2010 Leadership School offers an EXTRAordinary Program

The 2010 Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School returns to Columbus, Ohio this year for a jam-packed program, including the well-known Lamb 509 course under the direction of Roger A. High, Dr. Henry Zerby, and Dr. Paul Kuber of The Ohio State University. The July 10-14, 2010 program will combine parts of the ASI Regional Sheep Genetics Conference, Ohio Sheep Day, as well as the popular Lamb 509 program, plus local tours, networking opportunities, and small group interactions typical of NLFA’s Leadership School will make this an educational experience for producers, processors, and purveyors interested in sheep and lamb production.

In order to include the ASI Regional Genetics Conference, scheduled for July 10-11, 2010 in Powell, Ohio, the Leadership School will begin on Saturday, July 10th and conclude by noon on Wednesday, July 14th. The “Welcome Reception” will take place on Saturday Evening, July 10, 2010, which is the first official activity of the school program.   For those who may be familiar with the Lamb 509 program, the initial phase of live lamb evaluation and “auction” will take place Sunday afternoon, coupled with the opportunity to meet Ohio producers and others attending the ASI Genetics Conference sponsored by ASI and the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association. The Saturday and Sunday morning programs will be held at Riverwood Farms, home of nationally known elite purebred flocks of both Polled Dorset and Dorper flocks.

Sunday, July 11th will include the classroom segments of the program, with the morning reserved for the ASI Regional Genetics Conference with the Lamb 509 program continuing in the afternoon and evening. On Monday, July 12th, the Leadership School continues with a series of local tours of several successful Ohio sheep operations, Mid-States Wool Growers (possibly the most technologically advanced wool collection facility in the world); Blystone Farms, a family owned and operated state-licensed harvesting facility catering to the ethnic trade.

Other Ohio sheep operations tentatively slated for tours are: Mike Stitzlein Club Lambs, one of the most successful elite Club Lamb operations in the United States, Greg and Bev Millers, a highly successful commercial operation in Howard, Ohio based primarily on Management Intensive Grazing (MiG); Skyline Farms, Don and Delbert Hawk, of Danville, Ohio, which is currently one of the largest lamb feedlots in Ohio and possibly in the eastern U.S.

As the Lamb 509 portion of the program continues, Leadership School participants will learn about carcass evaluation and grading, take a hands-on role in the fabrication of the carcasses into wholesale and retail products, and explore the relationship between live animal characteristics and the value of the wholesale and retail cuts.

Henry Zerby left; Roger on the right

The Lamb 509 program is an extraordinary opportunity for anyone involved in the sheep and lamb industry and competition for this year’s school will be stiff. Individuals must be 20 years of age or older to apply. There is no fee required to submit an application. Applications are available below or may be requested from the NLFA office: info@nlfa-sheep.org. A brief essay is required, along with the name of one reference person. Application deadline is May 1, 2010.

A group of 32 participants will be selected and notified, as soon as possible following the application deadline. Once accepted, participants must submit a $200 per person registration fee to confirm their attendance. NLFA covers the cost of meals, lodging and tour expenses; however, each attendee is responsible for the cost of their transportation to the Ohio school site.

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