Management Education Programs

Lamb and Wool Management:  History

The Pipestone Lamb and Wool Management Program started in 1972 as a pilot program that was jointly funded by the National Sheep Industry Development Board (SID) and the Minnesota Department of Education. The basic purpose for starting the Pipestone Sheep Project was to boost the level of sheep management and production in southwest Minnesota by bringing modern, profitable management technology to member sheep producers and helping them properly implement these techniques on their individual farms.

The Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program works with member producers via four types of instructional methods. These include individual instruction, group instruction, class sessions, and email/phone consultation.

• Individual instruction takes place on the farm of each student enrolled in the program. These farm visits cover questions and concerns about each sheep operation and assist them in applying innovative technology and management methods.
• Class sessions are held on a regularly scheduled basis with various sheep management topics taught at each class. Classes often explore practical and new management practices. Classes are delivered in-person and/or webinar via Zoom.
• Group instruction consists of on-farm demonstration sessions, field trips, and hands-on experiences.
• Producers enrolled in the program often have management problems that occur and need to be dealt with right away. Instructors are available to consult via email, video conferencing, and/or phone calls.

The Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program has been very effective in improving the management level of many sheep operations. When the program started in 1972 there were about 52,000 breeding ewes within a 100-mile radius of Pipestone and the average lambing percentage was around 110%. Today, the same area has around 78,000 breeding ewes with an average lambing percentage marketed of approximately 170%.

This success has built a national reputation for the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program through sheep management knowledge, education, production, and marketing. Because of this reputation and national demand for practical sheep management education, the program branched out to educate producers nationwide through online courses and short courses.

Today, the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program continues to be considered the national sheep management information center and sheep management innovator as is evidenced by enrollment in its educational programs of about 250 producers/students annually from across the nation.

Education and consultation within the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program largely revolve around low-cost feed ingredients, efficient labor use, low input costs, high production levels, and intensive management. The management system is based on achieving optimum production of a quality product. Our belief is that maximum profit is more important than maximum production.

Instructors in the program work with sheep producers in the Pipestone area and around the world through the member producer program, short courses/tours, newsletters and distance-delivered courses.