Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - State group giving away sheep to find young shepherds

State group giving away sheep to find young shepherds

May 04, 2008 - 04:05:23 CDT

FARGO (AP) - A North Dakota group, hoping to bolster the next generation of shepherds, plans to give away sheep.

The state Lamb and Wool Producers Association has launched the "perpetual starter flock program" for teens.

"We want to encourage young people to become active in our industry," said Lyle Warner, association president and a Baldwin sheep producer.

Each teen selected for the program will receive 10 ewes, or female sheep, from the association.

The ewes typically will be worth about $175 to $200 each, Warner estimated.

The association also will link up participating teens with sheep producers who will supply rams, or male sheep, free of charge.

Renting a ram would cost $300 or $400, Warner said.

The ewes will produce lambs that participants can sell or use to build up their flock.

To keep the program going, participants will pay back 60 percent of the ewes' cost. Twenty percent will be returned in the second year after receiving the sheep, 20 percent in the third year and 20 percent in the fourth year.

Participants also will be mentored by an association member who can help with questions and production issues.

The program was created with help from the North Dakota State University extension service.

Justin Luther, an extension sheep specialist, said it's important to revitalize the state's sheep industry.

Sheep and lamb numbers have dropped sharply in the region over the past two decades, the federal Agriculture Department says.

North Dakota has about 840 sheep and lamb operations, down from 1,800 in 1988.

Minnesota has about 2,600 sheep and lamb operators, down from 4,800 two decades ago.

Many older operators are retiring, and a new generation is needed to replace them, Warner said.

Sheep and lambs ranked 21st among North Dakota agricultural commodities and 18th among Minnesota ag commodities in cash receipts in 2006, USDA says.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

n Be between 10 and 18 years of age as of Jan. 1 of the year they apply.

n Join the association as a senior or junior member.

n Attend the association convention the year they receive the sheep and again the following year to give a progress report.

n Have the support and endorsement of a parent or legal guardian, as well as two letters of recommendation from people other than family members.

Applications must be postmarked by Aug. 1.

As a practical matter, participants will need to live on a farm or in the country and have access to the necessary facilities, Warner said.

Young people living in the city potentially could participate by making arrangements with a farmer, although some opportunities likely would be rare, he said.

News > State

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Comments

Bono wrote on May 16, 2008 1:46 PM:

" THANK EWE Gimme a Break - I could not believe it took this long for someone to complain about people have some fun. You must have a sad, sad life. Now get back to work. "

gimme a break wrote on May 16, 2008 9:30 AM:

" some people need to find a job, or volunteer....something worthwhile, anyway. "

MamaMia wrote on May 15, 2008 1:10 PM:

" I suppose all good things must end, and soon they will have to put this blog to bed. But before I go, I must say that I have udder contempt for myself for starting all his nonsensical lambpooning of this very interesting article. It is painful to have to ram the point home to myself about my shear stupidity. I'd like to think the whole thing was a simply a (cash)mere misunderstanding on my part, but if I go that way, I know someone will lambaste me. So out of shear terror of wearing out my welcome, I, too, must say good baaaaaaaa. "

Bono wrote on May 14, 2008 12:47 PM:

" (I have to) SEE EWE LATER! "

MamaMia wrote on May 14, 2008 12:16 PM:

" Come on REX, don't lambaste us with the ol' baaaaait and switch trick! We need ewe in here. "

REX wrote on May 14, 2008 10:40 AM:

" MamaMia, Bono, I need to quit. My dad was a writer and we played lots of these pun games, I think, even now, he has rolled over in his grave. It has been a pleasure, thank you. I'm taking it " on the lamb" from here. "

REX wrote on May 14, 2008 9:56 AM:

" MamMia I think it's similar to Trumpeter Swan "

MamaMia wrote on May 14, 2008 9:46 AM:

" The online editor is probably thinking, "Mouflon folks, nothing to see here." "

REX wrote on May 14, 2008 8:57 AM:

" On line editor, You've had it, huh? "

MamaMia wrote on May 14, 2008 8:17 AM:

" REX: Great recipe. I always thought the alpaca I cooked tasted a little like bald eagle. . .or whooping crane. But then I still believe in eweniorns and ewe FOs. "

