Sheep Industry News January 2025

SheepIndustry Volume 29, Issue 1 January 2025

News

January 2025 Volume 29, Issue 1

Contents

4

President’s Notes

6

Market Report

9

ASI Member Listing

28

Breeders' Directory

30

Industry Calendar

ON THE COVER: Shepherdess in Training Ellen Geisler Wisconsin

FOLLOW US

2 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Journey of the Rafter 7 The Rafter 7 sheep flock

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– a research flock developed by the University of Nevada-Reno – holds a special place beyond its role in research and is beloved by all who encounter or care for it.

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15 Young & Emerging Entrepreneurs Host Lambing School

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Michigan Companies Create Legendary Cap

Colored Sheep Congress Offers Unique Insight The 10th World Congress on Colored Sheep, held in Christchurch, New Zealand, was centered around presentations and personal projects that involve colored sheep and wool.

ASI Award Winners Announced for 2025 ASI's annual awards will

Michigan sheep producer Eric Wallis is “just a shepherd,” but his desire to create avenues for profit from his flock’s wool led to a unique partnership between his Lake Superior Woolen Company and hat maker Stormy Kromer.

Roughly 50 sheep producers – ranging from aspiring and new to experienced – attended an in-person lambing class hosted by ASI’s Young & Emerging Entrepreneurs on Nov. 23 in Watertown, S.D.

recognize the efforts of three American sheep producers, one researcher and a writer who raises sheep on the side at the ASI Annual Convention this month in Arizona.

October 2024 • Sheep Industry News • 3 January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 3

President’s Notes BRAD BONER ASI PRESIDENT

Welcome to the New Year I truly have no idea how we have already put 2024 to bed and are starting a new year. That means that this year’s ASI Annual Conven tion must be right around the corner. I would like to spend some time in this month’s column hitting some of the highlights of the upcoming convention in Scottsdale, Ariz. This three-day event brings together every sector of the American sheep industry to one place. This year is no exception with a dozen individual industry groups having meetings during our time in Scottsdale. This offers our members the opportunity to learn new things and hear about what else might be happening that could impact each of their agribusiness enterprises. Official meetings get started at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 with the Animal Health Committee. Important topics like Scrapie and New World Screwworm updates will offer insight into one old and one new health issue that might impact your sheep flock and your bottom line. At 8:30 a.m., the National Lamb Feeders Annual Meeting and Forum will take place. This meeting typically offers lively and informative discussions on many of the topics that impact the lamb market. At 10 a.m., the Genetics Forum kicks off with Perspectives on Sheep Genetics in Australia and a well-known panel to discuss Genetic Progress in the Real World . This informative session will continue after lunch with additional topics focused on how to use genetic selection to improve your bottom line. At 1 p.m., the Production, Education & Research Council kicks off its Policy Forum discussing things like New and Emerging Production Technologies and Scaling Up Production – How to Do It Successfully . The Legislative Council also begins at 1 p.m. with topics such as a Farm Bill update and other legislative items that impact our industry. At 1:30 p.m., the ASI Wool Council will meet to discuss the latest issues in the wool industry. At 4 p.m., please join us for our Opening Session which is a panel discussion on Energizing the Sheep Industry with Solar . This will be an upbeat and informative panel of five knowledgeable professionals who are involved with sheep grazing under solar arrays – or agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics is a growing sector within the sheep industry that might offer some new opportunities for sheep producers. Don’t miss this one. Everyone will look forward to 6 p.m. and our Industry Welcome Reception, where we can catch up with our friends, ASI officers and staff members to talk about everything SHEEP. Jan. 17 begins at 8 a.m. with the Lamb Council session and Resource Management Council Policy Forum. Friday’s Awards Luncheon of fers us the opportunity to honor individuals who have given extraordinary time and effort to our industry while making it better along the way. You can read more about the award winners in this issue of the Sheep Industry News . After lunch, the ASI Board of Directors Information Session will get underway. This year, we will have some great speakers including the three young producers who represented the American sheep industry at Lamb X in Australia. We wrap up Friday with the fun filled and lively RAMPAC Reception and Auction. This event is one of the highlights of the convention and lets everyone relax and enjoy each other's company. Saturday begins with the all-important Regional Caucuses, where we will elect three new members to the Executive Board. The ASI Board of Directors Business Meeting will begin at 10 a.m., and is open to anyone who would like to attend. It will include an informative talk from Paul Rosenthal, ASI’s trade law attorney. A fitting way to wrap things up is with the Make It With Wool Fashion Show that night. As you can see, there will be lots going on in Scottsdale and it will avail us of the once-a-year opportunity to network with other indus try participants in hopes of better understanding how we best grow and prosper as sheep producers and industry. Until then, keep it on the sunny side.

