Sheep Industry News October 2025

President’s Notes BEN LEHFELDT ASI PRESIDENT

Family

A s we enter fall it is a great time to give thanks for what we have and, like all farmers and ranchers, be hopeful for what is to come. One of the most important things to me, and the reason I choose to come back to the ranch, is to be close to family. Many sheep operations are the same. The fact that we have the opportunity to work with our family and help develop bonds is what a family is all about. It is one thing to be proud of your family’s lineage and try to continue to carry on the tradition, but it is quite another to just sit back and really look at what this way of life affords us. My wife and two kids are more important to me than ever, especially given the fact that both boys are approaching junior high and still have a long way to “grow up”. My wife puts up with a lot, and I probably don’t convey my appre ciation for that enough. My father and mother have been very encouraging and are still willing to “hold down the fort” as I attempt to lend a hand to the organization, even though they both have put a significant amount of years into the ranch. We all often underappreciate the benefits that ranch life gives back to the younger generation. Although all young people seem to be obsessed with screen time, it is great they learn the importance of hard work and responsibility on a sheep ranch. Family doesn’t stop at our immediate family members. The sheep industry has given a lot to our family, and I feel a responsibility to give back. Montana Woolgrowers and ASI producers have been like a family over the years, and it is hard to watch as sheep numbers have dipped. It was encouraging to see an uptick in the NASS sheep inventory number earlier this year, but it has been increasingly hard to make a profit in the western U.S. It is exciting to see growth in the east and Midwest, often following the demand of non-traditional lamb consumers and the specialized grazing opportunities. This does require ASI to look at ways to help promote/support these new endeavors. The challenges that exist with our industry are important to understand and work together to fix, as a family. Currently the ASI has taken up the task of assessing our communication methods. In June, long time editor Kyle Partain moved on to another opportunity and we felt like it was the right time to do a deeper dive. ASI has engaged a professional communications firm to lead a comprehensive evaluation and develop a communications strategy for the organization. Kyle did a great job over the years providing informa tion to our producers. Currently Parand is helping out putting the magazine together and also delivering the weekly ASI updates via email. Thank you very much to Parand Malekani for stepping up and taking on the extra workload. We look forward to the subsequent com munications assessment and will use that to help structure the department efficiently and effectively. Personally, I think this may be an opportunity to partner more closely with ALB to more effectively meet the communication needs of our existing producers, while also using a promotional approach to help increase membership. We must look for new ways to support and recruit new sheep producers in the U.S. Additionally, this fall we are busy continuing to build support for a better H2A working visa for sheepherders. Our revamped H2A work ing group has met diligently over the past six months to chart the path forward and look for opportunities to improve the visa requirements, costs, and process. We think there may be a window of opportunity with this administration in the near future, and our goal is to be ready with the sheep producers’ needs. We are also focusing on the skinny Farm Bill piece that is left for discussion in DC. Our staff and law firm are focused on making sure sheep priorities are included. Specifically, we understand the importance of including language in the bill to require RMA to produce a sheep risk tool our industry can use. It has been too long that our sheep growers have lacked the same risk protection or futures markets available to them. It is very frustrating that other large commodities have access to these tools, and we have nothing to protect our business. We are also continuing our pressure on bringing some relief from imports. We know that the 15% from New Zealand and the 10% from Australia are not enough to make a difference. We are continuing our push on the 201 case, while also arming our Trade Representatives with data from our processing facilities that clearly shows injury. All of this can only be done with all of your volunteer help. We are moving forward, trying to secure our U.S. sheep family businesses. Make sure to show appropriate appreciation to all of those “family” that are so important to each of you and to your sheep operation.

4 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org