Sheep Industry News September 2022

SheepIndustry NEWS Volume 26, Issue 9 September 2022

AMER I CAN L AMB S TORY Sustainability

GROUNDED IN HISTORY AND TRADITION—RATHER THAN TREND— THE AMERICAN LAMB STORY IS BASED ON A RICH HERITAGE OF ANIMAL STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION AND AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO HELP SHAPE A NEW FOOD CULTURE BASED ON FLAVOR, QUALITY, HUMANITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY. The American Lamb Board is increasing outreach to consumers and their influencers to communicate the incredible sustainability contributions made by the sheep industry.

S E E T H E S T O R I E S AT www.americanlamb.com/ our-farmers-ranchers

Sheep rancher and veterinarian Alan McAnelly, Hamilton, TX, is featured in the American Lamb Story about regenerative agriculture

SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY ENEWSLETTERS LambResourceCenter.com

American Lamb Board 6300 E. Yale Ave. Suite 110 Denver, CO 80222 (866) 327-LAMB (5262)

 LambResourceCenter.com  Lamb Checkoff  Info@AmericanLamb.com

SheepIndustry NEWS Volume 26, Issue 9 September 2022

A Look Inside 10 Prepare Now For Changes From FDA 14 WyomingWool Initiative Bolsters Industry At the annual Wyoming Wool Growers Association conference this summer, University of Wyoming Extension Sheep Special ist Whit Stewart announced the launch of the Wyoming Wool Initiative. The Food and Drug Administration is changing the status of all medically important antibiotics used in animals, which are cur rently available over the counter. As of June 2023, these products will require veterinary oversight and a written prescription.

ON THE COVER:

A ewe and her lamb at Great Lakes Lamb in West Branch, Mich. ASI's Young Entrepreneurs visited the farm on their Michigan ag tour.

ASI YE's Tour Diverse Michigan Agriculture A small, but diverse group of aspiring producers and research ers took part in the ASI Young Entrepreneurs tour of the equally diverse Michigan agricultural trade following their attendance at the Lamb Summit.

16

Departments 4 President’s Notes 6 Market Report 9 ASI Member Listing 24 Obituary 26 Sheep Nutrition 28 Breeders’ Directory 30 Industry Calendar

American Lamb Board Vice Chair Jeff Ebert of Kansas is interviewed during a special lamb dinner at Michigan State University's Spartan Stadium.

20 Lamb Summit

September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 3

President’s Notes SUSAN SHULTZ ASI PRESIDENT

BringingVolunteer Leaders Together

T his year, we planned our ASI Executive Board summer meeting to be held in conjunction with the American Lamb Board meeting in Denver in late July. It was a great opportunity to network with all the volunteer leaders that serve on these two boards and discuss future col laborative opportunities to move our industry forward. Despite the constant threat of fires and ongoing drought in several regions, the conversations were positive. ALB continues to move forward with an industry-wide sustainability task force that includes representatives from ASI. The ASI Executive Board spent time working through the business of the association, which included: evaluating finances and recommending budgets for Fiscal Year 2023; discussing committee and council initiatives; and continuing to work on

improving communications between the organization, our producers and our consumers. Speaking of communicating with our consumers and the general public, the consensus from both boards is that the sheep industry has a very positive sustainability story that needs to be shared with consumers. Sustainability can be defined in many ways. One definition for sustainable agricul ture is that it is economically viable, socially supportive and environmentally sound. The sheep industry is situated in a good position in the full spectrum of animal agriculture to share its diverse set of posi tive stories, which detail our sustainability. We hope to con tinue to work with ALB to share this positive message. My best.

Members of the ASI Executive Board include: Back row from left: Steve Clements of South Dakota (Region 4), John Noh of Idaho (Region 7), Bronson Corn of New Mexico (Region 6), Anne Crider of Illinois (Region 3), Lisa Weeks of Virginia (Region 2), Laurie Hubbard of Pennsylvania (Region 1), Bob Harlan of Wyoming (NLFA). Front row from left: Sarah Smith of Washington (Region 8), ASI Secretary/Treasurer Ben Lehfeldt of Montana, ASI Vice President Brad Boner of Wyoming, ASI President Susan Shultz of Ohio, ASI Past President Benny Cox of Texas, and Tammy Fisher of Texas (Region 5).

4 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

SheepIndustry NEWS September 2022: Volume 26, Issue 9

We’re committed to you. The rancher, the family and the flock. We partner with you to protect and nurture the American lamb industry so that together we can provide consumers a quality lamb product.

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

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With this genetic test, producers across the country are collecting DNA from their flock to identify disease traits, increase fertility and twinning, and determine parentage. You can do the same.

