Sheep Industry News January 2025

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

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