Nominations Open for American Lamb Board and Sheep Center
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is seeking nominees to fill four positions on the American Lamb Board, as current members’ terms will expire in early 2026.
ASI is encouraging sheep producers and lamb feeders to apply to be placed on a nominating slate for USDA Secretary Rollins to consider appointing a director on our lamb checkoff board. ASI is now gathering nominations for the following positions:
- One producer with 100 or fewer lambs
- One producer with more than 500 lambs
- One feeder at large
- One first handler
Either the small-scale (≤100 lambs) or large-scale (>500 lambs) producer must be from Region II (west of the Mississippi River). The feeder at large must be from Region I (east of the Mississippi River).
ASI encourages interested individuals to visit www.sheepusa.org or contact the ASI office for a nomination form. Completed forms must be submitted to ASI by August 22, 2025.
The current directors whose terms are ending include Jeff Ebert (KS), Gary Visintainer (CO), and Don Hawk (OH), all of whom are term limited. ASI must submit at least two nominees for each of these three seats.
In addition, ASI is seeking nominations for one producer director and a director with experience in finance and management to serve three-year terms on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) Board of Directors. Bob Buchholz (TX) and Faye Schalesky (SD) currently hold these seats. ASI is accepting NSIIC nominations through August 22, 2025, ahead of the USDA’s submission deadline of September 8, 2025.
For more information, contact Peter Orwick, ASI Executive Director, at (303) 771-3500, ext. 103, or [email protected].
Last Chance – ASI Wants to Hear from You!
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is committed to understanding what matters most to our members, and your input is key. We’re inviting you to share your thoughts on ASI’s communications so we can improve how we deliver the information you need. What topics are most important to you? How can we better keep you informed and engaged?
Your feedback will directly influence how ASI communicates with members and stakeholders across the industry. The survey takes just 2 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential.
Make your voice heard and help strengthen communication across the American sheep industry. The survey closes today, August 15.
Click Here to Complete the Survey.
Legislative Update from Washington, D.C.
The American Sheep Industry Association’s lobbying firm – Cornerstone Government Affairs – offered an update this week on legislative issues in our nation’s capital.
USDA Announces New Slate of Presidential Appointments
On Saturday, August 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the latest slate of key senior leadership appointments across the agency. The agency announced the nominations of:
- Glen Smith Nominated for Under Secretary of Rural Development
- Dr. Mindy Brashears Nominated for Under Secretary for Food Safety
- Yvette Herrell Nominated for Assistant Secretary of the Office of Congressional Relations
- Neal Robbins Appointed Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development
- Anthony Priest Appointed Chief of Staff for the Rural Housing Service
- Michael Pape Appointed Chief of Staff for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service
- Anna Pilato Appointed Chief of Staff for the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
- Jason Allen Appointed Senior Advisor for the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
These nominations, as announced during Secretary Brooke Rollins’ visit to the Iowa State Fair, rounds out the senior leadership of USDA. For more information, or the official announcement, please see the following link.
ALB Returns to Solar Farm Summit in Chicago
The American Lamb Board co-sponsored an exhibit with the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) at the 2025 Solar Farm Summit in Chicago from August 4-7, 2025. The Solar Farm Summit is a conference and expo focused on dual-use projects connecting solar power and agricultural production.
ALB, along with ASI and ASGA, participated with over 70 exhibitors at this event, which aims to create dual-use land opportunities by combining solar power development with agricultural production – or agrivoltaics.
“Exhibiting at the Solar Farm Summit is an excellent opportunity for the sheep industry to explore new grazing options that are profitable for producers,” says ALB Chairman Jeff Ebert. “In addition, it was great to see multiple organizations come together to represent the interests of sheep producers from across the country.”
The event featured an outstanding speaker lineup with over 100 leading practitioners offering educational opportunities for attendees. Speakers included ALB Sustainability Director Camren Maierle, PhD, who spoke at the conference for the second consecutive year. He addressed attendees to promote the ALB Targeted Grazing Workshops. The workshops are three-day intensives that train sheep producers on vegetation management for solar arrays, vineyards, and fire suppression.
Learn more about the Targeted Grazing Workshop at: https://lambboard.com/grazing-workshops
ALB also shared literature showcasing land stewardship provided by shepherds and their families who graze pastures to enhance landscapes, improve habitat, and support wildfire prevention.
“The ASI Solar Grazing Task Force actively participated with ALB in the event with a joint trade show booth and ASI volunteer leaders and staff providing presentations and panel discussion”
Source: ALB
Utah Sheep Industry Faces Crisis, Maloy & Owens Warn
ASI and the Utah Wool Growers Association participated to follow up on the March and July meetings of ASI and U.S. Trade Representative officials.
At a Tooele County warehouse on Aug. 14, Reps. Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens stood among stacks of wool — some stored since 2017 — highlighting the impact of cheap imports from Australia and New Zealand and a lack of U.S. processing. “We want to make farming great again,” Owens said. Maloy and Owens are urging the U.S. Trade Commission to impose a tariff rate quota on lamb imports and fix processing issues. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Julie Callahan promised to take ranchers’ concerns to Washington, calling the situation “disastrous” for families across the West. Ranchers at the event warned the industry is on the brink. “We don’t have to work this hard to be broke,” said Jacob Benson. Carson Jorgensen noted 74% of lamb in the U.S. comes from overseas: “We are looking down the barrel of bankruptcy.” Maloy urged swift action: “We are losing a piece of who we are.”
Click Here to read the full article.