- Gibbs Family Sheep Company has been in the sheep business for over 100 years and was specifically established in the club lamb industry in 1979 with the exhibition of our first champion market show wether. Since that time, we have strived to help young people and their families raise very competitive market lambs at every level and provide seedstock to progressive breeders within the club lamb industry.
- Our sheep have gained a reputation as “muscle sheep” over the years and we certainly appreciate our customers searching for muscle here. We have always thought they should be as eye-appealing as possible without losing carcass merit. You can’t build the perfect beast without first building a solid skeletal foundation. We emphasize substance of bone, base width, and soundness of feet and legs. We search for true productive rib shape without losing
that parallel, trim, ‘cluby’ look and sheep that will feed well.
- Selling:
- Wethers
- Aged Rams & Prospective Buck Lambs
- Ewe Lambs & Packages
- Brood Ewes after Weaning
- Thanks to all the great people and customers we have met in the business and those who have put our genetics to work in their programs all over the country with success.
- With a record winning 12 Texas Club Lamb Association State Championships in 4 years, three consecutive Grand Champion Market Lambs at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, having contributed to countless other major show successes, and
- Thank you
- Thanks to all the great people and customers we have met in the business and those who have put our genetics to work in their programs all over the country with success.
Gerald Prater Gibbs is survived by his wife Sandra Diana Gibbs of Santa Clara, Texas, his only son, Miles Edward,
his wife, Heather, and granddaughter, Pasch Gibbs of Del Rio, Texas. He is survived by brother, Raymond “Jug” Walker of Mason, Texas, sisters, Darla Oehler of Mt. Home, Texas, Jana Owen of Salado, Texas, Tricia Morris of Salado, Texas, Joy Wright of Conroe, Texas, along with sisters-in-law Marsha Gibbs of Taylor, Texas, Joyce Pavelka of Friendswood, Texas, 15 nephews and five nieces, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Prater is preceded in death by his parents Lou Gatlin Gibbs and Edith Walker Gibbs, his brother, Larry Gatlin Gibbs in 1966 and sister, Martha Nell Gibbs Mosley in 2005.
his wife, Heather, and granddaughter, Pasch Gibbs of Del Rio, Texas. He is survived by brother, Raymond “Jug” Walker of Mason, Texas, sisters, Darla Oehler of Mt. Home, Texas, Jana Owen of Salado, Texas, Tricia Morris of Salado, Texas, Joy Wright of Conroe, Texas, along with sisters-in-law Marsha Gibbs of Taylor, Texas, Joyce Pavelka of Friendswood, Texas, 15 nephews and five nieces, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Prater is preceded in death by his parents Lou Gatlin Gibbs and Edith Walker Gibbs, his brother, Larry Gatlin Gibbs in 1966 and sister, Martha Nell Gibbs Mosley in 2005.
Born September 26, 1941, in Youngsport, Texas, Prater was one of seven children born to Lou Gatlin Gibbs and Edith Walker Gibbs. He grew up in the Cedar Valley
community, the son of World Class Texas Hall of Fame
Steer Wrestler. Prater and his two brothers roped and
rode everything in their daily ranch life. He graduated from Salado High School in 1960.
rode everything in their daily ranch life. He graduated from Salado High School in 1960.
Prater married Sandra Diane Pavelka of Holland, Texas
in 1966. While attending college, Prater was the National
Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) All-Around
Champion of the Southern region in 1970 and runner-up
in 1971.
Prater received his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from Southwest Texas State University in
1971. His only son, Miles Edward Gibbs, was born that same year.
Prater went on to teach high school agriculture in the Comal County School District for 12 years. During that
time, he completed his Masters in Education in 1982 from SWTSU.
Prater loved to teach kids. He was such a craftsman with his hands that he could build anything. He taught a lot of great and talented young people, “most” becoming lifelong friends.
Teaching Ag led Prater to stock shows. His competitive nature played a huge role in the success of his students
and ultimately his own family. That same attitude drove him into raising great livestock. He believed he could
raise better stock than he could afford to buy, and because of that perseverance he proved to be a Master Livestock Breeder raising champions all over the southwest. He also set the record of three consecutive Grand Champions at the Houston Livestock Show; a record that has yet to be broken.
Prater’s son, Miles, won 12 Texas Club Lamb Association state titles, which has also never been matched to this day.