ASI Office Staff: Peter Orwick, Executive Director Rita Kourlis Samuelson, Deputy Director/Wool Marketing Larry Kincaid, Chief Financial Officer Erica Sanko, Director of Analytics & Production Programs Christa Rochford, Wool Marketing Programs Manager Zahrah Khan, Project Manager - Accounting & Convention 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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September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 5

Market Report DAVID ANDERSON, PH.D.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Falling Lamb Prices Overshadow Industry

S harply declining lamb prices have overshadowed most everything else during the last couple of months. We might say that we’ve been here before, but the root cause starting this decline is a little different than in the past. DECLINING REAL INCOMES There is plenty of evidence that lamb demand was boosted during the pandemic. Consumers were often at home and tried a lot of new food items, including recipes that included lamb. Lamb sales also benefitted from high prices for com peting meats. This boost in lamb demand led to high prices. A surge in inflation has led to declining real incomes in recent months. Combined with high lamb prices relative to other meats, falling real incomes have led to a pullback in consumer purchases of lamb. The difficulty in moving lamb through consumer chan

nels at the previous high prices has started a chain of events including less demand for live lambs, sharply falling prices, a backlog of lambs, increasing dressed weights and over finished lambs, which reinforces falling prices. LIVE LAMB AND MEAT PRICES Live lamb prices have declined dramatically since May. Heavyweight lambs at Sioux Falls, S.D., have fallen from $255 per cwt. in May to $102 in the first week of August. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Mar keting Service reported heavyweight lambs sold on video auction for $80.25 per cwt. in the second week of August. Lightweight, feeder lambs have fallen to below the five-year average. Prices are declining due to lack of demand as events at retail back up into the live market. It appears that some mar

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kets have had instances of no bids at all for lambs at times. The non-traditional market will likely not be immune to lower prices. Lambs will likely be sold for slaughter at lighter weights this Fall, rather than to feedlots. More lightweight lamb supplies will force lower prices in the lightweight slaugh ter lamb market. Meat prices have also begun to decline. For example, boxed shoulders have declined to $376 per cwt., down from $450 two months ago. They were $609 per cwt. last year at this time. Legs have declined about $100 per cwt. from a year ago, to $469 per cwt. The cutout is also down about $100 per cwt. compared to a year ago. SLAUGHTER, STORAGE & IMPORTS Lamb and yearling slaughter is 5.2 percent below a year ago during the last eight weeks. For the year, it’s down 10.4 percent. Slaughter is smaller than what might be indicated from the USDA Sheep Inventory Report. This implies more lambs being “stored” alive, meaning that they have not come to slaughter yet. The supplies of live lambs will keep a lid on the market in the coming months. As lambs have backed up in the system, dressed weights have increased compared to last year. In early August, lamb and yearling dressed weights averaged 68 pounds compared to 58 pounds last year.

The five-year average, however, is 68 pounds. It does suggest that last year was the aberration as high prices pulled lambs into slaughter earlier. The heavier weights do likely suggest a growing risk of over-finished lambs with more fat. The slowdown in lamb demand has not translated to higher cold storage levels yet. About 23 million pounds were reported in storage in June, compared to 21.5 million pounds in June 2021 and a five-year average storage of 38.2 million pounds. That suggests that more lamb is being stored live rather than in a box in storage. Cold storage data might also be lacking as there might be facilities that are not included in the monthly survey. But, cold storage stocks might increase as more lambs move to market. Imports totaled 23.8 million pounds in June, below last year’s 29.4 million pounds. June was the first month this year with imports below a year ago. Lower imports from Australia accounted for all of the year-over-year's decline. Imports from New Zealand totaled 6.9 million pounds and were equal to a year ago. Imports typically decline through September, so seasonally declining imports might help the supply situation. Mutton imports increased dramatically at the end of last year, but were 57 percent below June of last year. See MARKET REPORT on Page 8

September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 7

MARKET REPORT Continued from Page 7

NOW WHAT? Most industry participants have seen this type of market in the past, one where lambs are backed up, getting heavier and prices are declining sharply. What makes this time different is the event that started it: declin ing demand due to macroeco nomic conditions. A couple of things should help boost purchases in coming months. Falling wholesale lamb prices should translate to lower retail prices, boosting the quan tity demanded. Falling fuel prices and mod erating inflation in other areas should boost consumer’s pur chasing power.

est weekly retail report. Editor's Note: we take a break from wool markets this month as the Australian market has been on its annual recess. COMPLETELY UPDATED Sheep Production Handbook Fully Searchable USB

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8 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

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

VOTING MEMBERS

Alabama Meat Goat & Sheep Producers 334-613-4221 • BRagland@alfains.com ASI Women 435-528-7570 • sherrischumann@utah.gov ArizonaWool Producers Association 520-560-4202 • caauza@peoplepc.com Arkansas State Sheep Council 870-853-7404 • wjcalloway@gmail.com CaliforniaWool Growers Association 916-444-8122 • info@woolgrowers.org ColoradoWool Growers Association 970-874-1433 • cwgawool@aol.com Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association 860-819-8339 • hillviewdorpers@gmail.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 IdahoWool Growers Association 208-344-2271 • director@idahowoolgrowers.org Illinois Lamb &Wool Producers Inc. 815-544-9582 • jane@ilwoolfibermill.com Indiana Sheep Association 317-896-2213 • bobenosu@icloud.com 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. 573-578-0497 • christy576@gmail.com MontanaWool Growers Association 406-442-1330 • leah@mtsheep.org National Lamb Feeders Association 605-224-0224 • lambfeeders@outlook.com Iowa Sheep Industry Association 641-625-4248 • info@iowasheep.com Kansas Sheep Association 620-393-5204 • kssheep@ruraltel.net

Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association 308-386-8378 • Ne.sheep.goat@gmail.com NevadaWool 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 MexicoWool 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 Rhode Island Sheep Cooperative 401-578-2012 • ballydufffarm@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 615-519-7796 • shepherdboy1@yahoo.com Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers’ Association 325-655-7388 • tsgra@wcc.net UtahWool 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 West Virginia Shepherds Federation 304-445-1516 • wvashepherds@yahoo.com Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative 608-743-9080 • wisconsinsheepbreeders@gmail.com

Susan Shultz Ohio President

Brad Boner Wyoming Vice President

Ben Lehfeldt Montana Secretary/Treasurer

Peter Orwick Colorado Executive Director

WyomingWool Growers Association 307-265-5250 • amy@wyowool.com

September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 9

Prepare Now For Changes Coming From FDA in 2023

T he U.S. Food and Drug Administration is changing the status of all medically important antibiotics used in animals, which are currently available over the counter. As of June 2023, these over-the-counter products – currently available at most feed or farm supply stores – will require veterinary oversight and a written prescription for their purchase and use in animals, even if the animals are not intended for food production. The FDA's goal is to slow the emergence of antibiotic resistance in humans and animals. Manufacturers are in the process of relabeling their products to meet this requirement and, as these labels change, the products will no longer be available unless prescribed by a veterinarian. The process must be completed by June 2023. Producers are encouraged to begin preparing for this change now. The first thing producers can do is establish a veterinarian-client-patient

Veterinarian and sheep producer Jill Swannack of Washington state says it's important for produc ers to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship now. Capital Press photo.

they use? Things like that all have to be factored into any diagnosis." She encourages producers – and their veterinarians, if they have one – to begin planning long before an emergency happens. She recommends spending time with your veterinarian at your farm or ranch so you can provide them with a good understanding of your production practices. Then, when that urgent call comes in, your veterinarian has knowledge of how your sheep are raised and is able to ask more pertinent and specific questions, allowing for a more timely and accurate diagnosis and decision as to whether an in-person visit is necessary. If the veterinarian has never been to your operation or seen your animals, they will be required to make a farm visit to see the animal before prescribing any antimicrobial. Asked if she is concerned about being "swamped" with calls after the regulation takes effect, Swannack says she is already there. Es tablished clients are likely to get priority, she admits, which is why she encourages producers to plan ahead now. She knows the changes are upsetting, but believes in the long run it will be better for sheep production in the United States. "We hear those vets just want these drugs to be prescription only to generate more business," Swannack says. “But frankly, I don't need more business – I'm busy enough as it is – but I also don't want to see our producers go out of business. I want to help in any way I can. The best way I can do that is to have a good understand ing early on of my clients' production practices and an idea of what

relationship and begin planning for their needs as the June 2023 date approaches. If a veterinarian relationship is already established, producers should discuss the changes and their needs with their veterinarian. ASI reached out to Dr. Jill Swannack – a long time ASI member and small ruminant veterinarian in Washington state – for her insights on how to make the transition as smooth as possible for producers and veterinarians alike. "The most common question I get from producers is ‘what hap pens if I have sick sheep, need an antibiotic and the vet can't come for 36 hours, or one isn't available?'" says Swannack. “This certainly is a concern, and establishing your relationship with the veterinar ian long before that situation occurs will help reduce the impact of these new regulations." Without an established VCPR, there will be a delay in obtaining needed antimicrobial products, especially during those times of year where everyone is in need, such as during lambing. "If I don't know the producer or what his or her operation is like, in order for us to establish a VCPR, I am required to go out to the farm or ranch and see the animals," says Swannack. "A video shot from a phone will not cut it. I legally need to be familiar with their operation and husbandry practices, and the condition of the ani mals. What type of nutrition are they getting? What mineral mix do

10 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

their needs are likely to be throughout the year." Depending on the type of production, this could be an annual or semi-annual visit to the farm or ranch. Most veterinarians are willing to work out a convenient time, such as when they are out for a visit to a neighboring facility. Establishing a VCPR now will make the transition smoother and be helpful when that emergency happens, because it will. It is important to note that the new FDA rule does not require producers to purchase antibiotics only through their veterinarian, and other pharmacies can fill a prescription. Swannack, however, worries about those producers who are considering stocking up on currently available over-the-counter antimicrobials for future use and those who share products with their neighbors. She advises against it for several reasons. First, the current law says that if an illegal residue is found in an animal or animal product – for example milk or cheese – no matter who administered it or how it was sourced, your veterinarian of record is responsible, according to the USDA. This jeopardizes the veterinarian's license and the veterinarian-client-patient relation ship significantly. "If an antimicrobial is used without a prescription and later residue is found (at slaughter), the regulatory action will come back on the veterinarian associated with the operation, even if that veterinarian didn't know an antimicrobial had been used and didn't prescribe it," says Swannack. "That puts me at risk. It puts my

license at risk, and my livelihood." Second, expired drugs break down over time and typically have decreased effectiveness – which can lead to microbial resistance – and that is what the FDA is trying to prevent. Also, tetracycline breaks down into toxic components over time and can cause kidney injury and dehydration. It should not be used past its expiration date. While telemedicine options are available, they can be problem atic, especially if the relationship is fairly new. Often producers will have in their mind what they believe the problem to be and will only share the symptoms that confirm their own diagnosis. Some times the producer might be right, but if the problem is misdiag nosed it can prolong the situation, or even turn out badly. A good veterinarian-client-patient relationship is built on trust – trust that the veterinarian can do their job and trust that the infor mation being provided from the producer is accurate and honest. Swannack also advises producers to be careful relying on infor mation from the internet, as often the information that circulates there and on social media is inaccurate. As much as the FDA changes might be disliked, they are going to happen. Antibiotic resistance in animals and humans is a serious concern that is spurring the regulatory action. Being prepared is your best defense against any disruption to your operation. Visit SheepUSA.org/fda-guidance-ending-over-the-counter antibiotics for more information.

