By Andi Anderson
Indiana sheep producers and fiber enthusiasts will gather at Purdue University’s Creighton Hall of Animal Sciences on Friday, Sept. 20, for the annual Hoosier Sheep Symposium, jointly sponsored by the Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development program and the Indiana Sheep Association (ISA).
The day begins with registration at 9 a.m. ET, followed by a welcome from ISA President Ricky Burns at 9:30.
A light breakfast and lunch are included in the $30 registration fee, providing attendees with networking opportunities alongside educational sessions.
This year’s program features a diverse lineup of presentations:
- “Integrated Crop Livestock Systems: The Peanut Butter and Jelly of Agriculture” by Moriah Bilenky, Purdue assistant professor of sustainable horticulture.
- “Purdue’s New Small Ruminant Specialist” by Paul Ebner, professor and head of Purdue’s Department of Animal Sciences, and Cora Reinbolt, Purdue Extension educator and new small ruminant specialist.
- “The American Wool Council’s Wool Action Plan and Wool Processing in the United States” by Heather Pearce, wool production program manager for the American Sheep Industry Association.
- “Trash or Treasure: Natural Tanning of Sheepskins and Leather” by Javan Miner, owner of a natural leather-tanning business.
Sessions will cover everything from sustainable crop–livestock integration to the latest in U.S. wool processing and innovative sheepskin tanning techniques.
The symposium will be held at 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, with lunch served in the Animal Sciences Conference Room and lobby.
Participants can register electronically through the Indiana Sheep Association website, where both online and printable forms are available.
With practical insights for sheep producers, educators, and fiber artists, the Hoosier Sheep Symposium continues to be a key annual event supporting Indiana’s growing sheep and wool industry.
Photo Credit: istock-globalp
Categories: Indiana, Livestock, Sustainable Agriculture