Excerpts from "Nickels From A Sheep's Back ~ Introduction by Pearle M. Olsen

"When I was a little girl, I asked Papa for a penny or a nickel at various times.  I had not grown to the dime or quarter age or I may have asked for those, but a five-cent piece of money was very large in my eyes then and for some years afterward.

Papa always laughed and asked, 'A nickel?'  ' Now where in the world do you think I would find a nickel?' Then he giggled while exclaiming, 'Go get it off a sheep's back!'

I was old enough to have learned from adult conversation that when Papa sold his wool clip he received some money.  I had no idea how it all worked, but wool and money were closely associated in my mind and getting nickels seemed an easy enough thing to do.

Through ensuing years, I saw Papa (John K. Madsen) evolve from a hard working younger man  of uncertain income ~~when nickels
 were even a luxury --- to an older, still work-dedicated man of achievement and a more certain income.  My admiration for him went far beyond a natural daughter-affection for a father.  I learned too much about the obstacles overcome by him to disregard the fact that his life had written an important chapter in Utah history that must be told."

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"Anyone who claims the life of a sheepherder, or a sheepman, to be an easly life has never worked with sheep himself.  Seldom has it been a quick step from a wage earning herder to a manager on shares, and from that to a full-fledged sheepman.  Some individuals have claimed that those steps were the general easy procedure in becoming a sheepman of substance.  But they failed to take into account the required years of apprenticeship in loneliness, patience, experience, and tolerance for a rough and ready job, the acceptance of constant challenge in the elements, and the uncertainties in the political manipulation that effect the lamb and wool markets most of the time.

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Three people played heavy roles in John K's life, and without any one of them the results of his days of accomplishment could have been dramatically altered.  His mother's basic, built-in fortitude strongly influenced his childhood -- and supplied direction to his character.

His third wife brought to him a fine business-sense that strengthened and sustained him as she assisted in establishing an infant purebred business, and together they nursed it to prominent maturity.  And all the while she cared for his home and his motherless children.

Later, a son-in-law proved to be much like the father-in-law when he became the right arm of accomplishment and support during John K's last fifteen years of life.  For another twelve years the younger man continued to operate the John K. Madsen Rambouillet farm with increased honors and distinction. Each of these three individuals provided fascinating color and character during the three score and ten years of John K.'s role on the stage of life."      ~~~ Pearl M. Olsen