4 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

SheepIndustry NEWS JANUARY 2025: Volume 29, Issue 1

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AMERICAN SHEEP INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION INC. 9785 Maroon Circle, Suite 360 Englewood, CO 80112-2692 Phone: 303-771-3500 • Fax: 303-771-8200 info@sheepusa.org • Sheepusa.org EDITOR/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Kyle Partain COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Parand Malekani ASI Office Staff: Peter Orwick, Executive Director Rita Kourlis Samuelson, Deputy Director/Wool Marketing Larry Kincaid, Chief Financial Officer Zahrah Khan, Operations Manager Erica Sanko, Director of Analytics & Production Programs Christa Rochford, Wool Marketing Programs Manager Heather Pearce, Wool Production Programs Manager Chris Jones, Administrative Assistant The Sheep Industry News is published monthly as the official publication of the American Sheep Industry Association Inc. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Payment of member dues in an ASI affiliated state organization entitles a member to a subscription. For non-members, the subscription rate is $50 per year. ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Rates available at Sheepusa.org. Deadline is the fifth of the month preceding the cover date. All advertising is subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for their advertising content. Publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaint about service or product. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in Sheep Industry News.

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January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 5

Market Report

CHARLES MARTINEZ, PH.D. University of Tennessee

Start of a New Year

T he start of the year sets the table for an important month of anticipation for Jan. 1 inventory reports that will come in February. At the time of this writing, there are some sideway movements in key prices, which could be seen as positive or negative, depending on one’s perspective. RETAIL Coming off the heels of Thanksgiving, retail activity and feature rates are down. The activity index in the National Retail Report measures the frequency of feature activity equal to the total number of stores for each advertised item – i.e. a retailer with 100 outlets featuring five items has an activity index of 500. Of the 24,443 outlets, the activity index was 2,317, which was down from 8,298 from the previous week. The decrease is expected given that Thanksgiving week is a time when the activity index is historically one of the highest weeks during the year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture report breaks the nation into eight markets: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, South Central, South west, Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii. Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Northeast region had the highest activity index (1,065). Nationally, the feature rate decreased from 27 percent down to 6.6 percent. The feature rate is the amount of sampled stores advertising any reported item during the current week, expressed as a percentage of the total sample. The same Thanksgiving week logic applies to the feature rate. Thanksgiving week sees increased featuring, followed by lower featuring weeks until Christmas time each year. In the second week of December, the Hawaii market lead all markets with the highest feature rate (22.4 percent). While retail activity and feature rates are down across all markets, fresh loin chops are increasing in prices at the retail level, increasing from $9.08/lb. up to $10.69/lb. Fresh bone-in leg cuts and fresh Halal rib racks have also increased in value. WHOLESALE Last year, the fourth quarter is when the lamb cutout value rose and set the stage for 2024. Cutout values peaked at $480.11 per cwt. (April) and bottomed out at $460.79 per cwt. (November) this year. The bot toming out occurred election week, and since then has trended upward to $268.87 per cwt. through the first two weeks of December. Compared to last year, the fourth quarter cutout has not increased at the same rate as the markets saw last year. But throughout the year, 2024 prices ($471.05 per cwt.) averaged higher compared to a year ago ($450.71 per cwt.). Compared to the previous five-year average

($421.54 per cwt.), 2024 cutout values have also averaged higher, and are currently $31.78 per cwt. higher than the previous five-year average for the same week in December. Thus – from a sky view – prices have maintained sideways movement throughout the year with no real pop upward, but no real slide down. This is somewhat positive news given that inflation started the year high, and relatively, proteins are still expensive for the consumer. From a demand perspective, the stabiliza tion in prices indicates stable demand. From the supply side, slaughter headcounts and weights have helped with stable wholesale prices. SLAUGHTER Through the first 47 weeks of 2024, weekly lamb and yearly slaughter averaged 33.81 thousand head per week, which is up from a weekly av erage of 32.73 thousand per week for 2023. Compared to the previous five-year average for the same period (47 weeks), weekly slaughter is down from a weekly average of 34.47 thousand. Through 2024, weekly dressing weights for lamb and yearlings were at 61.9 pounds, which is down from 62.38 pounds for the same period in 2023. Taking total slaughter and dressing weights, total production is up 2.5 percent compared to the previous year. Thus, with supply slightly up, and stable cutout values, demand must be holding steady to higher. Compared to the previous five-year averages, current dressed weights are nearly 5 pounds lower and total production is lower by ap proximately 8.5 percent. PRICES Depending on weight, slaughter lamb prices have been on a roller coaster in the last couple of months. For heavyweight (100 to 150 pounds) lambs in San Angelo, Texas, prices have trended down from $208.40 per cwt. in mid-summer and bottomed out at $136.08 per cwt. in October. Prices rallied back up to $190 per cwt. in November but declined back to $150 per cwt. in the first couple of weeks in December. Given the dressed weight averages, the volatility in the heavyweight slaughter lambs is expected. In lighterweight slaughter lamb (60 to 90 pounds) markets, the three-market average (Colorado, South Dakota and Texas) saw prices go from $263.96 per cwt. in April, all the way down to $143.81 per cwt. in October. Since then, prices have trended back up, with prices sitting at $200.98 per cwt. in the second week of December. As of this writing, both heavyweight and lightweight slaughter lamb types are below last year’s and the previous five-year’s price ranges. Looking back at last year’s price movements and seasonality, both

