Sheep Industry News January 2023

M ontana Wool Company was born out of a long-standing love affair with wool and sheep. It is a new venture for the Roeder family – Brent, Tracie, Ben and Caroline – of Greenfield, Mont. “Honestly, it was really frustrating to shear this beautiful wool off our sheep one day every year, stuff it in a bag and never see the end result of our hard work,” said Tracie. “We all have the desire to leave a legacy, something tangible. Quilts are in families for generations. It seems like wool blankets should be, as well.” Agriculture has long been a way of life for the entire family. Brent, is a former Teton county extension agent, now serving as the Mon tana State University Extension sheep specialist. Tracie oversees the day-to-day operations of the family’s Montana Sheep and Montana Wool companies and is a Teton County Library Director. Ben is a professional sheep shearer and is shearing around the world – Scot land, Australia and New Zealand – before coming back stateside for the 2023 season. Caroline is a senior in ag business at MSU. She is a member of the MSU Wool Judging team and went to the National Lamb Feeders Association Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leader ship School this summer in Colorado. “We’re all passionate about sheep. It’s very much a family enter prise,” Tracie said. In addition, they partner with Mountain Meadow Wool Mill, Battenkill Fibers, Bartlett Yarns, Lilly Marsh Studios and Thistle Hill Weavers to make their wool blankets. Montana Sheep Company started in 2006 after working for the Hibbard family at Sieben Live Stock near Adel, Mont.. The Roeders bought and continue to buy seminal seedstock from historic Targhee producers. They have raised Targhee sheep – a dual-purpose breed good for both wool and lamb – for the last 16 years. Tracie said the decision to get into the fiber business “just made perfect sense.” As growers of Targhee sheep who participate in the National Sheep Improvement Program and have their wool evaluated at the Montana State University Wool Lab, they knew the genetics of their sheep held the promise of success. “We cannot express enough gratitude for fellow Targhee breeders – Chase Hibbard, Carolyn and John Green, Jack and Kathy McRae, Sam and Nancy Ortmann, Judy Scanlan and Bob Innes for continuing to educate us about sheep,” Tracie said. “Truly we stand on the shoulders of giants, and any success we have had or continue to have moving forward is a direct result of their influence, mentorship and support. This is a shared story years in the making.” Just as they had once bought into the success of local breeders, the

Roeder’s began to see the value of their own flock as other producers bought into their breeding program. The family routinely sells rams and ewes at the Montana Ram Sale and the Montana Ewe Sale. With that in mind, it was time to put the genetics they were selling fellow producers to the test and make a living from their sheep in a different way – with value-added products. Like every other commodity, producer profit margins are razor thin. The potential for additional income was a powerful incentive. “Being price takers can be so demoralizing. Being price setters inspires you to continue and push past hard times," said Tracie. So, the Roeders branched out into two ventures. Montana Sheep Company partnered with Central Avenue Meats in Great Falls, Mont., to sell lamb. Montana Wool Company was formed to sell 100-per cent grown in Montana, made in the United States wool blankets. Montana Wool started in 2018, after a cross country trip with fellow sheep producers Karen Helle and Carolyn Green to explore mid-size industrial scouring plants, wool mills and visits with weavers. The company’s mission is to grow and manufacture domestic wool products and its vision is to provide for the basic human need of comfort and warmth renewably, sustainably and humanely while en gaging people in American agriculture. They started selling prototype blankets in 2019 and 2020, and now offer blanket sizes ranging from baby to throw to twin to queen. “Going from sheep producers to making a value-added product requires a lot of mental and physical energy. It also means being realistic about your aspirations, humble about the limitations of the commodity you produce and flexible in changing course,” Tracie said. “It requires startup capital, challenging yourself in new ways, interact ing with people with whom you would not normally have a relation ship, getting out of your comfort zone, incredible amounts of research and equally incredible leaps of faith. “It means listening to the advice of others, but not losing the vision you have for your product. Often it is your worst and best day all wrapped into one. Finally, market intelligence and business coun seling from our local rural economic development office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer program, and Montana Growth Through Agriculture all played roles in the develop ment of Montana Wool Company.” Because of the unique characteristics of Targhee wool, the family chose to make blankets versus other wool products. In contrast to other fine wool breeds, Targhee wool has a natural loft that increases insulation value. Weavers for Montana Wool Company say it is a very easy wool fiber with which to work.

18 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

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