Around the States

Around the States

OHIO

MID-STATES Celebrating 100 Years

On March 10 at 10:30 a.m., Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of serving sheep producers.

“Much has changed in these 100 years, but the commitment to serve our patrons and provide them with an efficient and effective wool market still stands today,” reads the anniversary celebration invitation from Jim Brandt, president of the board of directors, and Dave Rowe, general manager. “While wool marketing was our founding, for more than 60 years Mid-States Wool Growers has been a leading source for the supplies and products that our patrons have needed in the care of their animals.”

The history of the Mid-States Wool Growers is rich with producer involvement. From the beginning – where producers wanted a better price for their wool – right up to today when producers designed one of the most technologically advanced warehouses in the world, the organization’s driving force has always been to meet the needs of the American sheep producer.

Through the years, producers have served on the board of directors and have always tried to be on the cutting edge of sheep-producer service. From its beginnings in 1918 to today’s 10,000 farmer/owners marketing 6 million pounds of wool from 23 states, Mid-States has always been a visible example of what producers working together can accomplish.

While the celebration will look back on the history of Mid-States, it will also serve as the official kick-off of the cooperative’s next 100 years of service to the American wool industry.

North Dakota

Sheep Scanning Schools Planned

Livestock producers have struggled through the years to measure the carcass merit of live animals quantitatively to select for superior genetics. Collecting loin-eye and fat-depth measurements via ultrasonic technologies is an accurate tool to predict carcass merit. However, it has not become widely accepted in the sheep industry. Consequently, not enough trained technicians are available to collect this information for seedstock producers.

North Dakota State University – through sponsorship by the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center – is hosting four sheep scanning educational and certification schools throughout the country to increase the number of trained technicians available to sheep producers. Participants will receive educational material on sheep scanning and be shown methods of collecting loin-eye area, loin-eye depth, back fat and body wall thickness. Participants will also have the opportunity to test their skills to become certified to collect ultrasound data that can be submitted to the National Sheep Improvement Program.

Additional information and registration forms will be available through NSIP.org, Ag.NDSU.edu/HettingerREC and the four host institutions.

Tentative dates and locations are as follows:

• April 10-12: San Angelo, Texas. Contact Reid Redden at reid.redden@ag.tamu.edu for registration information.

• April 17-18: Fargo, N.D. Contact Travis Hoffman at travis.w.hoffman@ndsu.edu for registration information.

• June 11-12: Arlington, Wis. Contact Todd Taylor at toddtaylor@wisc.edu for registration information.

• July 30-Aug. 1: Moscow, Idaho. Contact Michael Colle at mjcolle@uidaho.edu or Brenda Murdoch at bmurdoch@uidaho.edu for registration information.

South Dakota

Moser Grabs Win at Nationals

Alex Moser took first place in the professional division of the National Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Contest on Feb. 1 at the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, S.D.
David Perrin was second and Clint Hahn took third place in the division, followed by Michael Hagens, Nolan Abel, Timothy Wright, Doug Rathke and Loren Opstedahl.

In the wool handling contest, Leann Brimmer came out on top, followed by Amelia Seifert, Terrance Pelle and Kevin Hickman.

In the intermediate category, Ben Fitzpatrick earned the top spot and was followed by Levi McTaggart, Joe Schwartz and Brandon Buelt.

Kevin Ford won the blade shearing contest, finishing ahead of Doug Rathke and Loren Opstedahl. Tyler Opstedahl grabbed the win in the beginner division, followed by Braden Kopren, Rowdy Thompson and Quentin Ackerman.

MINNESOTA

Spring Workshop Set for April 7

Dan and Kayleen Persons of Kensington, Minn., will once again host the Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association Spring Sheep Workshop on their farm. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 7, and plan to attend.

Participants will rotate through five different stations. Registration materials will be mailed and emailed to members, as well as posted on the association website (MLWP.org) and Facebook page (Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association) in the near future.

For more information, contact John Dvorak at 952-594-4599 or bjdvorak81@hotmail.com.