6 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

weight types should close the year steady to higher, which will set the table for the seasonal price movement upward in the first few months of 2025. Through 2024, feeder prices also tumbled from March ($324.61 per cwt.) to September (approximately $200 per cwt.), and since have trended upward through the first few weeks in December. But the key difference is that the rally of feeder prices has been mostly above last year’s prices, which from a producer perspective is a posi tive sign. Given the similar movements between last year and this year, I would expect the first few months of 2025 to have steady to strong feeder prices. TRADE Through the latest trade data for exports (October), U.S. exports for 2024 are at a total of 525,000 metric tons, which is 51,600 metric tons higher than last year for the same time period. In value, U.S. exports are valued at $29.8 million, which is $3.03 million higher than last year through October. Lamb and sheep skins and pieces make up the majority of U.S. exports in volume, while lamb and mutton (33 percent) and wool (47 percent) make up majority of the value. I have started using weekly data to watch imports, and in the first two weeks of Decem ber, U.S. fresh and frozen lamb imports have been approximately

7.4 million pounds. In the weekly import figures, you will see that through this year, we have started to import more fresh product from our trade partners, whereas U.S. imports for frozen products has remained relatively the same. Racks, short loins and legs make up majority of the product mix that the United States is importing. WOOL Through the last few weeks leading into the middle of December, the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator had fluctuated up and down but trended upward to 1,142 AU cents per kg. This is up from the bottom of 1,087 AUS cents per kg of the calendar year that was seen in late September to early October. But when converted to U.S. dol lars per pound, prices remained steady at $3.38 per lb. The reason for the difference is the exchange rate, in that the Aus tralian dollar has depreciated compared to the U.S. dollar. American wool prices have been steady to lower depending on quality. OUTLOOK Overall, prices throughout the supply chain have mixed signals depending on who is buying and who is selling. From a domestic standpoint, demand remains steady, imports have increased slightly, but I foresee the beginning of 2025 to be similar to 2024, unless there are massive macroeconomic shakeups.

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January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 7

T he U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in December 2024 the reappointment of four members to serve on the American Lamb Board. Each member will serve a second three-year term beginning January 2025 and ending January 2028. The newly reappointed members are: ALB Appointments Announced “It has been a true honor to serve on the American Lamb Board and represent sheep producers from across the country. I am deeply passionate about the quality of both the product we produce and the people who grow it,” said Fisher. “We have a great board with a willingness to think outside the box to promote our industry. I look forward to serving a second term and representing this great industry.” “I am honored to be reappointed to serve on the American Lamb Board,” said Parker, a former member of the ASI Ex ecutive Board. “It has been an educational and eye-opening experience thus far and I look forward to three more years of serving the sheep industry by helping guide the promotional and educational opportunities that will continue to help our industry grow.” “My first term on lamb board went by very fast as there is a lot to learn. The board is very diverse, and it was a great experi ence to learn about the issues and concerns from members representing different areas of the sheep industry,” said Schreier, who also previous served on the ASI Executive Board repre senting the National Lamb Feeders Association. “My goals for the next three years will be to better understand all challenges of the sheep industry and budget check off dollars toward programs that will strengthen the industry and support our contributors.” “I'm honored to be selected and look forward to serving the lamb community," said Allman. Each spring, USDA seeks nominations for the board from industry organizations that have been certified by USDA. ASI is one of these organizations, which represent producers, feeders, seedstock producers and first handlers. “It is incredibly beneficial to have strong industry leaders like David, Jimmy, Steve and Andrew serve a second term,” said ALB Chairman Jeff Ebert. “They can continue to contribute to our organization and provide strategic direction based on their knowledge and experience both in the sheep industry as well as having three years serving on the ALB.” Source: ALB • Jimmy Parker, Vinemont, Ala. – Producer. • David Fisher, Sonora, Texas – Producer. • Stephen J. Schreier, Tracy, Minn. – Feeder. • Andrew Allman, Gill, Colo. – First Handler.

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ASI Member Listing WWW.SHEEPUSA.ORG l INFO@SHEEPUSA.ORG

VOTING MEMBERS

National Lamb Feeders Association 605-224-0224 • lambfeeders@outlook.com Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association 308-386-8378 • Ne.sheep.goat@gmail.com Nevada Wool Growers Association 775-934-8860 • pr_paris@yahoo.com New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Growers nhswga@nhswga.org Garden State Sheep Breeders Inc. (N.J.) 609-947-2260 • kmelvinnjsheep@gmail.com New Mexico Wool Growers Inc. 505-247-0584 • nmwgi@nmagriculture.org Empire Sheep Producers Cooperative (N.Y.) 585-367-2775 • sheepkath@aol.com North Carolina Sheep Producers Assoc. Inc. 919-522-4110 • wewillservethelord@nc.rr.com North Dakota Lamb & Wool Producers Assoc. 701-333-8009 • curtsheep@gmail.com Ohio Sheep Improvement Association 614-499-2931 • rhigh@ofbf.org Oregon Sheep Growers Association 503-364-5462 • info@sheeporegon.com Pennsylvania Sheep & Wool Growers Association 814-880-3314 • psushepherd@yahoo.com South Carolina Sheep Industries Association 864-360-3222 • debbiewebster615@gmail.com South Dakota Sheep Growers Association 406-581-7772 • lisa@sdsheepgrowers.org Tennessee Sheep Producers Association 931-510-1322 • info@tennesseesheep.org Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers’ Association 325-655-7388 • tsgra@wcc.net Utah Wool Growers Association 435-915-6119 • sierra@utahwoolgrowers.com Vermont Sheep & Goat Association 802-899-2104 • settlementfarm@comcast.net Virginia Sheep Producers Association 540-231-9159 • sgreiner@vt.edu Washington State Sheep Producers 360-999-8118 • washingtonsheep@gmail.com Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative 608-743-9080 • wisconsinsheepbreeders@gmail.com

Alabama Meat Goat & Sheep Producers 334-613-4221 • BRagland@alfains.com ASI Women 435-528-7570 • sherrischumann@utah.gov Arizona Wool Producers Association 520-560-4202 • caauza@peoplepc.com Arkansas State Sheep Council 870-853-7404 • wjcalloway@gmail.com California Wool Growers Association 916-444-8122 • info@woolgrowers.org Colorado Wool Growers Association 970-874-1433 • cwgawool@aol.com Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association 860-819-8339 • secretary@ctsheep.com Meat Sheep Alliance of Florida 352-502-2564 • ruthtaber@embarqmail.com Georgia Sheep & Wool Growers Association 706-340-1098 • georgiasheep@gmail.com Hawaii Sheep and Goat Association 808-775-8075 • alohadjam@yahoo.com Idaho Wool Growers Association 208-344-2271 • director@idahowoolgrowers.org Illinois Lamb & Wool Producers Inc. 573-205-9208 • amanda.limback@gmail.com Indiana Sheep Association 317-607-5664 • executive@indianasheep.com Iowa Sheep Industry Association 641-625-4248 • info@iowasheep.com Kansas Sheep Association 620-393-5204 • kssheep@ruraltel.net Kentucky Sheep & Wool Producers Association 502-682-7780 • kyates@kysheepandgoat.org Maine Sheep Breeders Association 207-324-1582 • donna.flint@maine.edu Maryland Sheep Breeders Association 410-746-5768 • chestnutcreekfarm@gmail.com Massachusetts Federation of Sheep Associations 508-829-4556 • brmacphee@aol.com Michigan Sheep Producers Association 616-610-5628 • samaludl@gmail.com Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association 320-760-5727 • kinneylamb@gmail.com Missouri Sheep Producers Inc.

Brad Boner Wyoming President

Ben Lehfeldt Montana Vice President

Joe Pozzi California Secretary/Treasurer

Peter Orwick Colorado Executive Director

Wyoming Wool Growers Association 307-265-5250 • alison@wyowool.com

573-578-0497 • christy576@gmail.com Montana Wool Growers Association 406-442-1330 • stefanie@mtsheep.org

January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 9

ASI Award Winners Announced for 2025

A SI's annual awards will recognize the efforts of three American sheep producers, one researcher and a writer who raises sheep on the side at the ASI Annual Convention this month in Arizona. The Awards Luncheon is scheduled for Jan. 17 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Here’s a look at the 2025 winners. MCCLURE SILVER RAM Peter John Camino is a third-generation Wyoming rancher whose grandfather settled in Wyoming as a Basque sheepherd er in 1908. The family operation is transitioning to the fourth generation as Camino's son moves into a leadership role. “I was really surprised and really honored to hear about this award,” Camino said of winning the McClure Silver Ram Award. “I had no idea I was even being considered. My wife and I had talked about the convention, and I had decided not

nual clip to use in a variety of products. “Before Covid, they were buying the whole clip,” he said. “Then things slowed down a bit. A few years ago, they ran out of fine black wool, so I started looking for some black sheep to add to my flock. I went from 10 head to 60 and they use that black wool to produce a natural gray. But it’s hard to find black, fine-wool Rambouillet sheep. All the range guys used to have some because we used them as marker sheep. Because there’s almost no market for black wool, everybody got rid of those.” INDUSTRY INNOVATION AWARD Utah’s Tom Boyer has channeled his passion for the Ameri can sheep industry into working on a handful of projects designed to push the industry forward technologically, which is why he was an obvious choice to receive the Industry Innova tion Award. “I’m still in shock,” he said shortly after being informed of his selection. “What an honor this is for me. I’ve always had a passion for the industry, and that led to looking for ways to move it forward.” Boyer is a founding member of Sheep Genetics USA and worked extensively several years back on the Mickel project, which was funded in part by an ASI Let’s Grow grant. He’s continued that collaboration with Dr. Ron Lewis on the current Sheep GEMS Project, as well. He was also part of a team effort to restart the National Ram Sale in his home state. “I really enjoy working with so many great people in the sheep industry,” Boyer said. “I was already looking forward to the convention and the chance to hear about everything that’s been happening in the sheep industry in the past year. Now, I’ve got another reason to be excited about going to Scottsdale.” PETER ORWICK CAMPTENDER AWARD While Dr. James Miller’s involvement with ASI has been minimal through the years, his influence on the American sheep industry cannot be overlooked. During his 32 years as a veterinary parasitologist at Louisiana State University, he worked tirelessly to research parasite control and educate pro ducers in the Southeast. And that’s why he was recommended by a handful of researchers and extension specialists around the country to receive the Peter Orwick Camptender Award. He was a founding member of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (WormX.info) and during sabbaticals from LSU spent time on molecular genetic research in parasites in sheep at Utah State University, where he worked with Dr. Noelle Cockett on various projects.

to go this year. But then she came back and said, ‘You really need to go.’ So, I got my reservation made.” That same week in mid-December, he got the call from ASI Presi dent Brad Boner – a fel low Wyoming rancher – about the award. “I’m not sure who all will come out, but

my wife, Jackie, will definitely be there with me,” Camino said. “We’ll have to figure it out because someone has to stay home and take care of things.” Camino runs a 2,700-head, commercial range flock of Ram bouillet ewes, and was lucky to not have lost any of his sheep in devastating wildfires that swept through Wyoming last sum mer. He did, however, lose some grazing lands that was produc ing as much grass as ever in recent years during the spring and early summer. One lightning strike changed all that, and he’s been forced to lease additional land for his flock this winter. A former chairman of the American Lamb Board, Camino has held a variety of leadership positions in the American sheep industry at both the state and national level and currently serves on ASI’s Predator Management Committee. And at a time when getting wool sold has been a constant battle for many producers, he’s developed a relationship with Mountain Meadow Wool, which buys half or more of his an

10 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

“I was very surprised to hear that I would be receiving this award,” said Miller, who now calls Oklahoma home. “I’ve always worked a bit outside of the American sheep and goat industry as one of the last small ruminant parasitologists in the United States. But it was always my goal to help improve those industries with my research.” DISTINGUISHED PRODUCER New York’s Keith Stumbo has been involved with sheep for most of his life. Add that to his countless volunteer efforts within the industry, and he was an easy choice for the Distinguished Producer Award. Stumbo served on both of ASI’s Wool and Lamb Councils at various times during his tenure on the ASI Executive Board. About two decades ago he accepted what appears to be a lifetime appointment as president of the Empire Sheep Producers Associa tion – ASI’s affiliate in New York State. “I picked it up from another guy who aged out, and I’ve been there ever since,” Stumbo said. “But we’ve got a younger guy now who is vice president, so I might get to retire from that job in the next few years.” Stumbo raised sheep as a kid, took a break in early adulthood and then found his way back to the industry when he and Kathy's daughters were old enough to get into showing sheep. Getting back into the industry allowed Keith another opportunity to get

involved – something he’s always

done, wheth er it was local boards and committees or national groups such as ASI.

And while he was busy traveling with a full-time sales job and his volunteer duties, Kathy kept things running at home. “She was the head shepherd and the one who had to do a lot of the work around the place,” Stumbo said. SHEPHERD’S VOICE AWARD As editor of Ohio’s Country Journal , Matt Reese has been a sup porter of the sheep industry in the Buckeye state and surrounding areas. Just as importantly, he’s a member of the industry. He and his family live on a small farm in Fairfield County, Ohio, where they raise sheep, rabbits and chickens. In addition, Reese’s staff regularly produces the Charles Boyles Master Shepherd Award video for the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, which nominated him for this award for his “educa tion and promotion of the sheep, lamb and wool industry.”

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January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 11

Savage Named Wool Excellence Winner

L ongtime ASI Wool Consultant Barry Savage has been chosen by the Wool Roundtable as the winner of the 2025 Wool Excellence Award for his two decades of ded ication to marketing American wool in international markets. “This is quite a surprise, and very much appreciated,” said Savage, who officially retired from ASI in December 2023, from his home in Boston. But, he’s found it difficult to walk away from the industry. He was appointed to a three-year term on the board of the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center in 2023 and was already planning to be at the ASI Annual Con vention in Scottsdale, Ariz., this month in that capacity. Savage will receive his award during the Wool Recognition Lunch on Jan. 16 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. If you’re in terested in joining the celebration, tickets for that lunch might still be available for those who didn’t purchase them when they registered for the convention. Check with the registration desk in Scottsdale to inquire about availability. In addition to driving international marketing for ASI and American wool, Savage also contributed to the ASI Wool Team in the areas of technical and commercial input in regard to early-stage processing and spinning as well as logistical and marketing issues after joining ASI in July of 2001. “It’s definitely hard to walk away after 21 years with a com pany,” Savage said. “With the exception of Anodyne, most of the American wool companies didn’t have a lot of experience with other countries outside of Mexico when I started working with ASI. I’m glad that I was able to bring my connections to the industry. International sales are really made on trust and personality. If people can relate to you, that makes things easier. Working with ASI allowed me to utilize my knowledge of these other countries and their technical capabilities. The thing I enjoyed the most about working with ASI was that it allowed me to keep up all of these international connections I’d made