Prater received his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from Southwest Texas State University in
1971. His only son, Miles Edward Gibbs, was born that same year.
Prater went on to teach high school agriculture in the Comal County School District for 12 years. During that
time, he completed his Masters in Education in 1982 from SWTSU.
Prater loved to teach kids. He was such a craftsman with his hands that he could build anything. He taught a lot of great and talented young people, “most” becoming lifelong friends.
Teaching Ag led Prater to stock shows. His competitive nature played a huge role in the success of his students
and ultimately his own family. That same attitude drove him into raising great livestock. He believed he could
raise better stock than he could afford to buy, and because of that perseverance he proved to be a Master Livestock Breeder raising champions all over the southwest. He also set the record of three consecutive Grand Champions at the Houston Livestock Show; a record that has yet to be broken.
Prater’s son, Miles, won 12 Texas Club Lamb Association state titles, which has also never been matched to this day.
Prater’s love of showing livestock and animal nutrition
prompted his creation of a feed company specifically
geared for the feeding and fitting of show animals. He
founded “FAST FORWARD” FEEDS in the mid 1980’s and it soon became the leading show feed company in the southwest. No other feed as accomplished so much success. It was sold to Archer Daniels Midland/ Moorman’s in 2001. Prater continued to represent
“FAST FORWARD” FEEDS as a national consultant for five years and had the opportunity to meet and influence livestock feeders from coast to coast.
founded “FAST FORWARD” FEEDS in the mid 1980’s and it soon became the leading show feed company in the southwest. No other feed as accomplished so much success. It was sold to Archer Daniels Midland/ Moorman’s in 2001. Prater continued to represent
“FAST FORWARD” FEEDS as a national consultant for five years and had the opportunity to meet and influence livestock feeders from coast to coast.
On July 22, 2005, Prater was blessed with a
granddaughter, Pasch Estelle Gibbs. Additionally, his
passion for rodeo returned and it was at that time Prater embarked on his last life adventure, which included both of them.
Prater truly appreciated great “bucking stock” and compiled some of the greatest genetics in the bucking bull
industry. Unfortunately, he only was able to witness two of his creations buck; however, there is no doubt that the rest of us will get to see them under the bright lights and on television.
Prater lived a colorful and full life. He was a Christian, even though he didn’t frequent the House of the Lord.
He was a faithful, loving husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather. This first Gibbs girl to steal his heart
was Sandy. The last Gibbs girl to steal his heart was Pasch. They truly helped him fight his battle against cancer as far as humanly possible.
Prater finally beat his disease the only way he could. He left the cancer nothing to cling to and returned home
to the Lord.
If you find yourself missing Prater Gibbs, just look into the mirror. If you don’t see him at first, “Just Keep
Looking,” because there is a little bit of Prater in all of us. Also, know that he loves and travels with each and every one of us. He inspires us to dream big and be ourselves. And remember, the Lord is Our Shepherd.
passion for rodeo returned and it was at that time Prater embarked on his last life adventure, which included both of them.
Prater truly appreciated great “bucking stock” and compiled some of the greatest genetics in the bucking bull
industry. Unfortunately, he only was able to witness two of his creations buck; however, there is no doubt that the rest of us will get to see them under the bright lights and on television.
Prater lived a colorful and full life. He was a Christian, even though he didn’t frequent the House of the Lord.
He was a faithful, loving husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather. This first Gibbs girl to steal his heart
was Sandy. The last Gibbs girl to steal his heart was Pasch. They truly helped him fight his battle against cancer as far as humanly possible.
Prater finally beat his disease the only way he could. He left the cancer nothing to cling to and returned home
to the Lord.
If you find yourself missing Prater Gibbs, just look into the mirror. If you don’t see him at first, “Just Keep
Looking,” because there is a little bit of Prater in all of us. Also, know that he loves and travels with each and every one of us. He inspires us to dream big and be ourselves. And remember, the Lord is Our Shepherd.
A million times we’ve needed you
A million times we’ve cried
If love along could have saved you
You’d still be at our side.
In life we loved you dearly
In death we love you still.
For in our hearts you have a place
That no one else can fill.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God took you home.
- Anonymous
A million times we’ve cried
If love along could have saved you
You’d still be at our side.
In life we loved you dearly
In death we love you still.
For in our hearts you have a place
That no one else can fill.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God took you home.
- Anonymous
