1. Home
2. Conferences
3. 2023 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference

SDSU Extension Emerging Sheep Producer Program

Kelly Froehlich

Summary

A needs assessment indicated 43% of sheep producers in South Dakota have been involved in the industry for 10 years or less; a similar national trend exists. SDSU Extension with support from the SD Sheep Growers Association created the Emerging Sheep Producers Program. This yearlong, nine-session program for people with 10 years or less of management experience in sheep production allows participants to increase knowledge in all aspects of the industry. Throughout the program participants are creating a business plan, and learning about sheep care through workshops, webinars, tours, and hands-on field days, coupled with networking and mentorship opportunities. The objective is to mitigate risk and increase overall success through education and mentoring. To date, 21 participants have completed three sessions (Business plan basics, Sheep production basics, and Lambing time basics). At the start of the program the majority (17 participants) rated their current knowledge/experience level as ‘beginner’ defined as “some knowledge/experience, but not enough to teach or answer someone else’s questions on raising sheep”. This has justified the need of the program and preliminary evaluation of participants change in understanding has occurred. 73% of participants felt neutral to uncomfortable or very uncomfortable about production calendars compared to 26% after the first session. One participant wrote “After learning about the different calendars and systems, it seems easier to plan the year out for costs, breeding and marketing.” This is one step towards improving participants change of understanding and achieving the objective of mitigating risk and increasing success of raising sheep.

Details

---