through the years.” Many of those connections came when Savage was previ ously employed by G. H. Michell & Sons (Australia) Pty. Ltd., a major, early-stage wool processor and sheepskin/leather tanner. He began his career in Sydney in production management in the scouring/carbonizing/topmaking/fellmongery facilities of Michell before becoming the general manager of Woolscourers (Vic) Pty. Ltd. in Melbourne. He subsequently became the general manager of Penny’s Knitting Mills Pty. Ltd – a worsted spinning and knitting opera tion in Adelaide and a Michell Group subsidiary – before mov ing to the United Kingdom where he acted as Michell’s man ager for Eastern Europe, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Scandinavia Region. He then moved to Boston where he was Michell’s manager of the Americas Region. After 30 years with Michell, Savage moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as the sales director at Clicktex, a textile in ternet marketing company. He then joined ASI and worked to market American wool until his retirement. “There was a real decline in manufacturing in the United States in the mid-90s, so there was this big need to find new markets,” Savage said. “We had no choice but to develop new markets outside of the domestic industry, so that’s what we did.” During his time at ASI, Savage was a regular attendee on trade missions that introduced international buyers to Ameri can wool. “Barry was always a pleasure to work with and was well liked by not only the international buyers, but also the American wool exporters who benefitted from the expertise he brought to his position with ASI,” said ASI Director of Wool Marketing Rita Samuelson. “We’ve definitely missed his presence on our team in the year since he retired.”

12 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 13

Michigan Companies Create Legendary Cap

M ichigan sheep producer Eric Wallis is “just a shep herd,” but his desire to create avenues for profit from his flock’s wool led to a unique partnership between his Lake Superior Woolen Company and longtime hat maker Stormy Kromer. Lake Superior has long produced wool blankets, selling the product through word of mouth and online before Wallis’ daugh ter, Kristy, opened a retail store in touristy Mackinaw City, Mich., in 2024. “Four or five years ago, I reached out to Gina Thorsen (chief executive officer at Stormy Kromer) to see if they had a place for our wool blankets,” Wallis said. “I had a couple of Kromers and we chatted a bit but it didn’t work out. Recently my daughter told me they were selling wool blankets now, so I reached out again and Gina remembered our conversation. When we visited in the spring, she was pretty excited about it and wanted to see if they could make a hat out of our blankets. Eventually, we sent them the raw material to make the new limited edition cap.” Since they were introduced in late 2024, the caps have sold quickly, leaving just limited stock available heading into the holiday shopping season. And the success has generated talk of additional collaborations in the future. “She’s given us some hints at what they are thinking,” Wallis said. “We would definitely be interested in working with them again.” It appears the feeling is mutual. “We love partnering with other businesses all over, especially in the state,” said Thorsen. “But then when it’s a chance to do it here in the Upper Peninsula, it’s just really wonderful to know that the start of this fabric that is in the hat started with sheep being raised in Rudyard (Mich.) is really amazing. To think of the whole journey of that, starting with the wool being sheared and ending up in what’s kind of the unofficial hat of the U.P., right? It just all feels so wonderful. We love partnering with great people, and Kristy and her dad, Eric, are certainly that. They value the same things we do in terms of like quality and hard work and just putting everything into what they do. I think just comes through in the product.” Wallis’ family started with a dairy in Michigan’s Upper Pen insula after his grandfather homesteaded the place in the early 1900s. His father sold the dairy and switched to a cow/calf opera tion when Wallis was a kid. Sheep came along in the early 1980s and the family farm in Rudyard has since been home to as many as 650 Polypay ewes through the years. The flock is down to just under 300 now, but Wallis is as busy as ever keeping up with demand for his blankets.

“Before we opened the store, if I sold 12 to 15 blankets between May and September most years, then that was about normal,” he said. “With the store this year, we sold 120 blankets in that time. And sales always pick up in October as we head into winter. The store has been great for us, and that’s totally my daughter and son-in-law’s deal. What she wants to do is sell our stuff, the Stormy Kromer caps and some other local artisan products.” Wallis said the blankets, the cap and everything else he’s done in the wool industry was just an effort to find value in his flock’s wool at a time when the value of raw wool seemed to be decreas ing exponentially. “We had a great product that we couldn’t sell for a profit, so we had to figure out a way to change that and make a profit,” he said. “It’s worked well for us.” The limited-edition caps are (or possibly were by the time you’re reading this) only available through StormyKromer.com and the Lake Superior Woolen Company store.

14 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

YEE Hosts Lambing School in S.D.

