Hello, I am Grant Blackburn, the newly elected President of the National Finnsheep Breeders' Association (FBA) You may recall the annual meeting and national Finnsheep sale took place at Longmont, CO, (the latter being part of 'The top of the Rockies' sheep fair and sale) back in July 98. I, with a handful of other members, attended the dinner and meeting at the Third Ave. Grill in Longmont. Having served a full term, Lonnie Cook departed from the Board leaving a vacancy and I was elected to the Board. At the subsequent Board of Directors meeting I was elected president and Elizabeth Luke vice-president.
On behalf of all members I extend a sincere thanks to Lonnie for his hard work as president and director while serving on the Board and I know he will remain an active member of the FBA. Also Thank you to Dr. Paul Hunter, the immediate past President, for his sterling efforts in guiding the Board and moving the administration of the FBA in a new direction during his term as president. Paul was instrumental in subcontracting the breed registry process, which I will address in a moment, and he remains a member of the Board.
Another big thank you is also extended to Sandra De Master who has resigned as Secretary/Treasurer for health reasons. Sandy put in many hours computerizing the breed registry and producing a more cost effective Short Tales through 'home publishing'. Anyone who has worked with computers and publishing will know the hours involved in getting something to the standard of Short Tales. Sandy has agreed to stay on as Treasurer.
Much has happened since the last issue of Short Tales. The major change being the subcontracting of the Breed registry process to Associated Breeder Registries (ABR). With the resignation of the Secretary/Treasurer the Board agreed to contract ABR to maintain the breed registry in the hope of achieving continuity and efficiencies in serving the FBA membership. The ABR is the breed registry for several breeds including Hampshire, Lincoln and Rambouillet breeds. The Board has confidence that this will prove to be a very satisfactory and cost effective arrangement and there will be no change to the registration fees for the moment.
Shepherds are reminded that when selling or transferring sheep to a new owner it is the responsibility of the person who sells the sheep to submit the registration documentation with payment to register the sheep in the new owners name. Similarly, when sheep are sold interstate it is the sellers responsibility to obtain and pay for health certificates for the sheep.
The new address for all Finnsheep registrations and transfers is:
Finnsheep Breeders' Association
1557, 173rd Ave..
Milo IA 50166
Voice: (515) 942-6402
Fax: (515) 942-6502
worldsheep@aol.com
We had the problem of how to produce Short Tales in a cost effective manner. To our fortune Harry Koenig offered to take over production of Short Tales and Grace Hatton agreed to assist him. Thank you both for taking on the task and donating your time. Draft guidelines have been developed for Short Tales with the aim of getting our message out to the whole sheep industry and academic institutions which I think will prove very positive for us in the long run.
As you can see from the heading of my message I believe registered Finnsheep are dwindling in numbers to the point where we almost do have a viable breed. Only 327 were registered last year. It is time for us, collectively, to review our Association and review/establish a mission, objectives and meaningful targets that will take us through to the next millennium.
Registered flocks determine the genetics for the entire sheep population so it is paramount that this 'genetic engine' is developed in the most appropriate direction that will significantly enhance all aspects of the sheep so that it is optimized for the future market place. I appreciate the market place is broad, diversified and has regional niches, but I am looking at an overview that will enable development of all areas of the market place. We (Finnsheep breeders) need to be there producing registered high quality Finnsheep that are widely sought after for the various breed characteristics the animal exhibits.
However, to do that we must first find where our place is in the genetics industry. I know everyone has an opinion and I believe it is the Board's role to galvanize these opinions by collecting this information analyzing it and producing meaningful data that is useful to FBA members as others in the sheep industry. I see the FBA in a facilitation role in this regard and to that end Elizabeth Luke is preparing a questionnaire that will answer this question. From the responses to the questionnaire it is intended to map out a direction in which the FBA should go in the future and develop a strategy that will take us there. This is something that will not be done overnight, but we must start somewhere and it should be published before 2000! It is intended that the review examine the whole subject and not be a piece meal effort and will encompass contentious issues areas such as breed standard, carding and crossbreeding.
Now a comment on the national sale at 'Top of the Rockies' Longmont CO. In a word it was flat! Only four Finnsheep were sold at auction for the auction reserve price of $150 each out of a total pen of 15. Generally buyers were scarce and observations suggest other breeds did not do well either with many high quality sheep being walked back to the pens. My thanks to David Fowler for organizing the sale this year and to the participants for presenting their sheep.
