Sheep Industry News March 2023

told the crowd of sheep producers during the Indus try Awards Luncheon at the convention. “Poe Hamps appreciates this greatly. We never gave it any thought about having to stand here and reflect on it. We’ve now dedicated the farm totally to Hampshire sheep, and it appears it will be that way for some time with these two grandsons coming on." Poe Hampshires has been a leader in the use of arti ficial insemination within the American sheep industry. While a veterinarian handles the actual procedure, the family designed and built an on-farm facility that al lows for artificial insemination of up to 100 head a day. Through the years, they’ve grown to providing AI and embryo transplant services for other sheep producers in a handful of states. For many years, Poe worked off the farm with Elanco Animal Health. Once he retired, he was free to become more involved in the sheep industry. He’s a past president of the Indiana Sheep As sociation and has regularly represented the state on the ASI Board of Directors. “Carol and I have transferred the farm and the sheep to our oldest son and his wife,” Poe said in Fort Worth. “The second son is with Indiana Farm Bureau and deals in the cattle business. The third son is in Lexington, Kentucky, in government relations. Our fourth son, Kalen, is not far from the farm and works for Kemin In dustries in addition to helping Stanley. He started his own flock of Hampshires and does a lot of livestock judging around the country.” INDUSTRY INNOVATION Oregon’s Jeanne Carver picked up the Industry Innovation Award for her efforts on the wool side, where she became the first Responsible Wool Standard-certified producer in the United States. She’s since secured wool from nearly a dozen Western producers to create a stockpile of certified American wool as the demand for such increases daily from manufacturers around the world. “These growers are the reason I am winning this

The new Chargeurs-Shaniko Wool Company joint regenerative wool program was formally introduced to global apparel markets in November of 2022. Backed by Blockchain technology, NATIVA Regen-Shaniko is fully traceable from farm to end product and dual certified under the RWS and NATIVA Regen, a third-party certified standard developed by Chargeurs. This is the only wool grown in North America that is certified under the RWS at both farm and mill levels. Chargeurs’ domestic wool scouring mill in Jamestown, S.C., earned RWS certification in 2022. “The work I am doing today with these family sheep operations is the most rewarding work I’ve ever done,” said Carver. “They are good people doing great work, supporting rural communities and our U.S. textile industry. Together, we are stronger. It’s a great privilege.” She’s also developing a carbon initiative that might allow produc ers to benefit financially from the Biden Administration’s focus on climate change programs. PETER ORWICK CAMPTENDER Longtime ASI Animal Health Committee Co-Chairs Jim Logan and Cindy Wolf shared the Peter Orwick Camptender award. The

award,” said Carver of the sheep ranches that are now RWS-certified and part of the Shaniko Wool Company farm group. Today, Shaniko Wool is the only North American provider of Merino/Rambouillet wool certi fied under the RWS. “I am speechless, but very honored and humbled by the recognition,” said Carver. “The ranchers who are part of Shaniko Wool are industry leaders at both the state and national level.” In 2022, Carver further expanded the reach of her Shaniko Wool Company by signing an exclusive licens ing agreement with NATIVA – a brand of the Paris based Chargeurs Group – which is one of the largest wool suppliers in the world.

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