The Montana Wool Lab building project at Montana State University (MSU) has received two donations from the industry in recent weeks. The Montana Wool Growers Association (MWGA) gifted the lab $100,000, and Helle Rambouillet and Duckworth donated $50,000.
The Montana Wool Lab was built in 1947 and is currently only one of two wool research and service laboratories in the U.S. The lab analyzes wool from producers across the country for fiber characteristics. These analyses are required for producers to enroll in the National Sheep Improvement Program, the only American organization to offer sheep producers a genetic selection system to use to improve flock productivity and quality.
In the summer of 2021, the Montana Legislature voted to provide $5 million in project funding for a new lab, and MSU committed to raising an additional $1 million to support the construction of the facility.
At the annual convention in Billings, MWGA President Ken McKamey presented a $100,000 check to MSU President Waded Cruzado. The origin of the funds is the Montana Wool Growers Education and Research Endowment.
In late January, Helle Rambouillet and Duckworth announced their $50,000 donation, reinforcing their “commitment to strengthening the U.S. wool industry and domestic apparel manufacturers, ensuring they’re leaders in the global merino market.”
To learn more about the Montana Wool Lab, visit animalrange.montana.edu/facilities/woollab.html. — Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor
