American Sheep Magazine March 2026

INSIDE ASI

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT I am very grateful to all of those that took the time from their busy ranches and joined us in Reno this past January. Thank you. We are juggling a lot of opportunities within the American Sheep Industry right now and we want feed back from our membership regarding our direction. I look forward to helping lead the charge on our upcom ing political efforts to ensure a more competitive posi tion relative to our import competition, demanding a risk-management product that will help our industry, and better engaging our current and future membership on the opportunities available in the sheep industry. Your ASI team continues to advocate for our pro ducers through our annual fly-in in Washington D.C. We are putting pressure on our legislators to support the process of a potential 201 case and ensuring that they understand the need for a farm bill package. I was happy to help represent the American Sheep Industry at the American Farm Bureau convention in January, and I am excited that organizations such as Farm Bureau, Public Lands Council, American Solar Grazing Associa tion, and National Grazing Lands Coalition are working alongside us in D.C. to deliver our message. Thank you to all our producers and please reach out to your state and national sheep organizations to tell us how to serve your interests even better.

The ability to feel the pulse of individuals in and around the sheep industry is always the most impactful part of our annual conventions. This ASI convention was no different. I am so proud of our executive team, ASI staff, and Cornerstone team stepping up and leading each of their councils and committees. There was a lot of time and effort into setting the agendas, and it showed with great discussion throughout the convention. I am proud of ASI’s ability to provide an environment for not only its members to meet and conduct business during our annual convention but also facilitate the ability of multiple national organizations to gather concurrently. The American Lamb Board, National Lamb Feeders As sociation, Western Range Association, NLPA Sheep and Goat Innovation Fund, National Sheep Industry Im provement Center, Sheep Venture Company, National Sheep Improvement Program, and the American Solar Grazing Association all met during our ASI convention. We are standing tall as the American Sheep Industry, but we can only do that by standing side-by-side with not only our partner organizations, but also other ag organizations.

BEN LEHFELDT | ASI PRESIDENT

02