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OCTOBER 5-9, 2022 Sun Valley • Ketchum • Hailey, Idaho

Photo: Michael Edminster

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September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 11

Will FMD Knock, Or Walk Right Into Your Flock?

W hat if there was an outbreak of foot and mouth disease on your country's doorstep? This is the case for sheep produc ers in Australia, who are nervously watching the outbreak in Indonesia. Despite separation by a large body of water, there is extensive airline travel between the countries, which increases the chance of introduc tion. South Africa’s wool industry is experiencing the dire consequenc es of not being able to export to China due to an FMD outbreak earlier this year. If FMD came knocking on the United States' door, would it be able to walk right into your flock, or are you doing things to protect your sheep? An outbreak of FMD in the United States would have a devastating impact on the sheep and wool industry. Fortunately, the country has not had a case of FMD since 1929, and it is not within 100 miles of our

from FMD and voluntarily prepare before an FMD outbreak, rather than during the chaos of an outbreak. The plan provides guidance for producers who have sheep with no evidence of FMD infection to meet movement permit requirements. The guidance in the SSWS Plan will help producers with sheep that have no evidence of infection, to: • Limit exposure of their sheep to FMD through enhanced biosecu rity; • Move sheep to processing or other premises under a movement permit issued by regulatory officials; • Maintain business continuity for the sheep industry, including pro ducers, haulers, packers and wool processors during an FMD outbreak. Producers wanting to tip the scales in favor of surviving an FMD outbreak can prepare now by: • Having a National Premises Identifica tion Number issued by the office of the State Animal Health Official. It’s free; • Working with your flock veterinarian to write an operation-specific, enhanced biosecu rity plan; • Keeping movement records of animals, people and equipment; • Developing contingency plans for your operation in the case of limited animal move ment. Preparedness resources are available at SecureSheepWool.org, including: • Biosecurity checklists to see how “ready” you are; • Information manuals to learn how to enhance biosecurity against FMD; • Enhanced biosecurity plan templates to customize to your operation; • Movement logs; • Disease monitoring tools – how to recognize FMD. NEXT STEPS ASI supports several efforts to protect America’s sheep producers from foreign animal and plant diseases and pests, which is why it de veloped the SSWS Plan. As the association monitors the situation in the southern hemisphere, now is a good time to learn how to protect your flock and business in the event of an FMD outbreak. Explore the SSWS Plan resources at SecureSheepWool.org.

border. The risk of introduction still exists due to global travel and trade. While FMD does not affect public health or food safety, it is a highly contagious animal disease. Sheep producers would need to put enhanced bios ecurity measures in place to protect their flock. ASI values preparedness, which is why it developed the Secure Sheep and Wool Plan (SecureSheepWool.org) with enhanced bios ecurity tools and more. PREVENTING FMD SPREAD One way to control the spread of FMD involves stopping animal and animal product movement. Animal products include raw wool, wool products, semen, embryos and manure. At the beginning of an FMD outbreak, the

U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends a 72-hour national move ment standstill for all cloven-hoofed livestock and their products. After this time, movement controls will continue in the areas around infected animals, throughout a state or even a region. Restarting movement will require a special permit. The permit will be issued by regulatory officials after a producer meets certain requirements. How prepared are you to meet those requirements so your business can continue?

SSWS PLAN The SSWS Plan was developed to help producers protect their flocks

12 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Save the Date 2023 ASI Annual Convention

Jan. 18-21, 2023 Fort Worth, Texas Save the Date

WyomingWool InitiativeWill Bolster State's Sheep Industry

UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING A t the annual Wyoming Wool Growers Association con ference this summer, University of Wyoming Extension Sheep Specialist Whit Stewart announced the launch of the Wyoming Wool Initiative. The initiative leads innovative research and programming that promotes and expands Wyoming’s sheep industry. Its mission is to support producers – both directly and indirectly – in adding value to their wool, says Lindsay Conley-Stewart, manager and project coordinator. The Wyoming Wool Initiative is a non-profit effort supported by UW’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, donations, Mountain Meadow Wool and other partners. Current programs include the Wyoming Blanket Project and inaugural Lamb-a-Year program. Both endeavors connect UW students with sheep industry professionals. It all started with a question, says Stewart, head of UW’s Sheep Program: “If we’re producing this high-quality product in a land scape that’s really well suited for it, shouldn’t we be capturing some of that value at the state level?” In January 2021, his team launched the Wyoming Blanket Proj ect working with Mountain Meadow Wool Mill in Buffalo, Wyo., to produce blankets using wool from the university farm in Laramie, Wyo.

