Sheep Industry News October 2023

Great Lakes Lamb Achieves AWA Level III Certification

M ichigan’s Great Lakes Lamb recently became the third domestic sheep operation – and first from East of the Mississippi River – to reach Level III: Certified status through ASI’s American Wool Assurance program. “I learned about the AWA program at the 2022 ASI Annual Convention,” said Elaine Palm, who operates Great Lakes Lamb with her husband, Rick, and parents, Jim and Sherrie Bristol. “We didn’t really have to make any changes to what we do on a daily basis, getting certified just helped us put some language behind what we do and why we do it.” Palm said researching the program and then starting the certi fication process was one way in which she could contribute to the family operation during her pregnancy in 2022. She tackled AWA Level I: Educated by completing two online courses in half a day, then set about working on the farm’s operating plan in the summer of 2022 as part of Level II: Process Verified. Reaching Level II certification required an independent evalua tion, which was done by an ASI-trained evaluator. AWA evaluators are located throughout the United States and are often university or extension personnel who understand the daily workings of a livestock operation. “We used a person who we were familiar with through the Michigan Sheep Producers Association, so the process was very comfortable,” Palm said. Level III certification requires a third-party audit using Clo verLeaf Animal Welfare Systems, who was selected by ASI as the

official auditor of the AWA program. “It was really easy to get that scheduled,” Palm said, “and the process of the audit was really smooth and conversational. I’m glad we went through the whole process and got certified. Now, we’ll just have to see where it goes from here and how the program evolves.” Palm said she was hoping the certification would provide two benefits: a premium for the family’s wool and the opening of ad ditional markets that aren’t available to non-certified producers. “I’d definitely like to get a list of buyers who are looking for certified wool,” she said. ASI Wool Production Programs Manager Heather Pearce is working with producers in the AWA program and can answer any questions about the process. Contact her at heather@sheepusa.org or visit AmericanWoolAssurance.org for more information. The AWA program is centered around the international standard of the five freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury or disease; freedom from fear and distress; and freedom to express normal behavior. Additionally, accountability programs preserve the reputation of wool, the growers and the retailers, and encourage better communication between growers, shearers, wool buyers and customers. Better recordkeeping required by such programs can increase profitability, and increased dialogue between growers and consumers helps to educate consumers and keep agriculture thriving.

10 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org