Washington State Sheep Producers
continuously works to improve and support
the sheep community of Washington State.
2022 WSSP Convention
The Efficient Homestead
Tentative Schedule
Thursday, November 3, 2022
7:00 pm Board Meeting
8:30 pm Hospitality Room open
Friday, November 4, 2022
7:00-9:00 am WA Wool Growers Auxiliary Meeting
8:00 Registration Open
8:30 am Welcome: Dr. Jill Swannack
• Annual Meeting
• Superior Farms- Cameron Lauwers
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-12:00 Annual Meeting continued
• ASI Update – Ben Lehfeldt
• American Lamb Board Update – David McEwen
12:00-1:15 Lunch
1:15-2:00
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Annual Meeting Continued
• WSU Animal Science Update Dr. Irlbeck/Dr. Murdoch
• University of Idaho Sheep Center Update – Dino Vinci/Dr. Murdoch
2:00-2:30 Les Boian How to prepare for Natural Disasters
2:30-3:00 Dr. Ben Smith, WSDA Veterinarian Requirements for sheep entering and departing Washington
5:30-6:30 Social Hour - Hospitality Room
6:30 -7:30 Dinner
7:30 Awards followed by Legislative and Benefit Fund Auction
9:00-11:00 Hospitality Room
Saturday, November 5, 2022
8:00 am The Complications of Pregnancy Toxemia- Dr. Jill Swannack
9:00 Depart Hotel Shear Vista Polypay Hop’n Ridge Ranch Fresh Cut Farms and Lunch 3:00-5:00 Herd Health Plan Workshop - Dr. Jill Swannack & Dr. Leah Swannack
5:30 Dinner
7 – 10 pm Hospitality Room Open
Event Descriptions
Hospitality Room- WSSP provides a hospitality room that is open after the board meeting Thursday evening, as well Friday and Saturday evenings. This provides a pleasant opportunity to have a snack and a beverage while visiting informally with fellow members. Feel free to bring your favorite treats to share with others.
WSSP Annual Meeting- On Friday morning, we will discuss matters as part of our commitment to delivering support and to grow all segments of the Washington State Sheep Industry. The annual meeting provides members the opportunity to address issues facing our industry, participate in the election of association leadership, and provide input to the organization.
Friday Night Legislative and Benefit Fund Auction – Following dinner and awards on Friday evening we will have a live auction to raise support for WSSP in its effort to provide advocacy, education, and maintain the website. Our very own past president, man-about-the-state, and livewire, Art Swannack, will be the auctioneer. Members are encouraged to bring items for the auction; typical items include sheep supplies, products, food, and gifts. Payment options for the auction are cash, check or card. There is a 3% convenience fee for card processing.
Saturday Tours
Shear Vista Polypay – Laura and Tim Ray have just relocated to a new farm and are working on rebooting their operation. They raise NSIP enrolled Polypays.
Hop’n Ridge Ranch- Hop’n Ridge Ranch was established in 2016 and is a disabled veteran owned and operated. It is a multifunctional ranch that practices full life cycle farming. They have a group of Polypay ewes.
Fresh Cut Farm - Fresh Cut Farms is a pre-1900 homestead on Wild Rose Prairie. Owned and operated by Jim and Connie Long. They raise Valais Blacknose as well as blackface ewes. They operate a market garden that services two o farmers markets as well as raising lamb and pork to round things out.