Lamb & Wool Management

Each producer will receive farm visits based on their selected program option. Each visit is about two hours long and covers questions and concerns about their sheep operation and assists them in applying innovative technology and management methods.

Long Distance and Sheep Consulting options will receive scheduled/requested virtual farm visits via phone or video calling platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams). Visits are about 1-2 hours long and cover questions and concerns about their sheep operation.

Each program member is invited to a small group meeting at a central location. The farm focus meeting is designed to enhance sharing of ideas in a small group setting by touring the host farm and discussing current management principles, questions, and concerns. The meetings are approximately 2 ½ hours in length.

Meetings on various management topics are presented throughout the year. Meetings are delivered in-person or webinar via Zoom. In-person meeting locations include Pipestone, MN; Spencer, IA; and Hawarden, IA. Guest speakers will also be invited to speak on pertinent subjects in their area of expertise via Zoom.

Instructors are available by phone and email during office hours to answer specific management questions.

Each member will receive regular email updates often including lamb carcass prices and common commodity prices along with any additional timely and pertinent information.

Members receive quarterly newsletters which cover upcoming events, current industry news, and timely management information.

This course includes 14 lessons which cover all aspects of modern sheep production. After completion of the course, lessons make good reference material.

Members are encouraged to submit financial and production records to be analyzed and are valuable in determining profitable management strategies.

Periodic sessions are held on member farms to demonstrate new management technologies.

 The short course is designed to cover specific lambing time management topics and tour successful lambing operations in either a virtual or in-person format. Full program, long distance, and sheep consulting members attend at a reduced fee (meal and bus cost only). Small and Intermediate flock members pay full rate for the short course.  

 All program options pay full rate for Sheep Facility Tour. This tour is only offered in June of even numbered years.

The Pipestone Sheep Management Wheel was developed to make ewe flock management decisions simple and easy. The wheel is basically a management calendar. It works by setting the date you lamb and all the management tasks that you need to do for the ewe and her lambs for the entire year are indicated on the wheel.

The wheel contains lots of management information based on the way we raise sheep in the Pipestone area. The wheel is made of high quality, washable plastic that will last a very long time. It also makes a great gift. The cost of the wheel is $12.

To order a Pipestone Sheep Management Wheel
Send $12 (make checks payable to Minnesota West) to:
Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program
1314 North Hiawatha
P. O. Box 250
Pipestone, Minnesota 56164