The SD SheepGrowers Association will be holding their annual convention on September 24, 2011 in the beautiful Black Hills at Lead, SD.  Convention attendees will hear from industry leaders on current issues in the sheep industry, on-going research and promotional activities, as well as participate in the annual business meeting.  The SD Master Lamb Producer Luncheon will hi-light producers from across the state who excel in their area of the sheep industry.  The evening banquet will feature state finals of the Make It With Wool contest, as well as the ever-popular auction which raises funds for promotional activities. 

The convention will be held at the Golden Hills Resort, and room reservations may be made by calling 605-584-1800.

See the Convention page for a complete agenda.

The SD Sheep Growers will be selling "leg-of-lamb" sandwiches at the SD State Fair in Huron on September 1st in the Horticulture Building.  Please call Lynn & Dianne Perry if you would be able to help in the booth anytime between 9am and 5pm.  Their contact number is 605-546-2190.

The Perry's will also be demonstrating "Lamb-tastic Spread" on Friday at noon in the Women's Building, and will be giving cracker & lamb spread samples away on Saturday from 2-4 pm in the Wine Pavilion.

American Sheep Industry Convention - January 19-22, 2011 - Reno, NV

ASI report from Lynn Perry, ASI delegate from SD to the convention: 

 It was a trip of a lifetime for Dianne and I to get to attend the ASI convention!  It was hard to pick which meetings to go to -- there were so many good ones to choose from.  Each evening we sat down and picked our meetings for the next day.  We went to 2 days of the American Lamb Board meeting.  The SD Barbeque Contest at Huron was approved as a grant recipient --it will be the first part of June 2011.  The demand for lamb is very good and the outlook for good markets is excellent.

The rebuilding of the sheep numbers proposal is "2+2+2=Rebuild".  This proposal is asking each producer to increase their operation by 2 ewes or 2 ewes per 100 by 2014, increase average birthrate per ewe to 2 lambs per year, and increase harvested lamb crop by 2 percent.  The program will provide 315,000 more lambs and 2 million more pounds of wool.  We need this to keep the infrastructure of the sheep industry going.  Sheep numbers are down all over the world.  Representatives from New Zealand and Australia were present at the convention and talked about their industry and numbers.

Burton Pfilger of North Dakota was elected secretary-treasurer of ASI, and the new Region 4 Director is Marsha Spykerman of Iowa.  We traveled with both of them to the convention. 

The food at the convention was great!  We had lamb at 4 of our meals.  We met lots of friendly people and had just a great time.  Thanks for the opportunity to represent SD!                                                                              Lynn & Dianne Perry

Pipestone Lambing Time Shortcourse & Bus Tour - February 11 & 12, 2011

         For more information or to register:  www.pipestonesheep.com

The 73rd Annual SD SheepGrowers Convention was held on September 25, 2010 at the Crossroads Convention Center in Huron, SD.  

Convention participants heard from great speakers in the morning session:  from SDSU Dr. Sandy Smart spoke on "Current Concepts in Pasture Management for Sheep Flocks" and Dr. Jeff Held reviewed the current sheep research and extension events.  Morgan Wortman, from the American Lamb Board spoke to the group on upcoming "Fresh American Lamb" promotional efforts.  Producers were able to hear from SD GF&P and USDA-APHIS WS on animal damage control program initiatives - and voiced their concerns over changes in the program that are adversely affecting the sheep producers in the state.  The final morning speaker was Brad Anderson, from Iowa Lamb Corporation who talked about current trends in the lamb trade.

The 2010 SD Master Lamb Producers were recognized at the noon luncheon program, with slideshow highlights from the award winner's operations presented by Dr. Jeff Held.  The 2010 Seedstock Producer award went to Begalka Club Lambs - Donnie and Stacy Begalka Family, Castlewood, SD.  The 2010 Lamb to Finish Producer award went to VanWell Sheep Farms - Dion and Stephanie VanWell Family, Watertown, SD. 

The afternoon program at the convention included Dr. Larry Holler, DVM from SDSU with  "New Challenges in Parasite Control for the Sheep Industry", followed by the ASI update from Burton Pfliger, the Region VI ASI representative. 

The Annual SDSGA Business Meeting, presided by SDSGA President, Steve Clements rounded out the afternoon agenda.

The evening banquet featured "fresh American lamb" and was hi-lighted by the SD finals for the "Make It With Wool" contest.  Pictures from the contest can be found on the MIWW page.

	2010 "Shepherd's Award" presented to Dr. Craig Hanson by Rufus DeZeeuw, SDSGA Treasurer.
	2010 "Trapper of the Year" Award presented to Brad Baumgartner by Steve Clements, SDSGA President.

BHSS Sheep Shearing Contest - Jan 2010

The Sheep Shearing Contest at the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, SD was a great success - with shearing demonstrations, stiff competition, and a huge crowd of spectators.  Shearing with hand clippers was demonstrated and showed just how far sheep shearing has advanced to the modern machines of today.  Over 40 kids eagerly lined up to take a turn cranking on a hand-cranked machine while it was being demonstrated. 

Judges for the event were Wayne Alderman of Spearfish, SD; Gary Babb of Newell, SD; Kerry Johnstone of Casper, WY; Max Matthews of Bison, SD; Larry Praeger of Belle Fourche, SD; and Stewart and Namoi Reid of Wolf Point, MT.  Kevin Hickman of Humansville, MO provided the contest trailer, and the sheep were provided by Chris Veal of Meadow, SD.

Results from the competition:

Beginners Division - 1. Clint Hahn, Hammond, MT; 2. Robby Johnson, Lemmon, SD; 3. Kyle Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids, IA; 4. Ben Daniels, Brookings, SD.  Best Pen - Ben Daniels

Intermediate Division - 1. Mike Schuldt, Chinook, MT; 2. Rindy Harkness, Riverton, WY; 3. Laramie Opstedahl, Owanka, SD; 4. Lance McTaggart, Newell, SD.  Best Pen - Laramie Opstedahl

Professional Division - 1. Loren Opstedahl, Piedmont, SD; 2. Tony Troendle, Black Hawk, SD; 3. Alex Moser, Iowa; 4. Don Metheral, Glen Huron, Ontario; 5. Hilary Gietzen, Minot, ND; 6. Mark Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids, IA; 7. Mike Hagens, Mandan, ND; 8. Joe Kroneberg, Bison, SD.  Best Pen - Loren Opstedahl.  Fastest Time - Tony Troendle with an 83 second average on 10 head.

Sheep Shearing Schools

The annual sheep shearing schools are held at South Dakota State University and also at the Hettinger Research Center. Professional sheep shearers provide instruction, assisted by SDSU Extension Sheep Specialist Jeff Held and area producers.  The instruction fee includes a course handbook and DVD.  New educational materials developed by the American Wool Council - Sheep Shearing Task Force are also used in the training event.

Topics included professional shearing pattern, equipment maintenance and repair, and wool handling and preparation.  Faculty, staff and student employees are instrumental in facilitating the event. 

The South Dakota Sheep Growers Association’s Wool Committee and the American Wool Council sponsor the school with cooperation from the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.