Sheep Industry News August 2024

Obituary

JOHN PEAVEY, 1933-2024 John Thomas Peavey – a Blaine County (Idaho) sheep rancher and former state lawmaker who had a hand in many of

the engagement from participants and the understanding that even with the diversity of the industry, sheep producers still have common goals and look for common solutions to im prove not only profitability but also the production efficiency within flocks. The excitement coming out of that summit spurred the focus of the board to get action leads more involved, as well as more members to be a part of SGUSA. The Young Guns have also been invested in these priorities to which they have asked for follow-up meetings and discus sions. Another meeting is in the works for later this year. Sheep Genetics USA has made progress on many of these priorities and will be excited to report more in depth by the ASI Annual Convention, Jan. 15-18, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Check out SheepGeneticsUSA.org for the latest Sheep GEMS videos and future updates on research projects the organization is collaborating on. In 2021, John and Diane Peavey were selected to be grand marshals of the Wagon Days parade and festival. In announc ing its choice, the city of Ketchum stated that the selection of the Peaveys was a way to celebrate the couple’s “significant and lasting contributions to Ketchum’s culture and educational landscape.” Source: Shea Anderson, Idaho Mountain Express through the valley. The passage of the sheep frustrated users of a paved bike and walking path. Many of them complained about the Peaveys’ usage of the path, which followed the historical movement of shepherds and their flocks down to seek forage in lower elevations every fall. Peavey surprised everyone – including his wife – by invit ing every one of the people who called or wrote to complain to meet him and the sheep and walk among them as they moved through the valley, which they did. So it was that people would return – year after year – to walk with the sheep as they trotted down the valley, and to hear Peavey talk about the history and value of shepherding in Idaho. As they sat in a car driving slowly down valley, Waller said she leaned over to Diane to say, “I think we may have a festival here.” In 2023, more than 25,000 people – hailing from all 50 states and multiple countries – attended the five-day October event. The economic impact to the valley is estimated at $6.2 million. In his 24 years in the state legislature, Peavey tackled several of Idaho’s most challenging issues, including the development of campaign finance reporting that would later be known as Idaho’s “Sunshine Laws.”

Idaho’s political, agricultural and environmental milestones, died on June 16, 2024. He was 90 years old. His focus of work was broad and substantial, including the development of campaign fi nance reform, the allocation of water in the Snake River Basin, and other efforts to democra tize the process of managing the state.

3. Develop software for the industry that works for both commercial and seedstock producers. 4. Fund the necessary staff to achieve these strategic goals in the next 12 to 24 months. 5. Develop a chute side or on farm test for OPP. Sample col lection needs to be easy. Cost around $1/head (Alternative: a test to pull at birth and sort at weaning). 6. Develop an automated prediction system for which ewes are close to lambing. 7. Develop algorithms to predict optimal finish point for lambs in the feedlots. These priorities have provided a checklist for the board and Sheep Genetics USA’s action leads to identify funding, re searchers and ultimately a timeline to get these accomplished. The biggest takeaway from the Young Guns meeting was “First Lady Teresa and I are saddened by the loss of our good friend, John Peavey,” said Idaho Gov. Brad Little in a prepared statement. “John was a passionate rancher, an incredible steward of the land and a community leader. The Idaho ranching and sheep community are grieving the loss of one of our biggest advocates. First Lady Teresa and I lost a friend, and Idaho lost one of our iconic leaders.” From his family’s Flat Top Ranch near Carey, Idaho, Peavey launched initiatives that ranged in scope, but none resonated more with the valley he called home than the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival. Peavey and his wife, Diane, together with the help of a longtime associate, Carol Waller, came up with the idea for the event after a dustup with locals who had become frustrated with the annual movement of thousands of sheep SHEEP GENETICS USA Continued from Page 14

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