Developing Young Leaders for the American Lamb Industry
Preparing the next generation of leaders for the American Lamb Industry is critical to a viable future. The American Lamb Board (ALB) continues to support the National Lamb Feeders Association’s (NLFA) Howard Wyman Leadership School because it provides education and networking opportunities for young sheep producers.
The 2023 school took place on July 9-13 in Columbus, OH. During the five-day event, 28 participants were lead through the Lamb 509 program hosted by The Ohio State University, an educational program designed to enhance sheep producers’ understanding of meat quality and marketing. The hands-on program included live animal evaluation and carcass fabrication.
Educational sessions covered grid marketing, use of ultrasound, nutrition throughout lamb growth, impacts of stress on meat quality, and use of lamb cuts including value-added products, plus a cooking demonstration and sampling. The group spent the final day touring Ohio sheep production locations, including a stop at ALB board member Don Hawk’s Skyline Farm and the Mt. Hope livestock auction.
“The Howard Wyman Leadership School is a great way for young American Lamb producers to learn about a cross-section of the Lamb industry,” says ALB Chairman Peter Camino, Buffalo, WY.
The school is named for NLFA organizer Howard Wyman and emphasizes the feeding, marketing, harvesting and merchandising of lamb and lamb products. Attendees must be at least 20 years of age and are selected through an application process. Each year, the school is held in a location that facilitates tours of lamb farms/ranches, feedlots, processing facilities and marketing outlets.
About the American Lamb Board
The American Lamb Board (ALB) is the national promotion, research and information checkoff program that works on behalf of all American producers (commercial and seedstock), feeders, direct marketers and processors to build demand for American Lamb. Funding is through mandatory assessments paid by all industry segments. The 13-member board represents all industry sectors, geographic regions and sizes of production. The work of the ALB is overseen by USDA and supported by staff in Denver, CO. Almost two-thirds of the annual budget funds American Lamb promotion programs. For more information, contact ALB at: LambResourceCenter.com, info@americanlamb.com, or 866-327-LAMB (5262).
