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Steamboat Springs — Sheep ranching is a labor of love for longtime local Rod Wille.

Wille spends 40 hours a week working at BMC West for the paycheck that covers his bills, but he is quick to point out working at the lumberyard is just his day job.

At the end of the workday, when most of his colleagues are packing up their desk or figuring out what they will eat for dinner, Rod is shifting into another gear.

After work, Rod drives 20 minutes south of Steamboat Springs along Colorado Highway 131 to pursue his real love -- caring for 80 head of sheep on his family's ranch.

"It's really a hobby for me," Rod said of raising sheep. "But you can bet I work a lot harder at my hobby than I do my regular job."

It's a love that normally pays off in long hours, hard work and very little recognition. Of course, Wille never wanted to be a rancher just for a chance to step into the spotlight.

The spotlight found him just the same at last week's National Western Stock Show in Denver.

The Willes' seven sheep cleaned up in almost every sheep-breed division at the show, which is one of the most prestigious in the country.

"It's nice when the ranch gets some national recognition," Wille said. "It helps us find our niche in the market."

The Willes' ranch produced the grand champion ewe, grand champion ram and best pair (grand champion ram, grand champion ewe). The Willes also produced the grand champion flock (ram, two yearling ewes and two ewe lambs) as well as the reserve champion ewe.

"This is the best we've ever done," Wille said. "It's a lot of hard work getting ready for a show like this, but this makes it all worthwhile."

Rod and his father, Pete, spent more than a week preparing the sheep for the show. They also spent hours loading the equipment needed to care for the animals during the three-day visit to Denver.

Wille said he was happy about the results but said he was just as happy to see a huge increase in the number of junior livestock competitors in the sheep divisions at this year's show. His daughter, Taylore, showed sheep in several classes.

"Those young ranchers represent the future of sheep ranching," Wille said. "There were a lot more exhibitors this year than there have been in the past."

Most of the sheep the Willes showed this year will be sold on the market. Rod said they are expecting lambs on the ranch any day and a whole new cycle will begin on the family ranch.