Several industry tours were available for us in the Denver area.  Because if Denver’s climate, it is very suitable for feedlots, and then of course, processing plants too.  There are several processors in the Denver – Greeley area for both lamb and beef, and numerous feedlots.  Superior Farms and Mountain States both offered tours. 

     The 2 lamb feedlots toured were Harper Livestock, and Double J Lamb Feeders.  Harper Livestock (pictured) has 50+ pens available, with most pens capacity at 1900 lambs, and total capacity of approx. 80,000 lambs!   Their current inventory was approx. 46,000 lambs, mostly western range lambs (see pic).  They were currently bringing in lambs from the California Imperial Valley alfalfa fields.  

     We also toured Nugget International, where approx. 4500 pelts are received daily from processors, graded, salted, dried and readied for shipping typically in large bales.  (See warehouse pic of bales).

ASI Annual Convention in Denver January 25 – 28, 2017

There was good attendance from Minnesota at the annual convention. This picture taken after our region’s 6-state (inc; MN, WI, MI, OH, IL, IN), Region #3 caucus was held.  Minnesotans in attendance,

L-R Front: John Dvorak, past-Pres MLWP, and newly elected Region 3 Regional Director; Travis Hoffman, Sheep Ext Specialist MN & ND; Melanie Pamp, past-Pres MLWP; Steve Schreier, ASI Exec Board, past-Pres NLFA; Dan Persons, Vendor, Lamb Council Comm.

Back: Dan Lippert, Lamb Council Comm; Mike Lippert, MLWP; Bob Padula, director MLWP; Dr. Gerald Kennedy, Vendor, ASI Animal Health Comm; Randy Kinney, Pres MLWP, 2017 Delegate and Director.

(L to R) Randy Kinney, Pres; Daryl Boehm, Director; Don Drewry, Director; Travis Fowler, VP1; Al Hendrickx, Director; Jeremy Geske, Secretary; John Dvorak, Past Pres;  Glenette Sperry, Treasuruer; Steve Froehlich, VP2; and Melanie Pamp, Past Pres. [not pictured: Doug Mathias, Director; Bob Padula, Director].

Andrew Berg received the Junior Silver Bell award. Andrew is a great role model for the younger kids. He shows, and also participates in Livestock Judging and Knowledge Bowl. Andrew is a student at SDSU. He is the son of Phil and Laurel Berg of Pipestone.

Jo Bernard received the Silver Bell Award. Jo has devoted many years and countless hours supporting the youth sheep project, both at local and national level.  Jo also serves as the MN State Fair sheep superintendent and assists with many major sheep shows and sales.  Jo and her husband Mark raise Cheviots near New Richland.