November 21, 2001

Sheep Convention and Lamb Coop Meeting Set for Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 in Mandan

The N.D. Lamb and Wool Producers Association annual convention is set for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at the Seven Seas Motel in Mandan. The Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative will be a partner in the convention.

The convention opens Friday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. with a social at the motel with free lamb provided by the Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative. Presentations following the social include an update on USDA programs and markets by Marty O’Connor, international marketing specialist in Washington, D.C., for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Phil Mastrangelo, N.D. director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will provide an update on that agency’s programs. Tim Faller, director of the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center will give a research update. Evening activities will conclude with an association fund raising auction with items donated from retailers and producers.

Saturday’s program will include an informational meeting on the Dakota Lamb Growers Cooperative; an update on the American Sheep Institute from Bill Aeschlimann, American Lamb Council co-chair; a review and update on scrapie program regulations by deputy state veterinarian Susan Keller, state veterinarian Larry Schuler and USDA veterinarian Larry White; a discussion of how NDSU researchers produced North Dakota’s first lamb produced through in vitro fertilization by embryologist Anna Grazul-Bilska; an outline of future plans for the NDSU hair sheep research by NDSU shepherd Wes Limesand; and a discussion of changes in the N.D. sheep industry by Roger Haugen.

A noon luncheon featuring an awards program and the "Make It Yourself with Wool" contest will close the convention.

For more information on the program contact Roger Haugen, (701) 231-7645. To make room reservations at the Seven Seas Motel, call (800) 597-7327.

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Source: Roger Haugen (701) 231-7645, rohaugen@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu