Rambouillets, visit rabelrambouillets.com or contact Jim Forbes at 307-351-5932.

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