ASI Makes WS Nominations
June 17, 2005
June 17, 2005 -- The American Sheep Industry Association?s (ASI) executive board finalized the industries nominations to the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee. Last month, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced the intent to renew the National Wildlife Services Advisory committee for a two-year period.
Nominations for re-appointment to the Wildlife Services Advisory Committee include: Montana rancher Nina Baucus; Texas rancher and Texas A&M educator Maurice Shelton, PhD.; and current National Animal Interest Alliance President Patti Strand of Oregon. Bryce Reece, of the Wyoming Wool Grower Association (WWGA) was nominated for the open cattle/sheep producer position that is being vacated by West Virginia sheep producer Joseph Harper.
Baucus is hands-on in the family sheep operation. She is a former executive board member of ASI and served on committees with the Montana Wool Growers Association. The ranch experiences losses of livestock to coyotes, black bears and occasionally grizzly bear and wolf kills. To protect her livestock, she utilizes herders.
Shelton received a master?s degree in animal production and a doctorate in animal breeding. He went on to teach and conduct sheep research at Texas A&M and four related experiment stations. His academic background, combined with personal knowledge obtained through management of his own ranch and the Texas A&M flocks and herds, has made him one of the more knowledgeable men in the industry on sheep and related predator issues.
As president of the National Animal Interest Alliance, Strand works with this national non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting humane and responsible animal use. She has worked on advisory committees with oversight responsibilities over animal use and welfare issues at all levels.
Seeking nomination to this committee for the first time is Reece. Since 1993, he has served as the executive vice president of the WWGA and has worked to protect, preserve and enhance the lamb and wool industry and ranching community of Wyoming. Reece has been one of the leading advocates and proponents for professional, effective, well-managed predator control and management programs.
The National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee advises the secretary on policies, program issues and research needed to conduct the Wildlife Services program. The committee also serves as a public forum enabling those affected by the Wildlife Services program to have a voice in the program?s policies. Members selected for the committee will serve two-year terms.
The current advisory committee will be holding a three-day meeting on June 21-23, 2005, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins, Colo. Current member?s terms expire July 2005.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33
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