Most homes were still illuminated by lanterns and candlelight when the National Wool Growers Association—the predecessor to the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI)—held its first convention in 1865. But 160 years later, sheep producers from across the country shared a renewed excitement for the industry’s future as a panel of solar grazers pointed toward new heights for the American flock and its role in developing clean energy for the U.S.
Ryan Indart of California, Reid Redden of Texas and Daniel Dotterer of Pennsylvania shared stories of getting their feet in the door of solar grazing in recent years during the 2025 ASI Annual Convention Opening Session on Jan. 16 in Scottsdale, AZ. They were joined in the panel discussion by Silicon Ranch Corporation’s Loran Shallenberger and David Wen of AES Corporation. Both companies are developing solar assets, while Silicon Ranch has taken the unprecedented step of assembling its own sheep flock, as well. The panel was moderated by Lexie Hain of New York, a solar grazer who founded the American Solar Grazing Association and is now the director of agrivoltaics and land management at Lightsource bp.
Agrivoltaics is the practice of using land for both agriculture and solar energy production, and more often than not at this point that agricultural use is the grazing of sheep. The explosion of solar fields throughout the country has created a whole new job for America’s sheep, and producers like those on the panel welcomed the opportunity to supplement their livestock incomes (from lamb and, in some cases, wool) with grazing fees. While solar grazing has allowed producers to expand their flocks, it has also welcomed newcomers who often found the lack of land an expensive barrier to getting into the industry.
The Western wildfires that dominated the news in recent weeks have also put a spotlight on grazing, and the role it can play in a changing climate. Targeted grazing is a booming industry, as well, and has long been used in states such as California to reduce fire loads.
“The American sheep industry has definitely seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to these grazing opportunities,” said newly elected ASI President Ben Lehfeldt of Montana. “We wanted to further highlight that opportunity at this year’s convention. But sheep producers have always known the value that sheep bring to the lands they graze, whether that’s a solar field, national forest or private land.”
New leadership
The association elected new officers during the 2025 ASI Annual Convention at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Lehfeldt was elected to serve as president, while California’s Joe Pozzi moved into the vice president slot and Tammy Fisher of Texas was elected secretary/treasurer. Brad Boner of Wyoming will serve as past president after two years at the helm of the association.
Lehfeldt is a fifth-generation rancher, and his family has been involved in the industry for more than 135 years. He previously served as vice president (2023-25) and secretary/treasurer (2021-23), and is a past member of the ASI Wool Council. He’s also served as a director of the Montana Wool Growers Association, and on the board of directors for the American Lamb Board and the National Grazing Lands Coalition.
Each of ASI’s councils and committees met in person during the Jan. 15-18 annual convention, and here are some highlights from those meetings:
• Wool Council: Discussions centered around American wool manufacturing industry research and wool industry biosecurity. The research suggests strengthening domestic wool markets by expanding demand, investing in first-stage processing and building supply chain partnerships. Improving cost and quality competitiveness will help boost profitability. The apparel industry’s plans to move supply onshore also present new opportunities. The report underscored the importance of first-stage processing in the U.S. for handling American wool domestically and supplying essential materials to the domestic textile industry.
• Animal Health Committee: As the American sheep industry moves toward being declared “scrapie free” in the coming years, there is an alarming threat south of the border with the discovery of New World screwworm in Mexico. Present in the U.S. in the 1960s, the New World screwworm has not been detected in the country for decades. But its prevalence in central America and Mexico has the U.S. taking aggressive actions to stop the species from migrating further north.
• Genetics Forum: For the fourth consecutive year, the ASI Genetic Stakeholders Committee joined with Sheep Genetics USA to host a genetics forum during the convention. Livestock producers John Helle of Montana, Jim Malooley of Georgia and Isaac Matchett of Michigan, shared insights about how they have incorporated genetic information into their operations, as well as revealed shortcomings in putting genetic data to work on their ranches, with common frustrations centered on technological limitations. All three shared that genetic information is an important component of making selections to improve their flocks, but it’s also critical that producers match those selections for the environment in which they operate.
