Vote Yes for American Lamb Coalition

Ensuring that all supporters of the American Lamb Board (ALB) voted during the lamb referendum was the main concern for the affiliated sheep industry associations. The ?Vote Yes for American Lamb Coalition? was created to address that concern.

The hard work of these volunteer leaders paid-off when the U.S. sheep industry passed the continuation of the Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Order by 80 percent of the ballots cast, and 84 percent of the sheep represented.

?This is the fourth highest passage of approval among the 13 national sheep referendums since 1955,? says Peter Orwick, executive director of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI). ?Each state leader accepted the responsibility to win the vote in their state and did an admirable job. From the national perspective, I was comfortable that everything ASI could do to secure approval of this referendum was, in fact, done. Over the course of the last five years, ?no stone was left unturned? in ASI efforts to assist our industry and make possible a successful funding of an American lamb program.?

Members of the Coalition completed many tasks to make certain producers in their state were informed of the vote and aware of the importance of the ALB to the U.S. sheep industry. Activities included: participation at state association annual board meetings, mailings to producers, insertions in state newsletters and other publications and calling trees, in which one member, Bob Lehfeldt, Mont., personally made more than 100 phone calls.

?We wanted to make individual contact with as many producers as we could,? says Lehfeldt, president of the Montana Wool Growers Association, whose state had the most producers voting in the referendum. ?We knew we had opposition in the previous referendum, so we just got out and worked to get those ?yes? votes.?

?I feel this is a very positive step for the industry,? says Joe Harper, a West Virginia sheep producer, whose state passed the referendum by 93 percent of the producers who voted. ?It proves the industry is more united than in the past, with the majority of the producers, feeders and packers who voted, passing it.?

The ALB will continue its work to increase awareness for American lamb. The industry will vote again at the seven-year mark from the implementation of the American lamb referendum, which is another provision unique to the American lamb program among livestock checkoffs.

?Our competitors are spending money in this country to promote their lamb, and I think we need to do the same in order to keep our share of the market,? says Clark Willis, Coalition member and Utah sheep producer. ?The U.S. sheep industry needs to stay competitive and promotion will do just that.?

?The ALB now has the opportunity to tackle issues or opportunities that are multi-year in approach if needed,? Orwick says.

Listed below are those individuals who dedicated their time and effort to ensure the continuation of the lamb checkoff program.

Rick Abbott, Mont.   
James Acuff, Idaho
Luther Agee, Tenn.   
Carmen Auza, Ariz.
John Bartman, Colo.
Gary Beasley, Ark. 
Max Benne, Mich.
John Brasfield, N.C.
Jim Bristol, Mich.   
BJ Brock, N.M.
Casey Brown, Colo.  
J. Paul Brown, Colo.
Richard Brozozowski, Maine  
Benjamin Calkins, Ohio
Chris Calloway, DVM, Mo.  
Charles Cathcart, Pa.
Nancy Cessna, Ohio  
Yvonne Clifford, Ind.
Thomas Colyer, Mass. 
Florence Cubiburu, Calif.
Ernie Etchart, Colo.
Ronald Fletcher, W.Va.  
Nick Forrest, Ohio
Robin Freema, Va.  
Paul Frischknecht, Utah
Gary & Deanna Garrard, Ore. 
Will Getz, Ga.
Steve Gramlich, Neb.  
James Griffin, Ala.
Mike Green, Mont.   
Rick Habein, Hawaii
Gary Harris, Ind.
Michael Haubrich, Minn.
John & Karen Helle, Mont.
Roger High, Ohio
David Hinnaland, Mont.
Joan Hobbs, Md.
Francisco Iturriria, Calif.   
Pat Jackson, Texas  
Lee Jarvis, Utah
Ivan Kaden, Mo.
Bob Klinger, Ore.  
Don Kniffen, Jr., N.J. 
Richard Kosesan, Ore.
Bill Kuecker, Tenn.
Bob Lehfeldt, Mont. 
David Major, Vt.
Mark & Annette Mann, S.C.
Joe Mattos, Calif.
Eugene McGrew, Ill. 
Brant Miller, Maine
Perry Mobley, Ala.
Katherine Moore, N.H.
Thomas Mullinix, Md.
Bruce Murray, S.C.
Joanne Nissen, Calif.     
Jack Orwick, S.D.
Bob Padula, Minn.
Andrea Paris, Nev.  
Burton Pfliger, N.D.  
Martha Polkey, Va.
Barbara Pugh, N.C.
Steve Raftopoulus, Colo.  
Ruth Ann Rahim, Ohio
Judd Redden, Calif.  
Bryce Reece, Wyo.
Charles Reppert, Neb.  
Mark Russell, Conn.
Daniel Ryan, Mont.
John Sampsel, Mont.
Peggy Schoof, Ind.   
Al Schwider, Wash. 
Mark Sheppard, N.D. 
Bill Sparrow, Jr., N.C.
Keith Stumbo, N.Y.
Margaret Soulen Hinson, Idaho
Angelo Theos, Colo.  
Dale Thorne, Mich.
Randall Tunby, Mont.  
Tim Turner, DVM, Texas
Richard VanSickle, Ky.  
Mike Wallace, Neb.
Eric Wallis, Mich.
Leland Wheaton, Mich.
George Wherry, Pa.
Gregory Wichman, Mont.    
Clark Willis, Utah
Jeff Zimmer, Ind.
American Sheep Industry Association 
National Lamb Feeders Association   
American Farm Bureau Federation