A feature of the Finnsheep pen was the new photo display board admirably put together by Elizabeth Luke. It has many pictures positively portraying the Finnsheep attributes and was the center of discussion for many inquiries. Thank you Elizabeth for your time and effort in producing the display board. Members wishing to use the display pack for their shows/events should contact Elizabeth. ph: (315)852-3344 or e-mail: stillmeadowfinns@hotmail.com. It is proposed to hold the next sale at Smithfield IL, mid June 1999.
A serious matter of concern to every shepherd is animal health. Recent Congressional changes to farm programs no longer provide financial assistance for disposal of diseased sheep. In essence, Congress wants us to be smarter shepherds, through disease prevention and monitoring. The sheep that we breed ultimately contribute to the food chain and thus it is important for our flocks to be as disease free as possible.
Take scrapie for example, a serious disease found across all breeds of sheep. Scrapie is the sheep equivalent of mad cow disease in cattle. A recent Nova program on television and article in the Washington Post magazine were devoted to mad cow disease in England and both pointed to possible evidence of mad cow disease breaking the species barrier and causing several deaths in young people. Scrapie has been here in the USA since 1947. The number of confirmed Scrapie cases from October 1, 1997 to June 31, 1998, was 53, and these were reported coast to coast.
Could Scrapie do the same thing as mad cow disease and what would be the consequences (and legal considerations) if it were traced to a flock where a shepherd had done nothing about it? The USDA has a monitoring program (Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program - VSFCP) that costs nothing to join. From experience, the time between application and receiving formal notification of acceptance took less than a month. To apply all you need do is contact your local USDA Field or Area Veterinarian. More information on VSFCP can be found on web-page: www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/scrapie/infectlist.html The Board has an unresolved resolution recommending Finn breeders join the VSFCP. It would seem sensible to adopt this resolution.
Animal health is very important and if kept under control will significantly reduce the cost of keeping a flock. To keep it in focus I have asked Dr. Hunter (and he has agreed) to write informative articles for inclusion in future Short Tales that will assist shepherds in maintaining disease free flocks.
Last year a combined advertisement was run in The Shepherd. It was a very successful advertising campaign, both from the point of view of the number of participants and the positive responses to the advertising. It proved we just need to get the word out. Lonnie Cook coordinated the advertising last year and has agreed to do the same in early 1999. Watch for further details from Lonnie.
In 1994 the FBA held a starter flock essay contest for youth under 18. The prize was a ram and two ewes. The aim of the contest was to get young people interested in starting flocks and the Finnsheep breed. This is a good idea and perhaps it is time to run another contest. But first we must have shepherds who wish to donate a ram/ewe for the contest. Those wishing to donate can let me know.
In conclusion, with the next century rapidly approaching I hope you give some thought to the future direction of the FBA and help us define a plan that will see the proliferation of the Finnsheep and Finnsheep flocks throughout America. As Fall is upon us I hope all your flocks have a successful breeding season and happy shepherding as you prepare for the colder months ahead.
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Born in Ashburton, Mid-Canterbury New Zealand, a sheep farming community. Raised on a sheep farm with some 2,600 head of sheep, mainly South Downs, with a few Border Leicester and Romney/South Down crosses. Focus of sheep industry was on the British lamb market and secondarily the wool clip.
Spent 26 years in the Army serving mainly in the Australian Army. Postings in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and Europe. A graduate of the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, Australia and a logistics specialist until later in career when I was in Strategic Planning. Attended numerous courses over the years, including Corporate Planning, Cranfield Institute, UK, Information Technology at Charles Stuart University, NSW Australia and Joint Services Staff College, Canberra, Australia, a graduate course in Strategic Studies. Awarded the Conspicuous Services Cross in 1992 and retired a Lieutenant Colonel in 1994.
Janet was born and raised in Lexington, VA, home of Washington & Lee University, Virginia Military Institute, and resting place of General Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. On retirement we moved to Lexington, VA where I decided to raise a few sheep. Got into Finns through Naomi Smith who sold me the starter flock of four bred ewes/lambs. Currently I have thirty and my intentions are to specialize in pure white Finns, develop my line into a slightly bigger structure with fine wool. I have a ram that wool tests 24 microns. I am participating in the semen importation program and have my flock enrolled in the Scrapie Program (flock tag VA 18).