From Humble Beginnings to Industry Leaders

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Schills Set the Standard in Modern Sheep Farming

By Mary Loggan

Ryan and Romy Schill have built a thriving sheep and wool business that is a model of innovation and efficiency.

Living and farming near Wallenstein in Mapleton Township, the Schills transformed a small family farm into a model of modern agriculture known as Circle R Livestock and Revolution Wool Company.

They were also recently named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025.

Farm beginnings

The couple started their farm operation together about 17 years ago when they took over the farm from Ryan’s grandparents.

“My grandfather raised pigs, cattle, and chickens on his farm,” Ryan recalls. “Growing up, I saw the value in hard work and the importance of adapting to what the land and market can offer.”

“When we took over the operation, we started with just 25 sheep, and for a while, we also had chickens,” he says. “In 2010, we jumped to 150 ewes because we saw an opportunity to expand our flock.”

Romy, who grew up on a dairy farm and holds a degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Guelph, and Ryan, who earned an Agricultural Certificate from Lakeland College in Alberta, brought complementary skills and a shared vision to their venture.

However, Romy says, “Neither of us knew anything about sheep at the start.

“We saw so much potential in the sheep industry – Ontario producers only fill about 20 per cent of the market. Sheep are also a nice-sized animal, easy to handle, and a great fit for our family.”

Similar to many commercial farms, the early years were marked by hard work and tough decisions.

“Our barns needed renovations, and we had to make decisions to move the farm forward,” Ryan says.

The big leap came in 2018 when they built a new barn and increased their flock to 800 ewes.

“That was the moment we could both be full-time on the farm. It was a slow build, but 2018 was the game-changer,” he adds.

“We slowly expanded the farm, and the new barn allowed us to be more efficient and scale up.”

By 2023, the chickens were gone – a sign of the farm’s evolution. “Chickens were a nice steady income, but when the wool business made enough money, they were allowed to leave the chickens behind,” Romy says.

“It gave us time to build up our business and focus on what we saw as the huge potential in sheep and wool.”

Their children – Cameron, Emerson and Adalyn – are now integral to the operation.

“They like to earn some money now, and they know what to do,” says Romy.

“They can spot problems before we do sometimes, and they’re also learning the value of efficiency. Tractor jobs are a favourite around here, though!”

Innovations and efficiency

Efficiency is the backbone of the Schills’ success. “Once we got to be full-time, we wanted to make everything as efficient as possible,” says Ryan.

The couple owns 100 acres and rents another 50, where they grow hay, corn and corn silage for feed and wheat straw for bedding.

“We make sure we have enough feed for a year. We’re lucky to be in an area with lots of custom work available. Custom crews make everything efficient and help us limit investment in equipment,” Ryan points out.

He emphasizes the importance of working smarter, not harder.

“We’re always looking for ways to streamline. Our feeding program uses TMR (total mixed ration), and our sheep are housed in the barn year-round.

“That helps keep the ewes in mint condition and allows us to tailor nutrition to each stage of production.

“We’ve designed the system so one person can handle chores if needed, which is crucial for our family.”

Sheep genetics is another area where efficiency pays off.

“We’re maxed out on numbers, so now it’s about working as a team and improving our flock. Romy runs the wool business but helps with lambing, and we’re always aiming to get more live lambs per ewe,” Ryan says.

“We want a structurally sound animal – an ewe that will give two lambs. We pick the cream of the crop, especially with rams, because the market turnaround is fast.

“We sell breeding stock locally and focus on animals that can be independent and efficient mothers.”

Ryan is realistic about the challenges of the market: “High prices come and go, and too many newcomers only see the highs.

“You have to budget for the long term and be ready for the down years. That’s why efficiency is so important; if you can keep your costs down and your operation lean, you can weather the storms.”

Romy’s Revolution Wool Company is built on the same principles.

“I started with small batches of yarn at local mills, just experimenting and learning the business,” she says.

Romy reports that they process up to 1,000 pounds at a time and work with large industrial mills. They sell everything from pillows and blankets to socks and yarn.

“There’s still so much potential to grow the wool business, and it’s great to be able to buy wool from other producers, too.

“It helps cover the cost of shearing and increases demand for Canadian wool. Plus, our pillows do help people sleep better – improving lives, one product at a time.”

Efficiency in the wool business also means collaboration.

“We’re able to work with other producers, which helps everyone become more efficient and cover the costs of shearing. The more wool we can move, the more we can help the whole industry,” Romy says.

“It’s about using as many natural resources as possible and making the most of what we have.”

Challenges

Expanding their farm operations did not come without its challenges.

“Making lenders take us seriously was tough,” Ryan admits. “We developed a detailed business plan and used years of sheep production data to show we were doing better than the industry standard.

“There are so many variables to consider, and a lot of other farmers doubted the sheep industry. They’d ask, ‘What do you do with sheep?’ We had to educate people and prove the doubters wrong.”

Romy adds, “We didn’t have to buy quota, so there were no barriers to entry. You can do all kinds of things with sheep, but you have to be willing to take the risk and prove it works.

“Some people just quit and leave if it doesn’t work out, but we’ve committed. For example, think more like a dairy farmer, they commit with quota, infrastructure and invest long term – you hit bad years, but you also get more good years.”

The Schills also faced skepticism from within the industry. “There’s a lot of beef, chicken, and dairy around here. Sheep were different. We had to show people it could work,” says Ryan.

“We wanted to prove we could do better than the industry average and that it was a viable business.”

Looking at the future

Looking ahead, the Schills are content with their current flock size and the efficiencies they’ve built into their operation.

“We’re happy with our numbers, we plan to ‘lock and hold’ and see what the kids want to do,” explains Ryan.

“If they want to take over, then we’ll look at expansion. We skipped a generation from our grandparents, so maybe in 10 years, our children will be farming. And maybe we’ll get to take more vacations!”

For the wool business, Romy sees continued growth. “We’ll let the business grow to the level it wants to. It’s easy, but not easy. We’re hiring more people and outsourcing as we keep expanding.

“There’s a lot of potential, and we’re happy with where we are, but there’s always room to grow.”

Romy encourages others to get involved in the industry and look at the big picture.

“Don’t give up on your dreams, even if they sound crazy. Take the risk; there’s so much potential. Connect with other producers, ask questions, and build a great network.

“The answer is always more sheep! There are always risks, but once you make the jump, it’s worth it and it’s awesome.” BF