Twelve States Represented at 19th Annual Howard Wyman Sheep Leadership School

September 2004 -- Twenty-four students from 12 states met with local, regional and national sheep industry leaders at the 19th Annual Howard Wyman Sheep Leadership School held July 11-14, in San Angelo Texas. This year?s school was directed by Dr. Frank Craddock, sheep and goat specialist for Texas A&M-San Angelo.

The leadership school, sponsored by the National Lamb Feeders Association (NLFA) and started by Howard Wyman in 1985, is an intensive three-and-one-half-day school dedicated to showing students every aspect of the sheep industry so they can better see how their specific operation fits into the total picture.

?I want the rancher who puts the sheep on the truck and slams the door shut to know what happens next,? Wyman said during student orientation. ?The more you know about the industry the better off you will be. I promise that you will work hard here, but I think you will be glad you came.?

In addition to presenting traditional sheep operations, Craddock challenged the students to look beyond what they are now doing and consider the possibilities of replacing wool sheep with hair sheep and goats and combining standard operations with alternative livestock operations like exotic game ranches.

The program opened up new possibilities for some students and made others determined to go back home and solve the problems needed to revive the wool market.

A four-time veteran leadership school director, Craddock operated a school that presented a diverse agenda filled with relevant industry speakers and student experiences. The school drew participants representing both large and small flocks from Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York state, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont and Washington state.

Craddock selected 4-H Club member Jess Yeaman to participate in his impressive line-up of speakers and included tours of Comanche Spring Exotic Working Game

Ranch, Kallie-Harie Reds Boer Goats, Fred Chandler Ranch?s club lamb operation, Ranchers? Lamb of Texas, Producers Livestock Auction, Bollman Industries, Custom Skin Co. and Ladex. The group spent the last afternoon with key people involved at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center and the final morning giving final reports in their assigned topics.

There is no cost to apply to the school, which is limited to 25 students, who must be 20 years of age or older. However, once accepted there is a registration fee of $100 to help cover the costs of meals, lodging, tour-related expenses and supplies.

NFLA Treasurer Clay Drake from Windsor Colo., will take over school management from Wyman, who at 86 is working toward retirement.

For more information on the school or NFLA, call National Lamb Feeders Association at 503-370-7024 or write NLFA; 1270 Chemeketa St. NE; Salem, OR 97301-4145.