Sheep Industry News February 2025

President’s Notes BRAD BONER ASI PRESIDENT

Keep It on the Sunny Side B y the time this is printed in the February edition of the Sheep Industry News , the 2025 ASI Annual Convention will be in the books, the Board of Directors will have elected a new officer team to steer the ship and my term as president will be done. There remains much for each of us to do as we try to secure a five-year renewal of the Farm Bill that includes the Wool Ap parel Manufacturers Trust Fund, the Wool Research and Promotion Program, the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center and the Wool Marketing Loan Program. Also, there is lots to do in helping the new administration role back the government overreach that was so prevalent during the last year, including the Bureau of Land Management Conservation Rule and the ban on spring ejector devices for coyote control. And there will be many other items – known and unknown – that will demand our attention. At the risk of leaving someone out, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer THANK YOU’s in my final column. First, I would like to thank those folks in other organizations, members of Congress and agencies that ASI works with who have proven to be reliable and trusted allies. As we paddle upstream – sometimes against strong currents – we could not do it without your guidance and support. We are extremely blessed to have a knowledgeable, intelligent, hard-working staff that care deeply for our industry, and I can not thank them enough for all they do on a daily basis to secure a future for the American sheep industry. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would like to thank the amazing officer team I have had the extreme pleasure to work with. Susan Shultz, Ben Lehfeldt and Joe Pozzi, your passion, knowledge and vision for this industry is unmatched. We have worked closely together, challenging each other and pushing each other to think outside of the box. I will forever treasure our time together and the things we were able to accomplish by being a TEAM. I would also like to thank the amazing membership of ASI. The passion that exists for this industry among you is an awesome thing to witness. Although we might not always agree on the solutions, I have never once been able to question the fact that each of you LOVES this business and truly wants to make it better and sustain it for the next generation. That is proven to be true by your unwavering willingness to volunteer time and resources to support the industry that has given so much to us. I would like to express – although inadequately in words – what a tremendous honor it has been for me to serve the members of this great organization. It has been said many times – because it is true – that sheep people are some of the greatest people on the planet. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my family and employees at home. In my absence they have had to pick up the slack time and time again. It would be impossible to devote the necessary time to this job without their extra effort and sup port. Until we meet again, keep it on the sunny side.

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