Online Editor wrote on May 13, 2008 4:25 PM:

" To REX: Good, a little too good. "

REX wrote on May 13, 2008 3:26 PM:

" MamaMia, I like Alpaca. 210 degrees for ten hours, marinate with red wine of choice. Tastes like lamb. "

RLM wrote on May 13, 2008 3:17 PM:

" The difference between a Scotsman and the Rolling Stones is this:

The Rolling Stones sing, "Hey, You, Get off of my cloud",

and a Scotsman yells, "Hey Mcloud, get off of my ewe, " "

REX wrote on May 13, 2008 2:32 PM:

" Hi, Guys. My favorite song is, "Goat Tell It On The Mountain". "

Bono wrote on May 13, 2008 2:13 PM:

" MamaMia: Ewe are sooo wooltiful to me.............can't you sheep? "

MamaMia wrote on May 13, 2008 2:01 PM:

" REX: Gee, I'd like to visit that Old MacDonald farm. Alpaca suitcase, okay? "

MamaMia wrote on May 13, 2008 1:15 PM:

" Bono: Did I ever mention that one of my favorite carols is "While Shepherds Washed Their Socks by Night"? "

Bono wrote on May 13, 2008 12:43 PM:

" Once again Mamamia - ewe are right. I've herd the sheer pleasure people are getting out of reading these! "

REX wrote on May 13, 2008 11:34 AM:

" Ovine! Have it your way. "

MamaMia wrote on May 13, 2008 10:33 AM:

" This is all just much ado about mutton, isn't it? "

REX wrote on May 13, 2008 10:11 AM:

" Mary had a little lamb
the doctor was amazed.
But when Old McDonald had a farm
he fainted dead away. "

REX wrote on May 13, 2008 10:10 AM:

" MamMia, Not a mutton for punishment, just a die in the wool fan. "

MamaMia wrote on May 13, 2008 8:19 AM:

" Bono: Don't you think that anyone who could actually read through all of these is just a mutton for PUNishment? "

puzzled wrote on May 13, 2008 7:13 AM:

" There was a flock (no pun intended) of Montana folk headed across the border this weekend...had crazed looks on their faces....anyone know anything about that? "

REX wrote on May 13, 2008 6:52 AM:

" Okay, Everybody. Back to work. "

blacksheep wrote on May 12, 2008 8:55 PM:

" Mary had a little lamb
she kept it in a bucket.
Everytime the lamb got out
her dog tried I mean Mary yelled so loud you could hear her in Nantucket.
"

punny wrote on May 12, 2008 7:02 PM:

"
I feel sheepish telling you I'm going to print these out and lambinate them! "

Bono wrote on May 12, 2008 4:11 PM:

" Mama, Rex - everyone - thanks for the laughs. I wool remember ewe all. "

MamaMia wrote on May 12, 2008 3:49 PM:

" REX: I would but I'm on my way to an all ewe can eat buffet. "

REX wrote on May 12, 2008 3:06 PM:

" MamMia, Ruminate on it. "

MamaMia wrote on May 12, 2008 2:14 PM:

" REX: I guess I didn't think of the full ramifications of it all. "

REX wrote on May 12, 2008 1:40 PM:

" MamMia, I was afraid I'd only "grazed" you. "

REX wrote on May 12, 2008 1:21 PM:

" On line Editor, okay, okay. I didn't write 'em. "

MamaMia wrote on May 12, 2008 1:20 PM:

" REX: Absolutely outstanding! You bleat me to the punch on that one! "

Online Editor wrote on May 12, 2008 1:16 PM:

" To Rex: Gong! "

REX wrote on May 12, 2008 12:52 PM:

" Mary had a little watch she swallowed it one day.
She took some Castor Oil that day to pass the time away.
The Castor Oil it did not work, the time it did not pass.
So if you want to know the time just look up Mary's Grandmother because she has a watch too. "

REX wrote on May 12, 2008 12:47 PM:

" Mary had a little lamb
she pet it's little head.
Now it goes to school with her
wrapped in a slice of bread.
"

MamaMia wrote on May 12, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Over the weekend I entered a cooking contest. My recipe was ground lamb mixed with spices and sugar and boiled in honey liquor. I call it Meadish Sweetballs. It won by a lambslide! "

black sheep wrote on May 11, 2008 10:00 PM:

