ASI Accepting Awards Nominations
ASI Award nominations are due by November 14, 2025. Below you will find descriptions for each award. Please click here for the nomination award form. Please note that past award recipients are not eligible.
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 their 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.
Peter Orwick Camptender Award: The Peter Orwick 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 their professional capacity. Nominees should be 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 to the sheep industry.
Distinguished Producer Award: The distinguished producer award was established 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 past 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 the Industry Innovation Award is an exciting addition.”
Shepherd’s Voice Award: The Shepherd’s Voice Award 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.
ASI Now Accepting Applications for Executive Director
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director. Accepting resumes until the position is filled.
For any questions and to submit your cover letter & resume, please contact: [email protected].
Click Here for more information and to apply.
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.
Congress Inches Closer to a Compromise to End the Shutdown
On Wednesday evening, November 12, President Donald Trump signed the continuing resolution (CR) to end the 43-day government shutdown- the longest in U.S. history. House members returned after a 54-day recess and passed the Senate’s CR framework, in the 222-209 vote. Included in this CR package was the FY26 Agriculture-FDA, Military Construction-VA, and Legislative Branch appropriation bills and extend funding for remaining appropriations through an amended CR that goes until January 30, 2026. On Monday, November 10, Senate Republicans successfully garnering the 60 votes needed after many agonizing days of shutdown negotiations to invoke cloture and move forward with the vote process. Notably, 8 Democrats broke ranks to vote with Republicans including: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Angus King (I-ME), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). As part of bipartisan negotiations, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) promised Senate Democrats a vote on renewing Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies in December. Looking more closely at the Ag-FDA appropriations bill, key provisions include returning funds to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), replenishing the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to its $30 billion cap, restoring funding to the Food for Peace program under USDA purview, and blocking the unregulated sale of some hemp-based or derived products. The CR extends the 2018 Farm Bill authorization until September 30, 2026, as well as includes funding for various discretionary programs, conservation technical assistance, agricultural research, health inspections, and an extension of grain standard. Additionally, it would introduce a Buy American requirement to SNAP implementation. The full text of the bill can be found here.
Supreme Court Weighs Limits of Presidential Authority on Emergency Tariffs
On Wednesday, November 5, Multiple Supreme Court justices, expressed skepticism regarding President Donald Trump’s use of a 1977 emergency power law to impose tariffs, noting that the Constitution reserves this authority to Congress. Throughout oral arguments, Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh asked the Solicitor General whether Congress ever intended to delegate such economic powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Chief Justice Roberts emphasized that tariffs were within Congress’s purview and questioned the definition of “regulate” in the statute. Following the hearing, the Trump Administration has continued to defend the use of tariffs as a national security tool.
Trump Revives DOJ Meatpacking Investigation
On Friday, November 7, President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Justice(DOJ), via a truth social post, to investigate major meatpacking companies for possible price-fixing and manipulation, reviving an inquiry launched in 2020. He accused large packers like Tyson Foods, JBS Foods, Cargill, and National Beef of inflating beef prices, pointing to indicators like decreasing cattle prices while consumer prices remain high. Both Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Attorney General Pam Bondi have acknowledged that the new investigation is underway. Industry leaders deny these accusations, explaining that high beef prices reflect strong cattle demand, and legal experts see this directive as a potential push by the DOJ’s Antitrust Division to intensify the ongoing probe.
USDA Announces Opening of Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Tampico, Mexico
(Washington, D.C., November 13, 2025) – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS) – the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon.
Click Here to read the full article.
Wool Classing School
FINAL CALL to register for the ASI Certified Wool Classing School at Hettinger REC!
When: November 22-24, 2025
Where: Hettinger REC Livestock Lab, ND
Increase your wool knowledge and maximize the return on your entire clip. You’ll receive comprehensive classroom training and practical, hands-on experience.
Registration closes soon—secure your spot today!
Australian Wool Market
A welcome week for the wool market with solid increases across the majority of merino MPG’s (Micron Price Guide) seeing the EMI (Eastern Market Indicator) finish the week at 1458, an
increase of 39c. On Tuesday, the first day of selling all 3 selling centers operated, and the full range of merino combing types were targeted by oversees mills with a general increase of 20
to 40c, while crossbred types held previous weeks’ values with minimal single digit changes which resulted in an overall increase of 15c to 1434 for the EMI. Day two the market was again positive and managed to add another 30 to 40c across all merino MPG’s and crossbred fleece sold in a similar trend to the day before with minimal change. With the full range of merino combing fleece gaining value the best performing MPG’s finished the week gaining up to 77c, it appears the current low supply and recent demand signals are having an effect across the whole merino micron range for combing types primarily. Merino cardings prices continue to wane with the MCI (Merino Carding Indicator) sitting at a percentile of 37 telling us demand for those end products aren’t in the same demand boat, when in comparison the 19-to-30-micron MPG’s are at 97-99 percentile when compared to the last 5 years. It is worth noting Fremantle sold on Tuesday only, so their MPG’s are missing Wednesdays (second day) gains. Current supply of merino fleece across all states sits at a tested average micron of between 18.5 to 19 micron and the volume of 21 & broader is getting less and less. The 22-micron MPG is only quoted out
of Melbourne this week and in the North, there was not enough volume of 21 microns to quote.
Click Here for the ASI Conversion Chart – AWEX Prices to USD Per Pound.
Source: AWEX
The American Lamb Board Hits the Road
The American Lamb Board (ALB) has been on the move, attending and providing updates at several recent state meetings. These included the South Dakota Sheep Growers Convention, Florida Sheep Annual Meeting, West Central States Meeting, Kentucky Sheep Conference, and the Kansas Sheep Symposium. These events offer a great opportunity to connect directly with producers, share updates on ALB programs, and discuss ways we’re working together to strengthen the American lamb industry.
“There’s nothing more valuable than meeting face-to-face with producers across the country,” said Jeff Ebert, Chairman of the American Lamb Board. “Hearing directly from those who raise American lamb helps guide our programs and ensures we’re aligning our efforts with the real needs of our industry.”
If you would like an ALB representative to attend your next meeting, please contact the ALB office. We’re also happy to provide handout materials, a highlights video, and even donated auction items or door prizes to support your event.
Over the next few weeks ALB will also have representatives at the Minnesota, Montana, and Ohio Annual Meetings.
Source: ALB
Join Us in Reno for the ASI Annual Convention!
Our convention will take place in Reno, Nevada, January 28-31, 2026. Early bird rates are available through Dec. 2.