Sheep:

Make More Money From the Sale of Your Wool!!

Sign Up Now For Wool Classing Certification

If you want to increase the quality of and marketability of your wool you should sign up now and attend one of the 1999 wool classing certification schools sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Association and coordinated by Texas A & M University.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to increase their awareness and practices of wool quality improvements," said Rita Kourlis-Samuelson, ASI Wool Council consultant. "Wool quality is more important now that ever, because every year we function more and more in an international market place.

Students in the three-and-a half-day course can work toward Level 1 wool classer certification which allows them to class their own wool clip. Wool-classing students will spend time in the classroom and on the farm learning to distinguish between different fiber lengths and wool yields with the ultimate goal of combining wools with like wools.

Students will also learn first hand the four steps that serve as a foundation for wool classing minimizing wool contamination; sorting sheep before shearing and packaging wool separately; preparing wool bellies out untied; and full table-skirting practices. All wool producers should be practicing steps one through three.

However, you should check with your marketing agent or wool buyer to see if pulling belly wool and skirting is economically beneficial to their operation, primarily because of the breed of sheep you raise.

The cost to participate in the school is $100 per student, which does not include travel, lodging or meals. The locations and dates of the schools will be determined by the amount of producer interest in a particular state or region. A minimum enrollment of eight students must be achieved. Classes will be limited to 15 students per class to ensure an adequate instructor to student ratio.

The following wool-classing instructors should be contacted by individuals interested in procuring a school for his or her area:

Bob Padula
University of Minnesota
(320) 269-6521

Ronald Pope
Producers Marketing Co-op
San Angelo, TX
(915) 655-1783

Chris Lupton
Texas A & M
San Angelo, TX
(915) 653-4576

Bob Stobart
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
(307) 766-5098

Rodney Kott
Montana State University
Bozman, Montana
(406) 994-3415

Martin Dally
University of California
Davis, California
(916) 752-0525

Decide where you would like to go and CLICK on one of the signs.