Participating producers will donate a minimum of five lambs, which will be transported and finished at Double J Lamb Feeders in Ault, Colo., in the fall. As part of the inaugural Lamb-a-Year course, UW students will be involved in the finishing and harvesting phase of lamb production. Students enrolled in the class will visit Double J Lamb Feeders multiple times to measure animal performance and learn about the lamb feeding industry. They also will collect carcass data at a lamb processing plant in Denver. This data will be shared with the producers who donated lambs to the project. While “steer-a-year” programs are common across the United States, UW’s Lamb-a-Year project is one of the first of its kind, Conley-Stewart says. Going forward, she hopes the Wyoming Wool Initiative will “open doors for younger generations to get into the industry, sup port entrepreneurs making products with wool and help producers get more value from the wool that they grow.” Ultimately, the goal is to build on the unique heritage of Wyo ming’s wool industry to support its future, she says. To learn more about the Wyoming Wool Initiative, visit UWYO. edu/wyowool or email woolinitiative@uwyo.edu. For producers interested in contributing to the Lamb-a-Year program, visit bit.ly/ uwyo-lamb-a-year-2022.

14 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org nects producers with UW students interested in the sheep industry. The project – now part of the Wyoming Wool Initiative – will feature new blanket designs each year. A limited number of the 2022 blankets were available for presale at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days in July. Currently, funds from blanket sales and other donations are used to support student internships and graduate assistantships; travel for wool judging competitions; and research and development for wool processing and manufacturing. As the initiative grows, the team will develop programming for produc ers throughout the state. The Lamb-a-Year program con

Wyoming Wool Initiative photo

E A S T E R N MT FA I R G ROUND S - M I L E S C I T Y, MT MONTANA RAM AND EWE SALES

September 14, 2022 • Social 5PM, Sale 6PM 9 th Annual Ewe Sale 1,135 Head Offered! Suffolk, Targhee, Rambouillet, Columbia, Cormo Crosses, and more. See consignment list of lot sizes and breeds online! All on-site ewes and rams are vet checked. Buyers are responsible for transport arrangements.

&

97 th Annual Ram Sale September 15, 2022 • Lunch 11AM, Sale 12PM

310 Head Offered! Suffolk, Hampshire, Rambouillet, Cormo, Targhee, etc! Data Available: NSIP, Scrapie Codon, Wool Micron, Growth, Performance, and more. Find sale week schedule, consignments, and online bidding info: WWW.MTSHEEP.ORG Online Catalog Available SEPTEMBER 1 , 2022

September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 15

Michigan

16 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

As part of their diverse tour of Michigan, the Young Entrepreneurs made a stop at Cellar 1914 in Central Lake, Mich. The century-old farm has been converted into a winery and tasting room that caters to the Northern Michigan tourism industry. Pictured in the back row are Rob Shooks of Cellar 1914, ASI YE Co-Chair Cody Chambliss and Alexis Shoup of South Dakota. In the front row are tour participants Samantha Ludlam of Michigan, Emma O'Brien of Michigan, Agnes Guillo of New York, Bill Cagrey of Michigan, Allie Tilt of Michigan, Chayla Kuss of North Dakota and Isaac Brunkow of Kansas.

Ag Tour

September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 17

A small, but diverse group of aspiring producers and researchers took part in the ASI Young Entrepreneurs tour of the equally diverse Michigan agricultural trade in early August following their attendance at the Lamb Summit in Lansing, Mich. Stops at two sheep farms and a century-old wool mill were absolute highlights of the trip. But the opportunity to venture outside the sheep industry offered the group the chance to not only learn about issues facing the state’s farmers in other commodities, but also the chance to expose those same farmers to the ways in which they might benefit from the use of sheep in their own operations.

ASI Young Entrepreneurs Co-Chair Cody Chambliss of South Dakota was quick to point out the benefits of cover crop grazing at Laracha Farms, where the tour visited a sugar beet field. The company grows a variety of crops, from corn to pickles. Equally interested in the benefits of sheep were the folks at Cellar 1914. The century-old farm has been home to a variety of crops through the years, most promi nently cherries. It also ran a herd of beef cows at one time. But the next generation has transitioned the farm into a winery and tasting room that caters to the Northern Michigan summer tourist crowd. The winery’s ag tourism concept might benefit from a small sheep flock that could graze the vineyard and cherry orchard, while providing yet another attraction for the tourists. The YE group heard how imported products have greatly affected both the sugar beet and cherry markets in the United States. Tour par ticipants shared that similar issues are a problem in the sheep industry. The tour began with a stop at Zeilinger Wool Company in Franken muth, Mich. The mill has been family-owned for four generations and produces everything from roving and yarn to bedding and socks. "I don't know if you have wool bedding, but the bedding we produce here is our No. 1 seller," said Jon Zeilinger, who runs the company with his wife, April. "Wool is a natural fiber that is very therapeutic. It opens up your pores, allows your skin to breathe and regulates your body temperature. I sleep with a wool comforter year-round." Among the company’s products are some created with wool from Great Lakes Lamb in West Branch, Mich. "Our customers want to know where the wool comes from," said April Zeilinger. "They want to know the name of the producer, where they are located. We even get questions about what the sheep are fed. Obviously, we're not the best people to answer that question, since we aren't sheep producers. But it shows that these types of things are important to our customers." Tour participants got the complete Great Lakes Lamb experience as they stopped for lamb burgers at Highway Brewing Company before visiting the farm that afternoon. “I really liked the kind of farm to table experience we had on the first day where we had lamb burgers at lunch and then visited the farm that produced the lamb immediately afterward,” said Agnes Guillo, a gradu ate student at Cornell University in New York state. “And we had seen some of their wool that same day, as well. That was exciting.” Jim and Sherrie Bristol and their daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Rick Palm, completed the experience with lamb brats for the group

upon arrival for a tour of the family farm. Lambs from the farm go to auction at both Mt. Hope, Ohio, and New Holland, Penn., but the fam ily also runs a custom cut freezer trade and processes lambs at a U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected facility in Buckley, Mich. "We take the lambs over and pick them up and keep everything in freezers here," said Sherrie Bristol. "Our customers just have to come by and pick it up here. That seems to work well for everyone." The next morning began with a stop at Matchett Sheep Farm in Charlevoix, Mich., where brothers Isaac and Noah Matchett have developed an intensive, rotational grazing system that is home to 1,500 Polypay ewes. “I hadn’t been to Matchett’s before,” said Michigan Sheep Produc ers Association Executive Director Samantha Ludlam. Members of the state’s young entrepreneurs committee planned much of the tour. “I’ve known Isaac and Noah forever, but it was great to finally set foot on their farm and see everything they’ve been working so hard on for as long I’ve known them.” Based in Northern Michigan, the farm includes 1,000 acres – nearly half of which is dedicated to growing sheep feed. "We get a pretty hardy winter," Isaac Matchett said with a bit of a smirk. "It's not feasible to graze for about half the year up here, and sometimes a little longer. But we plan on six months." The Matchett's pasture lamb and once the lambs are weaned they go straight into barn and stay there until they are sold or until they return to the pastures in the spring as replacements. The family operation grew significantly in 2007 when Isaac gradu ated college and realized that both he and his younger brother wanted to return to the farm. "We lambed 112 ewes and planted about 125 acres in 2007, so we knew the farm needed to grow for us to both be able to come back." The group got a final look at the state’s many agricultural offerings – Michigan is the second-most agriculturally diverse state in the country – with a stop at Harietta Hills Trout Farm. The two days came to a close with a tour of the Michigan State Uni versity Sheep Teaching and Research Farm, conducted by MSU Senior Extension Specialist Richard Ehrhardt, Ph.D. In addition to a tour of the relatively new facility, Ehrhardt talked about a solar array project that will take over some of the university’s sheep and cattle pastures in the years to come. It will provide a first hand opportunity for him to study solar grazing and the role sheep can play in the growing industry.

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Clockwise from top left: Polypay ewes fromMatchett Sheep Farm; April and Jon Zeilinger; yarn at Zeilinger Wool Company; a lamb at Great Lakes Lamb; the group at Matchett Sheep Farm; feeding lambs at Matchett; Elaine Palm and her mom, Sherrie Bristol, at Great Lakes Lamb.

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Summit Takes Critical Look At American Lamb Industry

W hile it's important to promote the quality and value of American lamb to the consumer, it's also important to take a critical look at that same product on a regular basis in an effort to provide customers with the best possible eating experience. After all, second chances are hard to come by. The second Lamb Summit – presented by the American Lamb Board and Premier 1 Supplies in conjunction with Michigan State University and the Michigan Sheep Producers Association – was conducted on Aug. 8-9 in East Lansing, Mich., with the goal of doing just that. "In private, we must consistently ask

those that are train wrecks." In a session entitled A Global Perspective on Lamb Quality and Productivity , the three industry veterans discussed past trips to Australia and the emphasis the country's sheep producers place on eating quality. "They are so focused on eating quality," said Karissa Isaacs, who grew up on a sheep ranch in Colorado and worked on lamb flavor research in college and with ALB before joining Superior Farms. "They knew what we were working on and they wanted to buy our REIMS technology (which Texas Tech's Dale Woerner, Ph.D., has

been using for flavor research). They are go ing to push to be the leaders, so we have to be aggressive in our research." From a processor's perspective, Isaacs said the diversity of sheep produced in the United States hinders the use of technology. "We can't be fully automated when we're going from a 40 pound lamb to a 100 pound lamb," she explained. Of course, flavor quality can be just as much a result of poor cooking methods, as well. Which is why chef education (profes sionals and home cooks alike) continues to be a top priority for the American Lamb Board. And that was one of many reasons why Ohio's Nick Forrest was chosen as the win ner of the 2022 Lamb Quality Advocate award, which included a $25,000 cash prize from Premier 1. "There's no one in the past 20 years in the

how can we make it better?" said Premier 1 Founder Stan Potratz in his opening remarks at the summit, adding that the company has changed nearly everything about its popu lar fencing products since they were first introduced. "I'm critical about anything that I'm involved in," Potratz said in evaluating the second Lamb Summit. "I look at the last one and think it was amazingly successful, but we made some missteps. We had a lot of large producers from the West attend. I valued that, and I valued their input and comments. This one in the East, was intended to be for a different group. But the needs remain the same in that we need to keep focusing on getting better in terms of the product we produce and how it competes with offshore lamb in terms of the final eating experience." More than half of the lamb consumed in

Above: Premier 1 Founder Stan Potratz addresses the crowd during the opening session of the second Lamb Summit. Left: Travis Hoffman, Ph.D., evalu ates lamb carcasses during a first-day breakout session.

