now we just need to get something other than blacks up front
Christine,
Congratulations to Will on the wins!
The black, white and blue varieties were the easiest to breed up to Standard type/size and black was the easiest color to breed to the Standard. Even with other breeds, with multiple varieties, blacks generally win.
Using Australorps, instead of Orpingtons, to create the blacks put them out front of the other LF varieties and then outcrossing blacks with whites, blues, brown reds and silvers improved them. The original Australorps were hatchery chicks, but later I obtained a quality Australorp male, from Jim Fegan, to cross in.
I've always felt the buffs needed that outcross and did it years ago, but it looked like it would too many years to get back to good buff color and I think I gave up. I've got a pair mating this year though and will try again with buff cocks over a very nice black pullet. Knowing Will is one of the better known breeders of LF buffs I think that may be of interest to him.