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Idaho Wool Growers present industry education, promotion and export efforts to committee
Summary
Liz Wilder, executive director of the Idaho Wool Growers Association, reported to the House Agricultural Affairs Committee on Idaho's sheep inventory, education and promotion programs, a small state-level wool checkoff, and plans to revive public outreach events and export materials.
Liz Wilder, executive director of the Idaho Wool Growers Association, told the House Agricultural Affairs Committee that Idaho's sheep industry is showing inventory gains and that the association is pursuing education, promotion and limited checkoff-supported programs to grow demand for lamb and wool.
"A total of 235,000 sheep call Idaho home and we have just under 1,500 shepherds," Wilder said, giving an industry snapshot and noting Idaho ranks fourth in market lamb production and fifth in wool production nationally. She said the association was founded in 1893 and represents producers of all sizes.
Wilder said the association's work falls into three buckets: education, advocacy and promotion. She described educational activities such as range tours and an annual shearing school in Moscow run in partnership with the University of Idaho. On promotion, Wilder said the group runs a "sheep shop" that ships wool products nationwide and supports county fair sashes for grand and reserve champion market lambs.
On funding, Wilder said a wool assessment collects 10 cents per pound of wool sold in Idaho, with two cents returned to the Idaho Wool Growers Association to support promotional programs such as a youth "Make It With Wool" sewing contest. She said the association also helped prepare export materials for a trade show in Taiwan and is cooperating with the State Department of Agriculture and packers on potential export work.
Wilder described consumer-facing events the association supports, including the Trailing of the Sheep Festival in the Wood River Valley, which she said draws visitors from across the U.S. and internationally and helps connect producers with consumers. She told the committee that the association is reviving its "Sheep in the Foothills" outreach event and will co-host the National Lamb Summit in Moscow with national partners.
Committee members asked light-hearted and substantive questions about festival activities and outreach; Wilder said the association is exploring additional engagement ideas and training for shearers and graders to support the industry. No formal committee action or funding requests were recorded in the transcript.
