Keynote Speaker, Dr. Rosie Busch, a veterinarian/sheep health expert from the University of California — Davis, spoke on Maintaining Optimum Sheep Health. She covered disease prevention, nutrition and flock management, and closed it by offering practical tips to keep sheep healthy year-round. Another topic she spoke about was lambing strategies. While many of the 270 members and guests may have heard and read on these topics a few times throughout their shepherding years, a reminder does a soul good. It’s inevitable that you will pick up something new. To the beginning shepherd, the information is crucial to their success.

Breakout sessions covered several areas of shepherding, including:

¯ Sheep Farming Innovations in Michigan

¯ Current Genetics to consider when Selecting a Flock Sire

Courtesy Photo The Chapmans’ sheep are seen in a field.

¯ Selling Lamb at Farmers Markets and Ethnic Markets

¯ Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Lamb

¯ Why and How to use Legumes in your Sheep Pasture

¯ Lessons Learned from New Zealand Pastoral Lamb Production

In addition to educational sessions, awards are issued: Commercial Producers of the Year, Club Lamb Producers of the Year, and Purebred Producers of the Year. These recognitions are awarded to shepherds who have been in business for a number of years. In 2017, the Commercial Producers of the Year Award went to Jim and Claudia Chapman of Alpena. Having been in the sheep industry for over 30 years, Jim and Claudia said about Shepherds Weekend, “It is a joy to see ‘old’ sheep farming friends we haven’t seen in a long time.” This year, they found it beneficial to hear what to do if your flock is attacked by a dog, and about sheep farming in New Zealand.

Claudia, whose six-year term concluded this year as a Michigan Sheep Producers Association Board Member, says that the true heart of the association is to educate and encourage the organization’s youth. Thus, at their annual dinner during Shepherds Weekend, the energy is high in the heat of heavy bidding, and the commitment is obvious. When all was said and done this year, nearly $6,000 was raised for youth programs, grants, and scholarships.

An example of one young lady’s plans for her granted $1,250 is to invest on a ram that will improve her flock’s genetic pool. Another grant went to a youth whose winning report won them a free trip to American Sheep Industry’s Conference in Arizona that was held the middle of this month.

As for the youth education activities of the weekend, this year, anyone 18 and under could take part in a team effort of Jeopardy, which tested their knowledge of general sheep information. On Sunday there was a Junior Quiz Bowl Contest for ages 13 and under, and a Master Shepherd Competition for ages 14 to 18. This Master Shepherd Competition challenged older youth to apply their skills and knowledge about sheep. In groups of two or three, they were given a “real-life scenario” to address. Each team had to problem solve, and prepare a short presentation which was delivered before a panel of judges.

People have been raising sheep since the beginning of time. You may wonder why they choose to “go to school” for being a shepherd. They go for a number of reasons. But, it boils down to learning. Sure, sheep will eat the grass in their pasture. But, as a shepherd, if you are wise about what grasses and legumes are available to your genetically productive flock in that field:

1) The sheep will take in more nutrients and fiber their body requires to be efficient producers of babies, lamb meat, and wool.

2) The sheep will be healthier during the challenges of parasites.

3) Your wisdom will carry through to a flock that is a good financial investment for the business of agriculture.

Let’s face it — if you can’t make ends meet, your shepherding days are numbered.

In Michigan, market lamb prices are comparatively good. For a shepherd to sell lamb cuts in Northeast Michigan at farmers’ markets, the lamb must be USDA processed. The nearest USDA butcher is Ebel’s Meat Processing in Falmouth, about 130 miles away. There’s not much convenience in this. Plus, it’s more time/cost-efficient for the shepherd to load their market lambs into a trailer and haul them to a United Producers Incorporated livestock auction house in Manchester or St. Louis. Availability of local lamb will be addressed in a later article.

Mary Centala and her husband, Mike, own and operate Heritage Acres Farm in Wilson Township. Mary has a lifelong connection with agriculture and has journalism and broadcasting degrees from Alpena Community College and Central Michigan University. Contact her at heritageacres15@yahoo.com.