Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting is Saturday, April 1, 2023


2023 Board Nominations

Terry Jobsis Hoernke
Hello fellow sheep enthusiasts. My name is Terry Jobsis Hoernke, my husband Wayne and I own a small farm in Poynette WI. Seven years ago, our granddaughter asked if she could sign up for the 4-H sheep project, of course we said Yes! So, as many 4-H projects go one thing (sheep in this case) leads to another and today we have a small flock of Southdown sheep. I earned my BS in Animal Sciences from Colorado State University and my Masters in Animal Sciences/Animal Welfare from the University of Wisconsin Madison. I worked for the Dept. of Animal Sciences at UW-Madison and retired from my position in 2019. During my employment, I managed the department’s campus animal facilities and taught or assisted in several classes. I am most proud of my work in the field of Animal Welfare in which I assisted numerous students with their research projects, developed and taught the first Animal Welfare classes and coached the UW Animal Welfare and Assessment Judging Teams. I also served as the advisor for the Saddle and Sirloin Club for 21 years. I also continue to serve as the Lodi Ag Fair’s Poultry Superintendent and on the Lodi Ag Fair Scholarship Committee. I am delighted and honored that I was asked to run for a position to serve on the Wisconsin Sheep Breeder’s Board. I feel that my background in Animal Science education as well as my experiences overseeing many livestock exhibitions will be useful in serving on the Board. Thank you for considering me as a part of your organization.
Debbie Kitchen
What began as my passion has become our family’s passion. In the last ten years, Wooly Rose Sheep has developed a small and efficient flock of Border Leicester and Commercial Ewes. As the quality of our flock increased, we have shown and merchandised sheep at area, state and national shows. While managing our flock is a family affair, I assume the main responsibility for the day-to-day care of the flock. Like many families who exhibit and show sheep, our family loves being involved in promoting sheep, learning from other exhibitors and evaluating the quality of our flock. We appreciate the camaraderie and friendships that we have developed with sheep breeders from a variety of breeds. As area youth expressed interest in learning about and showing sheep and hogs, Wooly Rose Sheep developed a youth mentorship program. This provides youth an opportunity to gain experience, acquire skills and raise an animal that they exhibit at a county fair. It gives my family immense pleasure to see other youth grow, learn and have remarkable success with their animals. My background includes proven business and organizational experience and success. For the last 32 years, I have owned and operated Creative Touch Floral. As a young adult with very few resources but a lot of determination and ambition, I became a small business owner. I am currently treasurer of the Augusta United Methodist Church, the Beautify Augusta Committee, and serving as treasure of the Circuit Breeding Sheep Edition. I would like to be selected to be on the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Board because I offer an ideal mixture of flock ownership knowledge, operating a small business background and first-hand experience of working with families and youth involved in an organization that they are enthusiastic about. I feel now is my time to give back to an organization that has done so much for our son, Kevin. I also have extensive experience in working with youth. Having been involved in the commercial sheep and breeding sheep I have qualities I can help move the organization in a positive way. Thank you for your consideration.
Carol Wagner
As life tends to carry on in an ordinary fashion, it is best to just jump in. I began my career as a high school German and history teacher. During that time we had a small flock of Coopworth sheep. They enabled my spinning and knitting obsessions to grow. In 1997 we purchased a small Woolen Mill. We established our business as Hidden Valley Farm and Woolen Mill. I retired from teaching. From our small beginning, we have grown our flock as well as the business in the Mill. We custom process fiber from producers across the country into roving or batts. We recondition wool quilt batts and tie comforters. We also have created our own unique line of roving and yarn using our wool. Currently, we have a flock of approximately 225 ewes. The majority are Coopworth and a small flock of Corriedale and CVM’s round out the mix. I am a direct marketer of wool in all forms including raw fleeces, roving, yarn and quilt batts. We also offer sheepskins. I travel to 8-10 fiber festivals across the Midwest annually to sell our products. My husband Paul and I also direct market lamb cuts from our on farm store and at local Farmer’s Markets. I have served as a Wonders of Wool (WOW) committee member since 2004 at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival.The Festival is of great importance to the sheep producing community as well as the general public. It is where the two communities come together and learn from one another.I would be pleased to serve on the Board and will continue to promote sheep and wool. Eat lamb, wear wool and savor Wisconsin sheep cheese!
Randy Cutler
Randy Cutler and his family grow food, raise sheep, and run a fence design and retail business on their property in Central Wisconsin. Randy milked cows, taught High School Agriculture, and worked as a farm consultant prior to engaging in sustainable rotational grazing for all species. He began building fence in the 1990s and then became a certified Pasture Pro representative for Gallagher Fence. Over the last thirty years he’s consulted many farmers. Randy is on his home farm where he started raising sheep along side his grandfather. In 1976, he bought his home farm and became engaged in the sheep industry. During his early years he sheared thousands of sheep throughout Wisconsin. Along with other Shepard’s he started the Mid-WI Sheep Producers, coordinated the Wood County Market Animal Sale, and showed sheep. Randy’s retirement focus is on building a healthy, grassfed, Bluefaced Leicester flock and increasing the sheep industries strength. One of his most famous sayings is, “Wool can save your life.”