The awards program allows producers and industry affiliates the opportunity to nominate individuals they feel have benefited the industry over the last year. The deadline to nominate for awards is Nov. 29, and the winners will be honored at the 2025 ASI Annual Convention in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Five awards are available for nomination (select an award to view a detailed description):
- McClure Silver Ram Award
- Peter Orwick Camptender Award
- Distinguished Producer Award
- Industry Innovation Award
- Shepherd’s Voice Award for Media
Past award recipients are not eligible for renomination. Click here to see Past Award Recipients.
Description of Awards
McClure Silver Ram Award: The McClure Silver Ram Award is dedicated to volunteer commitment and service and is presented to a sheep producer who has made substantial contributions to the sheep industry and its organizations in his/her state, region or nation. The award may recognize a lifetime of achievement or may recognize a noteworthy, shorter-term commitment and service to the industry. Nominees should be recognized as industry leaders with nominations spelling out the candidates’ contributions to the industry and its producers. Producers should be actively involved in sheep production and may or may not produce sheep as their sole income. However, their nominations should not be based in any part on a paid position serving the sheep industry.
ASI Peter Orwick Camptender Award: The Camptender Award recognizes industry contributions from a professional in a position or field related to sheep production. Nominees should show a strong commitment and a significant contribution to the sheep industry, its organizations and its producers above and beyond that called for in his/her professional capacity. Nominees should be well respected in their fields by their peers and by sheep producers. Nominees may be involved with the industry as teachers, consultants, scientists, youth leaders, promoters, event managers, journalists or any other position directly related to the sheep industry, enabling the nominee to affect the sheep industry in a positive and long-lasting way. Nominees may be recognized for lifetime service to the sheep industry or may be recognized for a shorter-term commitment that resulted in significant benefits for the sheep industry.
Distinguished Producer Award: The Distinguished Producer Award was launched in 2014 to recognize the 150th Anniversary of the national organization – the oldest livestock association in the country. This award is a way to recognize an individual who has had a significant long-term impact on the industry including involvement with the National Wool Growers Association or American Sheep Producers Council, the predecessor organizations to ASI.
Industry Innovation Award: The Industry Innovation Award will recognize the accomplishments of an individual or organization that improves the American sheep industry in a game-changing way, regardless of whether its impact is felt at the regional, state or national level. “We have brilliant and dedicated people and organizations in the sheep business that do impressive things with sheep production or lamb and wool processing and marketing,” said ASI President Mike Corn. “We wanted to test the interest in a new award that would recognize innovations in the sheep business. ASI awards have traditionally recognized service and media coverage associated with the organization, so this Industry Innovation Award is an exciting addition.”
Shepherd’s Voice Award for Media: The Shepherd’s Voice Award for Media recognizes outstanding year-long coverage of the sheep industry by either print or broadcast outlets. The award excludes all publications and affiliates related solely to the sheep industry, allowing for recognition of outlets with general coverage for excellence in covering sheep industry issues. Nominations may be publications, networks or specific reporters exhibiting a strong commitment to balanced reporting and consistent coverage of the sheep industry locally, statewide and/or nationally.