the United States is imported from Australia or New Zealand. And imports from the United Kingdom will begin arriving in the near future, which makes the quality of American lamb all the more important if it is to compete against cheaper imports. "One of the more chilling and telling memories of this summit was one where Karissa (Isaacs), David (Fisher) and Reid (Red den) discussed what our competitors are doing in Australia. Even though I’ve been there and seen it myself, to hear them tell it was very memorable," Potratz said. "I highly encourage the U.S. sheep industry and its leaders to talk more about the need to improve and to be bold enough to handle criticism. Some of the U.S. lamb is the best possible eating experience I’ve ever had, but there have also been some train wrecks. We must figure out how to avoid

United States who's been a bigger advocate for the lamb industry. He does lot of things," Potratz said. "You need to subscribe to his Facebook page and be his friend. If you do, every day you’re going to get something about the lamb industry coming through on that page. You'll OD on lamb pictures. Years ago we served on the lamb board together. He was president and I was there as chief trouble maker. I think he was an excellent president. We are grateful that he has such a passion for lamb." Forrest didn't know ahead of time that he would be receiving the award. "This is a shocker. I don't know what to say. I have to get a bigger billfold, I guess," Forrest said when he was presented

See LAMB SUMMIT on Page 22

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Texas Dorper producer Alan McAnelly assists Ohio's Nick Forrest (and his wife, Kathy) during their breakout session cooking demonstration.

larger Suffolks. "Producers have to take responsibility for their product," said Premier 1's Dan Morrical, Ph.D., who moderated much of the summit. "We used to just grow sheep, and getting rid of them was someone else's problem. We can't work like that any more." Forrest led a second session at the sum mit in which he offered cooking tips and prepared three easy lamb dishes for the au dience to enjoy at the end of the session. He called upon his wife, Kathy and his friend, Alan McAnelly of Texas, to assist him in preparing and serving the dishes. McAnelly attended the first Lamb Summit in Fort Collins, Colo., in 2019 and never wavered on plans to attend the second summit – even when it was delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic. "They kind of talked about some things (at the first one), but now they're really digging into some of the changes we need to make," he said. "They're beginning to get down to the nuts and bolts. It's nice to see an organization thinking about how we can

improve things and what direction we need to be going. Everybody is sincerely trying. "You need to come. You have to be here in person to see things. My generation likes to sit eyeball to eyeball. We're not too big on computers. It's nice to be here talking to people and not looking at them over a computer like we had to do for awhile. "My favorite session was watching the people enjoy Nick's cooking show. It was great to see everyone in our industry laugh ing and enjoying themselves during that time. We talked about some pretty difficult things during these two days, so I'm glad we had a chance to loosen up and enjoy ourselves a little, as well. Having a little fun and enjoying this is all part of it. I think that's important." Northern Indiana producer Sara Cart wright – a member of the Michigan Sheep Producers Association – called the summit the best conference she's attended in her time in the industry. "This program was exactly what I needed at this point in my production," she said. "The focus on carcass quality and

LAMB SUMMIT Continued from Page 21

with a larger-than-life ceremonial check. "Thank you to Premier 1 and thanks to the American Lamb Board. I do it because of a passion. I truly enjoy meeting the people. Those who don’t like lamb, we try to con vince them. Like I said this morning, I post on my Facebook because I want people to know that there's a protein out there that they need to try. Thank you so much, this is just unbelievable." Just three hours before accepting his award, Forrest was on stage in front of the Lamb Summit crowd to discuss the competitiveness of the American lamb industry. He said inconsistent carcasses are a concern not only for processors, but also for chefs. It's important for producers to know and understand the sheep they are producing. For instance, Forrest once showed photos of an overfat Katahdin car cass to the producer. But the that producer was following weight recommendations from an extension agent who raised much

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the emphasis on the consumer is what I was looking for this week. My flock is at a crossroads. Do I need to go big, go small or go home?" Sessions such as Cody Hiemke's session for direct marketers on calculating costs and pricing lamb, and sessions on evalu ating lamb carcasses by Travis Hoffman, Ph.D., certainly made the trip worthwhile. "This has been really what I needed at this point to look at raising a marketable product efficiently and cost effectively with profit," said the producer who also works off the farm as a nurse. "No one wants to raise sheep for no money. I'd do it anyway. I love raising sheep and talking about sheep." A Craigslist ad helped Cartwright find a market for the lambs that her 50 ewe flock of Polypay crosses produces each year. She direct markets and allows on-farm, Halal slaughter. "I'm really good at lambing. From there, it's all kind of downhill for me," she admitted. "My production from weaning to market has been poor, and that's why I'm here. My moms are good because I've really

focused on those maternal traits, so get ting them to that weaning weight has been good. But feeding them out to meet market demand has been difficult." That being said, three buyers represent ing several communities of ethnic buyers generally take all of the lambs she can produce. "I love knowing that my product is born, lives and dies on my farm," she added. "Throughout the process, I know that it's cared for. I get to meet the families that I'm feeding, which is very rewarding. They keep coming back, and bringing their friends and family with them." The summit's second day began with two presentations centered on muscle. Andrea Garmyn, Ph.D., tackled Understanding Ba sic Meat/Muscle Biology and How It Impacts Eating Quality , while Tom Murphy, Ph.D., discussed Utilizing Genetics to Maximize Edible Muscle . Garmyn relayed her work with a lamb flavor study in New Zealand several years ago. The study concluded that post mor tem aging of carcasses negated most flavor

