Sheep Industry News February 2022

President’s Notes SUSAN SHULTZ ASI PRESIDENT

Volunteers Are the Heart of Councils & Committees

I t was 2004. I had just flown home from the ASI Annual Convention in California – where our farm received the ASI Environment Stewardship Award – after several years of absence. My first call after arriving home was to my mentor and ASI Past President Guy Flora to share with him how impressed I was with the organization and whether

ASI VISION Premier Protein , Premier Fiber Environmentally Regenerative, Economically Sustainable

ASI MISSION To support, promote and safeguard sheep production in the United States – representing and advancing the interests of member organizations, industry partners and individual sheep producers with advocacy, knowledge-based insights, communications, research and education. To identify, establish, advise, direct and/or support enterprises that benefit members.

there was a way for us to get more in volved. His answer was “absolutely,” and he explained the process. Bill got involved with the Genetic Stakeholders Committee and I joined the Production, Education & Research Council that year, and we have been engaged ever since. I am sharing our personal story because the ASI Annual Convention is the showcase for the volunteer leaders who want to work together to advance our industry. The ASI council/commit tee structure is designed to focus on specific areas that impact the sustainability of our industry. Our councils and committees work throughout the year to advance new ideas and find solutions to the issues that hinder our industry from moving forward. The volunteer producer leaders that make up these councils and committees are nominated by their state organizations. If you are interested in involvement at the national level, please contact your state executive/state contact to forward your nomination to ASI by the end of February. ASI has made a concentrated effort these past years to increase the involvement of our Young Entrepreneurs in our organization. One of the goals of the YE is to encourage leadership at the national level. A great way to get started is to join a council or committee. Speaking of leaders and leadership, we paused at this year’s con vention to honor and say thank you to individuals and families who have made outstanding contributions to our industry. • Distinguished Service Award – Dr. Keith Inskeep (W.V.), posthumously; • McClure Silver Ram Award – Dr. Tim Turner (Texas) • Industry Innovation Award – John and Diane Peavey (Idaho) • Distinguished Producer Award – Wes Moser Family (Iowa) • Wool Excellence Award – Keith Padgett (Colo.)

• Peter Orwick Camptender Award – Bonnie Brown-Eddy (Colo.) • Shepherd’s Voice Award – Wyoming Livestock Roundup (Wyo.) Congratulations to the 2022 awardees for your tremendous leadership in improving our sheep industry. We can’t say thank you enough for your time, talents and dedication. Our March issue of the Sheep Industry News will feature each of the award winners and all of the highlights of the San Diego convention. I hope lambing is (or will be) going well for all of you. My best.

ASI President Susan Shultz of Ohio visits with Guy Flora – the last Ohio producer to serve as ASI president – at the 2016 annual convention.

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