A shepherd of sheep and people

Historically, agriculture is an occupation passed down through families who work together to feed the nation. But Doug Ashcraft, 60, has been passing along his knowledge of sheep husbandry and farming not to family, but to students all over Kentucky. After decades as a high school agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America (FAA) adviser, he recently retired, but he hasn’t stopped mentoring the next generation.  

“That’s my job,” Doug said. “I’m a shepherd, whether it’s sheep, the goats or kids.”

Doug manages his farm of more than 200 animals, including ducks, chickens, goats, a bevy of barn cats, a cow, a donkey and hundreds of sheep. He also sells eggs to vendors around Kentucky, serves as the president of the Winchester-Clark County Farmers’ Market and helps former students and their children in the show ring. 

His students are his legacy. Their photos adorn his fridge, their show ribbons hang in the barn, and their stories are permanently etched in Doug’s memory. Of all the students, former students, children of former students, and friends he has  mentored through the years, one truly stands out: 22-year-old Carrie Wagner. 

Carrie’s eyes lit up when she talked about Doug, her father figure for the past eight years.

“So Doug is, for all practical purposes, my dad,” Carrie said. “He kind of took over the role as my FFA adviser — and from there, not only has he mentored me in the sheep business, but he’s really taken me under his wing and is there pretty much no matter what.

“You know, I never thought I’d have the chance to be generational in any sense of the word,” she added. “I don’t come from a mom that was raised in the industry or anything like that, but he took me in as his own.”

“The passing down of knowledge is very, very important to me because I don’t have kids of my own,” Doug said, “and my mom (Janet Kaiser) is always like, ‘that’s not a problem. You’re leaving a legacy with all these kids that you’ve touched over your career.’”