• Lamb Council: A panel discussion entitled Competing in Today’s Market offered opinions on marketing American lamb from three very different sides of the industry: a small producer in Kentucky, a large packer and a marketing company that works directly with the American Lamb Board. The consensus is that the industry needs to lean into the fact that lamb is a top-notch protein that works well for those looking for quality over quantity when making purchasing decisions. At the same time, those consumers want to know the story behind their food and are willing to pay for it. At the same time, lamb prices have been comparable to beef prices—and will remain so for the foreseeable future—which opens the market for consumers who aren’t familiar with the protein.
• Production, Education & Research Council: Solar grazing made an appearance here, as well, with J.R. Howard of Texas joining a panel to discuss Scaling Up Production: How to Do It Successfully. His solar grazing operation in East Texas has grown exponentially from a family operation less than five years ago. He was joined on the panel by targeted grazer Robert Irwin of California and Katahdin producer Dan Turner of Pennsylvania. Cash flow is often the biggest issue in ramping up a livestock operation and producers need to be ready for that. If it means taking on debt, they need to be prepared and educated enough to do it wisely.
• Legislative Action Council: Boner discussed reformation of the H-2A Sheepherder Program Taskforce to review plans for immigration reform. ASI hopes to work with the new administration to make the program more sustainable for American sheep ranchers after wages, fees and paperwork delays have skyrocketed in recent years. One-third of all sheep in the American flock are herded by H-2A workers, so the program is critical to the industry.
• Resource Management Council: In addition to hearing from new Wildlife Services Deputy Administrator Jessica Fantinato, the council got an update on the forthcoming targeted grazing book that ASI will publish in 2025.
• Young & Emerging Entrepreneurs Committee: The YEE committee hosted a record number of first-time convention attendees and introduced an online-based education program it is developing for new sheep producers. The committee also had its dystocia simulator on site for producers to see and experience. It was purchased in 2024 as part of a National Sheep Industry Improvement Center grant that is also funding development of the online education program.
In customary fashion, ASI used the annual convention to recognize those who have contributed in meaningful ways to the American sheep industry and its development. Peter John Camino of Wyoming was recognized as the McClure Silver Ram Award winner. A past president of the American Lamb Board, Camino has served on several ASI councils and committees. A third-generation rancher, he’s working to transition the family operation that dates back to his grandfather in 1908 to his son.
Utah’s Tom Boyer was recognized as the Industry Innovation Award winner for his efforts to push the American sheep industry toward technological advances in genetics and genomics. He is a founding member of Sheep Genetics USA and worked with a team of individuals to bring back the National Ram Sale in his home state in 2021.
Louisiana State University’s Dr. James Miller earned the Peter Orwick Camptender Award for his 30-plus years as a veterinary parasitologist, where he worked tirelessly to research parasite control and educate producers in the Southeast.
New York’s Keith Stumbo picked up the Distinguished Producer award after a lifetime of sheep involvement. A volunteer leader in everything from local boards to the Empire State Sheep Association—ASI’s affiliate in New York—to the ASI Executive Board, Stumbo was always willing to lend a hand despite a sales job that had him traveling internationally until his retirement. His wife, Kathy, was often called upon as head shepherd during his travels. He’s served previously on ASI’s Wool and Lamb Councils.
Editor Matt Reese of Ohio’s Country Journal was recognized as the Shepherd’s Voice Award winner for his efforts to promote the sheep industry as a whole, but particularly for his dedication to the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association—ASI’s Ohio affiliate.
And finally, ASI’s Wool Roundtable selected retired ASI Consultant Barry Savage as the 2025 Wool Excellence Award winner. He spent two decades promoting American wool using connections he established during his time working in the Australian wool industry.
The 2026 ASI Annual Convention is scheduled for Jan. 28-31 in Reno, NV. — ASI
