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Susan Shultz of Logan County has been elected to lead the American Sheep Industry Association as its next president. She was unanimously elected during the final day of the sheep industry’s 156th Annual Convention Jan. 29.

The Shultz family operates Bunker Hill Farm in DeGraff, where they are seed stock producers and raise black faced terminal sires for the commercial sheep industry. They use many advances in both quantitative and molecular genetics to guide their breeding program, Shultz said.

Susan’s industry leadership began with joining the OSIA board of trustees in 2004, assuming the presidency in 2009. She also started her national leadership efforts around that time.

“Serving as volunteer leaders in the sheep industry is an integral part of our heritage,” she said. “Both my husband, Bill, and I have been actively involved in our local, state and national sheep organizations. Bill’s father, Farrell, was the first president of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association in 1949, Bill served as president in 1979, and I followed the family tradition in 2009. We enjoy giving back to the industry that has been so good to our family.”

As she begins her ninth year as part of the ASI executive board, she said
she has had the honor to work with positive volunteer leaders from across the United States who recognize the challenges faced by all animal protein producers.

Shultz said, “My goal is to bring together our vision of providing a
premier protein and a premier fiber to our consumers while being environmentally regenerative and economically sustainable. I believe the future is bright for the American Sheep Industry.”

Ohio Sheep Improvement Association Executive Director Roger High said he and Shultz have formed a very strong working relationship, as well as a friendship, with their involvement in leadership roles for the sheep industry.

“Ohio should be very proud to now have had two ASI presidents in the last several years, as Guy Flora of Morrow County also served as president from 2003-04.  There are not very many states that can say that they have had two ASI presidents in the ASI modern era.”

Photo: Susan Shultz of DeGraff has been named president of the American Sheep Industry Association. She’s pictured with her husband, Bill, at their Bunker Hill Farm. Photo credit: Ohio’s County Journal