" I am the black sheep I'm all outa wool.
I pulled it over your eyes With a buncha bull.
Fleecing, Fleecing is what I do best.
For shear enjoyment ewe may have guessed :) "

MamaMia wrote on May 11, 2008 9:32 PM:

" Looks to me like this comment board has been in sheepshape since my weekend absence~ Carrion, everyone! "

W wrote on May 11, 2008 8:08 PM:

" Wyoming, where men are men and sheep are nevous!! "

Donkey Fueron wrote on May 11, 2008 6:46 PM:

" I think this program would work better in Montana. Then tend to really like sheep out there. If you know what I mean. "

Bono wrote on May 11, 2008 5:51 PM:

" baaaad baaaaad black sheep. But have you any wool? "

black sheep wrote on May 11, 2008 2:57 PM:

" Mary had a little lamb
Her father shot it dead.
now she takes the lamb to school
between 2 slices of bread. "

black sheep wrote on May 11, 2008 2:50 PM:

" Mary had a little lamb.
Ewe've heard this tale before.
but have ewe heard she passed her plate
and ate a little more? "

Mrs. Honest Omar wrote on May 11, 2008 10:33 AM:

" Wool ewe fleece pass the mint jelly? "

Bono wrote on May 10, 2008 7:29 PM:

" Little Bo Peep just called and she is NOT happy. Something about missing her sheep........? "

punny wrote on May 10, 2008 3:29 PM:

" LOL ....ewe sheeple are punderful! :) "

Honest Omar wrote on May 9, 2008 4:12 PM:

" Editor, I herd you were going to shut this one down because there are so many bleating hearts out there. "

MamaMia wrote on May 9, 2008 1:22 PM:

" Bono: Good lord, man, are you three sheeps to the wind, or what? "

Bono wrote on May 9, 2008 12:26 PM:

" Hey ewe MamaMia!! Let's get the flock out of here!!! (sorry online editor - it's all in fun) "

MamaMia wrote on May 9, 2008 12:15 PM:

" Bono: Sounds like it's just a bunch of sheep thrills to you! "

Bono wrote on May 9, 2008 12:11 PM:

" Mama Mia - you are such a bleating heart...........I will keep going out of shear frustration..... "

MamaMia wrote on May 9, 2008 11:24 AM:

" Bono: C'mon, what are you? A sheep at the wheel? Only a sheepskate would back out now! "

MamaMia wrote on May 9, 2008 11:23 AM:

" Thanks Online Editor: But when this story gets dropped wool you remember me tomorrow? "

Bono wrote on May 9, 2008 11:15 AM:

" What can I say to that? Ewe win! I wool not be able to out do that one. I really don't want to ram any more of these comments down your throat. lolllll "

Online Editor wrote on May 9, 2008 9:24 AM:

" To MamaMia: I try to keep my opinion to myself, but that last comment was great. "

MamaMia wrote on May 9, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Bono: Sorry I'm so late with this reply. I was up all night practicing on my ewekelele. I'm trying to learn the old Sheep Trick song, "I Want Ewe to Want Me" by Mother's Day. "

Bono wrote on May 8, 2008 3:41 PM:

" Thought that might get your goat! "

MamaMia wrote on May 8, 2008 2:59 PM:

" Bono: That last one of yours was a keeper! LOL I'll think up another one and be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail! "

Bono wrote on May 8, 2008 2:52 PM:

" Okay okay - you aint got mutton on me................... "

MamaMia wrote on May 8, 2008 1:50 PM:

" Bono, if you're trying to pull the wool over my eyes, it just won't work! ;>) "

Bono wrote on May 8, 2008 1:19 PM:

" MamaMia - for a minute there I thought you were on the lamb when you didn't reply. "

MamaMia wrote on May 8, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Bono: I know, I know, I feel so sheepish! "

Sheep Lady wrote on May 7, 2008 11:03 AM:

" I love this idea! What a great way to help young ranchers into the sheep industry! "

Bono wrote on May 6, 2008 3:12 PM:

" Only EWE would say that! "

MamaMia wrote on May 6, 2008 8:34 AM:

" I don't know but I think this might be a baaaaad baaaaad idea. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.) "

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