KSWPA Annual Business Meeting Agenda
The 2024 KSWPA Annual Business Meeting was held at the Fleming County Extension Office on October 19, 2024. Below is the business from the meeting.
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KY Annual Producer Conference > KSWPA Annual Meeting
Secretary's report - Report presented by Cheryl Kersey was accepted.
Treasurer's report - Report presented by Dorothy Vale was accepted.
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Kentucky Natural Fiber Center, Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival & Kentucky Fiber Trail prepared by Sarabeth Parido, KSGDO Fiber Director
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Jim Mansfield, ASI Representative- ASI Report / Lamb Committee Report.
Dr. Debra Aaron- PERQ Committee Report.
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Funding Reports from 2024. Each year KSWPA receives funds from the American Sheep Industry Association to provide programming in areas of wool and mentor support. These following reports were reviewed.
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Wool Outreach ($2144) (this is information only and does not require a vote)
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Mentor ($1000) (this is information only and does not require a vote)
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ASI Regional Director Report- Lisa Weeks, Region 2 ASI Representative
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The 2025 Officer Slate was elected:
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President- Harry Frederick
My name is Harry Frederick and my wife and I, in partnership with her parents, operate a commercial sheep operation consisting of 700+ ewes (growing to 1000+) in Monroe County, Kentucky. I understand the challenges that face producers both large and small and love to share our success and failures with other producers. I have some familiarity with wool sheep as I owned and operated a small Dorset farm in mid- Michigan and direct marketed the lambs to a farm to table restaurant in the area. Also, my daughters have shown Hampshire lambs in the past. Along with my farm experience, which includes large cattle operations out west in New Mexico and Wyoming, I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and also hold a Master’s of Science in business leadership. I have served on the KSWPA board for over 4 years as both a board member and Vice President and look forward to continuing my service. I am excited for the future of the sheep industry not only in Kentucky, but throughout the United States as well.
Vice President- Zack Schwartz
Zack Schwartz resides in Fleming Co. with his wife Margaret and children Bryce and Nora Mae and expecting their third child in October. Zack is a 6th generation shepherd and has grown up raising and showing market lambs. Today Zack and his family own and operate Schwartz Show Stock as well as Schwartz Meat Company, where they raise and finish lambs and sell retail cuts of lamb and pork locally at farmers markets, restaurants and offers online ordering and shipping throughout the country. Zack’s goals include helping the KY Sheep and Wool Producers Association expand its membership and provide more resources and opportunities to our members.
Secretary- Cheryl Kersey
Cheryl (Sheri) Creech Kersey interest in applying to become a board member comes from a background in the Agriculture and Design Industry. Sheri grew up on a Dairy farm in Henry County, is a graduate from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Architecture and the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design where she developed an interest in Natural Fibers and Textiles. Sheri is a registered Architect and Certified Interior Designer and has served as President of KERSEY AND KERSEY ARCHITECTS, since its formation in 1992.
In addition to the Architecture firm, Sheri is Co-Owner of Creekstone Farm, and in 2021 started a new business, CLICK FIBERS which offers:
-Services: Sorting/Grading/Classing of Fibers and workshops on Fiber Grading
-Livestock: Registered Shetlands
-Products: Wool-based products (in development)
Sheri has participated in several programs sponsored by the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office and Kentucky Natural Fiber Center. A few of those include:
-Completed the Small Ruminant Profit School Course
-Natural Fiber Center, attended several workshops as well as taught a class on Fiber grading
-Participated in activities, webinars, workshops, festivals, etc through the two organizations.
She is currently in an Apprenticeship to become a Certified Fiber Sorter/Grader/Classer through State University of New York (SUNY)- Cobleskill Campus, a member of the Kentucky Sheep & Wool Producers Association and the Indiana Sheep Association.
Sheri’s interest in the Kentucky Sheep & Wool Producers Association is to help in the continued growth of the Sheep & Wool Industry in Kentucky. She brings to the Board years of Business experience, Board experience, Community Service and the perspective of starting a Sheep & Wool business from scratch. She is married to Steven and has one son Kyle who is currently in Graduate School.
Treasurer (appointee)- Dorothy Vale
Dorothy Vale moved to Kentucky from California in 1981. Her first lamb was born in 1982 as a 4-H market lamb for her daughter. Both daughters and both grandkids were involved with our sheep - from feeding to lambing and farm. Her grandson won KY state fair market lamb in 2009 and 2012 granddaughter won KY state fair market lamb in 2017. While at KY state fair, she promoted sheep production, lamb consumption, and KSWPA membership. In 1985 Dorothy accepted the state director for Kentucky Make It With Wool which she did for 25 years as part of the National Make It With Wool. She has been a committee member of Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival since it started. She enjoys promoting with displays of sheep when ever asked.
Katie Jones was elected to the KSWPA Board for 2025-2028:
Katie Jones
My husband, Clay, and I have been raising hair sheep for 3 years now, mostly raising Katahdin’s and a few dorpers mixed in. I really enjoy raising sheep because they are something I am able to handle and work by myself if needed. I was raised on a large beef cattle farm with over 500 head which isn’t something I could easily do or work myself. So I wanted to get into something smaller like sheep, with our first lambs and most of our flock coming from Winding Creek, I have learned so much from Harry & Katie about sheep, LGD’s and more! I enjoy raising these for meat and selling, but my favorite time is lambing season watching all the babies run around. It is truly something I enjoy and look forward to learning much more! I would love to serve to learn more about the sheep producers state wide, have a voice for these producers, and also meeting and learning from other producers.