differences between grass and grain fed lambs. She said it's important to note that not all grass fed is created equally and often varies greatly from one country to the next or even within a country. There's also a positive relationship between marbling and eating quality. Murphy said it should be the goal of the American sheep industry to utilize genetics and technology to maximize edible muscle. He admitted that "what we see phenotypi cally isn't always what we get genetically. While we might not know the genetic merit of the animals in a flock, we can predict it using Estimated Breeding Values. "The commercial producer might not need to be a National Sheep Improvement Program member, but he should be buying sheep from NSIP-enrolled flocks," Murphy said. "People say that NSIP sheep don't look any different, but we can't blame the tool. It's the producer's job to take his flock in whatever direction he wants to take it." For more information on the conference and to access presentations, visit LambRe sourceCenter.com/summit2022.

BLONQUIST BROS. & SONS Raising Sheep in the Mountains of Utah for 55 years

The Next Generation: Cael, Luke, Lane & Cutler (not pictured).

Earl & JaNae Blonquist 435-640-8076

Alma & Janet Blonquist 435-336-2014

Wes & Tracy Blonquist 435-640-8075

Gavin & Bridgette Blonquist 435-640-3829

September 2022 • Sheep Industry News • 23

S.D. Sale Provides Quality Ewes

SOUTH DAKOTA SHEEP GROWERS ASSOCIATION T a Premium Yearling Ewe Sale the last five years. This year's sale was in late July at Magness Livestock Auction in Huron, S.D. Consignors provided an excellent selection of high-quality, register able and commercial ewes ranging from traditional white face wool breeds and their crosses to meat breed yearling ewes. Prices remained strong throughout the sale with considerable interest on all offerings. Lots were purchased by buyers from four states. The high-selling registerable lot brought $600 per head for a pen of five sold by Gerdes Hampshires and purchased by Keith Jibben of Big Stone City, S.D. In the commercial ewes, the high-selling lot was five head of fall-born Polypay ewes offered by Shady Lane Farms and Nicole Jessen of Redfield, S.D., and purchased by John Callies of Howard, S.D. for $615 per head. o meet the needs of emerging demand within the sheep in dustry for superior young ewe genetics available in smaller lot sizes, the South Dakota Sheep Growers Association has hosted

The volume buyer of the sale was Bo Thorson from Towner, N.D., purchasing 80 ewes. Fifty-one sheep producers registered to bid on 17 lots of yearling ewes totaling 575 head. Gross receipts totaled $239,275 and the average price per head was $416. Prior to the sale, a South Dakota State University Extension edu cational program and lunch were held. A total of 52 sheep producers attended the programming and 107 people were on hand for the free, lamb lunch. It was also very successful day for seven young sheep producers who were awarded the Youth Buyer Credit from SDSGA. All found sheep they liked and got them bought. The winners were John Callies, Amelia Crawford, Austin Crawford, Carly Crawford, Clay Crawford, Jayden Kott and Marlena Retzlaff. Tommy Mills of Frannie, Wyo., donated a yearling ewe for this year’s roll over auction to generate funds to support the Youth Buyer Credit Program. Generous donors raised $3,450 toward future winners. The 2022 SDSGA Annual Convention is Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Pierre, S.D. To learn more, visit SDSheepGrowers.org.

Seven aspiring sheep producers received a buyer credit from the South Dakota Sheep Growers to make purchases during the state's Premium Ewe Sale.

In 2003, she was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award by the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, Ann ran for and was elected to the board of the Reagan County Hospital District. During this time, the new Reagan Memorial Hospital/Hickman Clinic and Rea gan County Care Center were built. In 2019, the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce honored Ann with the Pioneer of the Year Award. Ann is survived by her husband, Bill; children, Dan (Terrie) Schneemann, Phillip Schneemann and Laura Schneemann. Also sur viving Ann are her grandchildren, William Schneemann IV, Casey (Holly) Schneemann, Julie (Drew) Brantley, Anna Schneemann and Lacy Schneemann. Other survivors include her sister-in-law, Sue Way; nine nephews and 14 nieces. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Lacy and Doris Way; her granddaughter, Laura Schnee mann; her siblings, Ralph L Way, Linda Milford and Richard Way; and her daughter-in-law, Ella C. Schneemann. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Big Lake, Friends of Reagan County Care Center, Hospice of San Angelo or the charity of your choice.

Obituary

ANN SCHNEEMANN 1935-2022 Ann Way Schneemann passed away on July 6, 2022. She was the first child born to Lacy and Doris Way in Texon, Texas, on May 10,

1935. Ann married Bill Schneemann on the Pembrook Ranch north of Big Lake, Texas, on Aug. 28, 1955. Bill served as ASI president from 1989 to 1991. Ann was a long-time active member of the First United Methodist Church of Big Lake. In addition to raising her family, she enjoyed cooking and hosting holiday dinners for her

family and friends. Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts were very spe cial to her. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she was instrumental in maintaining the Hickman Museum and served on the Pecos Trails Historical Committee.

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