Sheep Industry News March 2025

ASI Awards Shearing Grants

O nce again, ASI has awarded grants to developing shearers and shearing mentors in an ef fort to address shortages of professional shearers all across the United States. For the fourth consecutive year, the ASI Wool Council has awarded grants of $1,500 to assist developing shear ers with a variety of expenses, includ ing travel and equipment. Developing shearer grant recipients will receive $500 upon acceptance and $1,000 at the completion of the program.

Those selected for shearer grants in 2025 include: Philip Bulak, Isaiah Manus, Jared Moser, Angel Papineau, Austin Pethan, Katherine Pierce, Blade Thomsen and Karin Witthar. Recipients expect to shear sheep in more than 15 states this year. The program is designed for shear ers with some experience, specifically those who can handle shearing at least 10 sheep per day, and who are working to become professional shearers. Priority for grant selection is given

to those who can shear 25 head or more per day. Nearly all of this year’s recipients fall into that category. Ideally, recipients would also have an interest in shearing full-time as they develop their skills. In addition, two shearing mentors were chosen to receive $1,500 grants, as well. They will receive funding after finding work for and helping train a developing shearer. The mentors chosen for grants in 2025 include: Will Kleinert and Anne Shroeder.

WOOL COUNCIL Continued from Page 15

keting. A new shop page was recently created on the Ame ricanWool.org website and features almost 70 brands using American wool. This year’s Holiday Gift Guide reached almost a quarter of a million people in just 45 days. The session wrapped up with Mary Jeanne Packer sharing the innovative work being done in New York, including: building a new mid-size scouring line; creating a wool pool that offers premium prices for quality wool; promoting wool to textile schools; creating breed-specific products; and offering wool testing with ASI’s OFDA 2000, which has helped 120 producers in its first five months.

“It’s not about volume, but who you’re impacting,” she said. The Wool Roundtable also honored longtime ASI Wool Consultant Barry Savage with the annual Wool Excellence Award during a special luncheon on Thursday during the week of the ASI Annual Convention. Savage worked with ASI for more than two decades and brought a wealth of international wool marketing and technical experience with him from pre vious roles in the industry.

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