Knowing your neighbor – Schray’s
Jim and Barb Schray’s Centennial Farm
Barb and Jim Schray have a lovely Centennial Farm that smiles at you as you drive by. The farm captures your attention with neat and trim flowerbeds, lawns, and various farm buildings–including a stone fence. Depending on where the sheep are grazing, you may get a peek at their flock.
The Centennial Farm is 130 years old and the Schrays have lived there for the past 25 years. In February 1882, Jim’s great-great-grandfather, Christopher Schray, purchased the farm that now sits off of Parks Rd. near Territorial.
Like his ancestors, Jim has always had farming in his blood. While working for Dana Corporation in Chelsea, Jim—along with Barb–also raised cows, pigs, and sheep, but soon focused on raising and selling lambs for 4H projects. Barb and Jim became active in 4H as their two sons, Todd and Craig, raised and showed animals, which also began Barb’s journey as a 4H leader. Her responsibilities increased, and she eventually became the 4H administrator for the county as well.
As a 4H leader, Barb mentored children in the feeding, watering, exercising, and grooming of ewes. As the children became teens, some of them actually learned how to shear sheep! To prepare for showing their ewes at the fair for 4H, contestants had to train them to “brace,” a resistant pose that shows off the ewe’s muscles. Among many characteristics, judges look at bracing, weight, and condition of the animal. Based on the ribbons the ewe earns, 4H contestants have the opportunity to sell their ewes to local businesses that have been invited. Jim notes that these winnings over the years have help fund their family members’ college tuition. Both Jim and Barb encouraged their sons to spend a little and save the rest, a valuable life lesson.
Clair Schray takes shearing her ewe seriously!
Besides her experience as a 4H leader, Barb’s other role as the 4H superintendent was one of added responsibility. She worked with 4H contestants to raise the ewes based on required specifications and helped them place the lambs in the county fair. Then the ewes had to be weighed and tagged.
For the past 44 years, Barb and Jim have worked tirelessly in 4H, rewarding them with lifelong friendships. Through her experiences, Barb says that she has learned humility. She states, “Not everybody likes you, but you learn to work through issues with respect”.
The Schrays are very proud of their grandchildren’s achievements as 4H contestants. Gabe, their eldest grandson (son of Todd Schray), participated in 4H for seven years showing lambs and chickens. He never failed to bring home multiple showmanship ribbons. Another grandson, Justin (son of Craig and Carrie Schray), raised a “Grand Champion Lamb” in 2018, just one of his many awards. More recently, Justin’s 13-year old sister, Clair, won the ribbon category of “Champion Homegrown Lamb” in the Jackson County Fair. As parents and grandparents, Jim and Barb are thankful for the life-long skills and responsibilities 4H events have taught their children and grandchildren. Recently, Gabe graduated from Adrian College and Justin is currently a senior at Cleary College in Howell.
It is amazing what you learn about your neighbors when you stop for a visit. These good people are everyday people. They volunteered their time to hundreds of 4H participants, giving them multiple experiences that will last a lifetime.