R oughly 50 sheep producers – ranging from aspiring and new to experienced – attended an in-person lambing workshop hosted by ASI’s Young & Emerging Entrepre neurs on Nov. 23, 2024, in Watertown, S.D. “It went really well,” said Dr. Kelly Froehlich of the YEE group. “We handed out a survey at the end of the day and almost everyone said they learned a lot.” Attendees were asked, “What was the most useful topic cov ered during the school and why,” and responded with: • “Really everything. It’s been a truly informative day, and I learned a ton. As a total novice, I’m even more excited after today than I already was about raising sheep soon.” • “Practical application of pulling the lamb. The nutrition breakdown. The vet sharing different meds for specific things. How to tube feed. Side conversation of the best weights and times of year to sell.” • “I loved the lamb kit, the list of medications needed, and the protocols. I also like the ewe they brought in. I also like the transparency of the group and how helpful everyone is willing to be.” The highlight of the school was the dystocia simulator that the group purchased with funds from a National Sheep Industry Im provement Center grant that was awarded in 2024. The simulator allowed attendees to practice pulling lambs and get a first-hand look at problems that sheep producers might encounter in the process. But the workshop also touched on topics ranging from facility requirements for lambing to nutrition of both ewes and lambs. A veterinarian provided tips on deworming, establishing a veteri narian-client-patient relationship and medicines that producers might need to have on hand. The workshop also discussed put

ting together a lambing tool kit with necessary supplies. Producers from four states attended the free workshop, which is just the first step in the YEE group’s efforts to educate new sheep producers with funds from the NSIIC grant. Froehlich is working on developing an online curriculum – which she hopes to preview at the ASI Annual Convention in Scottsdale, Ariz., this month – for beginning sheep producers. “I should have a few lessons done by the convention,” she said. “We spent a lot of time preparing for the lambing school. Now that it’s done, I’ve got more time to work on the lessons.” The Young & Emerging Entrepreneurs have also received several requests to bring the dystocia simulator to other sheep gatherings, including state sheep association meetings. “We’ll have the simulator at the ASI Annual Convention,” Froehlich said. “That will give people there a chance to practice pulling lambs and see it up close.” Froehlich said there are plans to auction off the naming rights to the simulator during the RAMPAC Auction on Jan. 17 at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Working with South Dakota producer Cody Chambliss, Froehlich and the YEE group are planning additional in-person

educational opportunities in the year to come. While the online education program will be open to everyone, the YEE group’s grant called for in-person training to focus on a six-state region in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 15

Celebrating the UNR’s rich agricultural history Journey of the Rafter 7

EMMA LANDE University of Nevada-Reno

W hile the Rafter 7 Merino flock peacefully grazed in a feedlot at the Fish Creek Ranch – just 12 miles south of Eureka – a coyote stealthily approached the unsuspecting flock, plotting the perfect op portunity to attack. Unbeknownst to the predator, an army of white guard dogs camouflaged within the sheep was eyeing its every move, strategically positioning to attack in defense of the flock. As the coyote closed in on its target, the encircling guard dogs swiftly subdued and dispatched it as the herd dogs hurriedly guided the sheep to safety. The Rafter 7 sheep flock – a research flock developed by the University of Nevada-Reno more than 30 years ago and now globally recognized for its fine, soft wool and flavorful meat – holds a special place beyond its role in research and is beloved by all who encounter or care for it. The flock’s sheepherders and Sheep Manager Fabrizio Cartagena equally share an unwavering devotion to its well-being. They go to great lengths to care and nurture the sheep. They have carried exhausted lambs for long distances through steep terrain to prevent fatalities, and with Carta gena, skillfully handled countless difficult births and a range of health problems and injuries, ensuring the survival of both ewes and their lambs. The Rafter 7 Merino sheep have come to reflect the profound bond between the animals and people at the heart of the Great Basin Research & Extension Center, a property of the university’s Experiment Station in Eureka, Nev. The story of the development of the Rafter 7 Merinos is an interesting one and illustrative of the university’s rich his tory of innovative contributions to the state’s agriculture and livestock industry. THE FOUNDATION: RAMBOUILLET The Rambouillet sheep was developed by the French government in the late 18th century in Rambouillet, France,

from a selection of Spain’s best Merino sheep. They were first imported to the United States in the mid-19th century and selectively bred to meet the needs of American sheep pro ducers. Today, they are predominantly raised on the Western ranges of the United States and have been regarded as the cornerstone of profitability in the sheep industry due to their many attributes. “Rambouillet sheep thrive in the harsh weather conditions of the Nevada desert,” said Scott Huber, the senior assistant director and research coordinator of the university’s Experi ment Station, who also manages the center’s operations. “They are gentle and easy to handle, and they require mini mal feed and water. Their agility also allows them to navigate the mountainous terrains to forage.” Rambouillet sheep are renowned for their high-quality wool and meat, and have strong milking maternal instincts leading to lower offspring mortality. They also breed out of season and are resistant to diseases, making them a finan cially rewarding choice for farmers. The university’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources has managed the Rafter 7 Merino sheep project since it developed the flock in 1990 – except for a brief period during which the flock was sold before being reacquired. The flock is a crossbreed of the Rambouillet sheep – a large, hardy breed that thrives in extreme climates and sparse forage conditions – and the Australian Merino, which is also reared in similar arid climates in Australia, and is renowned for its superfine, premium wool. The Rafter 7 Merino sheep project began with a partner ship among the university, the E.L. Wiegand Foundation and the Rafter 7 Ranch, located 21 miles south of Yerington, Nev., along the East Walker River. The new breed was aptly named after its initial home – the 3,000-acre Rafter 7 Ranch, which was purchased in 1988 by the Wiegand Foundation to develop the purebred Merino sheep and advance agricultural research and conservation efforts, according to Jim Carrico,

16 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

then chief financial officer of the foundation. The late Hudson Glimp – a newly appointed sheep spe cialist at the university’s Experiment Station – and Ray mond ‘Skip’ Avansino Jr. – then chairperson of the Wiegand Foundation – embarked on a concept development project with generous support from the foundation to create a new Merino breed by crossbreeding Rambouillet sheep with Australian Merinos. “The desire to develop a flock that produces both high quality meat and extra fine, premium wool, while also retaining the Rambouillet’s hardiness and low-maintenance traits that enable it to thrive in extreme weather, was the impetus for this project,” said Gary McCuin, Eureka County Extension educator and a former director of the center. Glimp and Avansino spearheaded the purchase of the initial breeding stock of approximately 400 Rambouillet ewes from ranches in Montana and the Dakotas, and had the ewes relocated to the Rafter 7 Ranch. “That was the initiation and beginning of the Rafter 7 Merino herd,” McCuin said. GENETIC DEVELOPMENT (1990 – 2006) During the next 16 years, Glimp and his team – including

Tom Filbin, the first sheep manager of the new flock – im ported Australian Merino rams and semen from Australia, which they bred both naturally and artificially into the origi nal breeding stock of Rambouillet ewes. “During this period, around 16 rams and semen from 41 Australian rams were imported to enhance the Rambouillet’s genetic pool,” said Andrew Hess, an assistant professor of animal breeding and genetics in the College’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences who has been assisting in developing the breeding program and conduct ing genetic research at the center. “The ewe selection crite ria included parameters such as wool fiber diameter, fleece weight, growth rate and reproductive performance traits.” After successive phases of insemination, the project developed two distinct breeding lines. The Rafter 7 Pure Merino line was developed by a grade-up program where the imported semen was progressively bred into the Rambouil let ewes until they became 100 percent Merino. During this process, breeders observed that the Rafter 7 line – which is approximately 60 percent Merino and 40 percent Rambouil let – exhibited favorable characteristics and was subsequent ly developed. “The Rafter 7 Pure Merino line’s wool fiber diameter was

January 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 17

reduced by an average of three microns, making its wool more superior compared to the foundation flock,” Hess said. “It was bred for its high fleece weight, wool quality and reproductive traits, while the Rafter 7 line was developed for high fleece weight, consistent twin births and fast growth traits.” By the 2005 breeding season, the Rafter 7 Merino flock had expanded to about 1,300 ewes, organized into groups of 30, each paired with a single ram for mating. SELLING THE RANCH & FLOCK By 2013, the Wiegand Foundation decided to sell the ranch. In a press release published by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – a private foundation chartered by Congress to conserve wildlife in riparian ecosystems – Car rico said, “We recently completed our objectives and decided that it was time to sell the ranch.” The foundation sold the ranch to the conservation group’s Walker Basin Restoration Program. With the sale of the ranch, the university decided to sell the flock to Rick Powers, a wool buyer familiar with the value and quality of the Rafter 7 Merino line. Powers relocated the flock to Diamond Valley in Eureka County and continued to inseminate the Rafter 7 Pure Me rino line with the Australian genetics. In 2014, the university appointed Bill Payne as dean of the college, and two years later he and Glimp began discussions on reacquiring the Rafter 7 Merino flock from Powers. Their

goal was to house the flock in a future agricultural research center, which is now the Great Basin Research & Extension Center, jointly operated by the college’s Experiment Station and Extension units. Since then, the center has commercialized Rafter 7 wool and forged partnerships with several entities for its process ing and sale. Through collaborations with Jimmy Beans Wool, Mountain Meadow Wool Mill in Wyoming and the campus Nevada Wolf Shop, Rafter 7 yarn and branded mer chandise are sold to do-it-yourself clients, students, faculty, alumni and the public. Due to the specialty niche of handling such fine wool, the wool processing, spinning and manufacturing is managed by Mountain Meadow Wool. The hand-dyeing process for Jimmy Bean’s yarn is overseen by Madelinetosh, a hand-dyed yarn company in Fort Worth, Texas. The center also inde pendently sells the Rafter 7 wool to commercial wool buyers. “The high-quality Merino and Rambouillet rams and ewes offer Nevada and Western range sheep producers an opportunity to improve the wool quality of their flocks and increase their profitability with wool that rivals what one might find in New Zealand or Australia,” McCuin said. “The wool and its products are made possible by Nevada sheep, Nevada designers, Nevada breeders and Nevada scientists, all working together to give Nevada shoppers a better op tion.” Since reacquisition of the Rafter 7 flock, life at the center has transformed into a whirlwind of operational activities.

18 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org