New ASI Executive Board Members

New ASI Executive Board Members

(March 1, 2012) M ike Corn, Roswell, N.M., and Don Gnos, Albany, Ore., are two U.S. sheep industry leaders newly elected to the American Sheep Industry Association’s (ASI) Executive Board during the 2012 ASI/National Lamb Feeders Association (NLFA) Convention in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Jan. 28.

Corn was elected to represent ASI’s Region 6, comprised of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

Corn owns and operates sheep, cattle and goats, lambing around 3,000 ewes annually. He is a fourth-generation rancher who is proud to be working with the next generation, his son, Bronson. The Corn family has been raising sheep in the Roswell area since the 1880s. Corn owns and operates his own ranch, as well as leases additional ranches, operating around 125,000 acres. His herd consists of white-faced, fine-wool sheep, mainly a merino cross, and he markets his lambs through Enchantment Lamb Co-op.

Corn is also the majority owner of Roswell Wool Warehouse, which he and his partners purchased in 1992. Roswell is now the largest wool warehouse by volume in the United States and they recently opened a facility in Long Beach, Calif. Corn says he believes the warehouse continues to be successful because it is operated by “producer oriented” owners who are also part of the sheep industry.

Corn is an active member of ASI’s Re-build the Sheep Inventory Committee, Chaves County Farm Bureau, New Mexico Hereford Association and is past president of the New Mexico Wool Growers Association and of the Chaves County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Corn earned a Ranch Management Certificate from Texas Christian University. He has been married to his bride, Jennifer, for 28 years. They have three children (Jessica, Bronson, Jenny) and one grandson (Garrett).

 “It is an honor to be elected to the ASI Executive Board,” says Corn. “I think of myself as an optimist and want to be involved with groups that are working to make a change. Being a part of the re-build committee is a program that is really working to build the sheep numbers in this country. I respect and want to help with other programs as well.”

Gnos runs 1,200 ewes on rye grass year-round as well as up to 6,000 head of feeder lambs. His flock consists of cross-bred Romney-Coopworth type ewes. Gnos was raised on a dairy farm in Otis, Ore., and still owns the land that has been in his family since the 1860s. Upon returning home from the service in 1960, he took a job sacking wool, which led to shearing and then to raising sheep.

 Gnos served as NLFA’s vice president from 2008-2010 and, most recently, ended his two-year term as president. The immediate past president of NLFA goes on to represent the organization on the ASI Executive Board. Gnos also served as second vice president and board member of the Oregon Sheep Growers Association. He has been a part of the Tri-lamb delegation for the last four years.

 Gnos has one son, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

 “I am happy to be on the ASI board,” says Gnos. “I see my role as being one that provides a voice for the feeders, to protect the interests of this group of producers and to continue the forward movement of the NLFA Leadership School.”