[blackbelly] Hair sheep conference opportunity for Virginia and surrounding area

[Carol J. Elkins]

BOUCHER CONFERENCE TO HIGHLIGHT HAIR SHEEP PRODUCTION
Conference Participants Will Learn of Economic Opportunity Hair Sheep 
Production Presents for Entire Region
September 10, 2004


(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that 
he will host a conference for interested Ninth District residents entitled, 
"The Economic Opportunity Available to Southwest Virginia’s Farming 
Families through Hair Sheep Production." The conference will be held 
Monday, September 27, 2004 at the Virginia Higher Education Center in 
Abingdon. Opening remarks by the Congressman will begin at 9:30 AM, and the 
conference will conclude at noon. The conference is open to the public 
without charge.

"An exciting new opportunity exists for our region’s farmers in the 
production of hair sheep. Hair sheep yield a very mild and sweet variety of 
lamb, especially pleasing to consumers, and sales of the lamb from hair 
sheep in Food City stores have been remarkably successful. In order to 
assure that our region’s agricultural community is fully aware of this 
opportunity, I am hosting a Ninth District Agriculture Conference, "The 
Economic Opportunity Available to Southwest Virginia’s Farming Families 
through Hair Sheep Production," Boucher said.

Earlier this year, Congressman Boucher joined with the Scott County Hair 
Sheep Association and Food City officials in launching a partnership for 
lamb production and sales. Starting in February of this year, Food City 
began offering fresh, locally grown lamb at the Food City stores in Weber 
City, Kingsport, Colonial Heights and Church Hill. The retail sales of lamb 
in these locations has been widely successful, and, as a result, Food City 
has committed to purchase 200 lambs per week, or a total of 10,000 lambs 
per year from Southwest Virginia hair sheep producers.

Boucher noted that Food City’s call for hair sheep cannot currently be met 
by the region’s hair sheep producers. "Current local production of hair 
sheep is much below the production level which Food City stores are 
demanding, and the resulting gap offers a great opportunity for farmers to 
enter a market with a guaranteed purchaser for their product. The economic 
benefits from the production of hair sheep are numerous, and the market 
offers new prospects for our region’s farmers who are seeking to expand or 
diversify their current farming operations," he said.

Conference attendees will receive a broad range of presentations regarding 
the promising possibilities involved in the production of hair sheep. 
Following open remarks by Congressman Boucher, Dr. David Redwine, a member 
of the Scott County Hair Sheep Association, will provide information on the 
investment and return prospects associated with hair sheep production. 
Scott Greiner with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service will provide 
practical guidance to conference participants on the raising of hair sheep. 
Steve Smith, President and CEO of Food City, will discuss marketing 
opportunities available for locally grown lamb in the Food City stores of 
Virginia and Tennessee, and Martha Mewborne, President of the Scott County 
Hair Sheep Association, will conclude the conference program with a 
presentation regarding the mechanics of getting the product to market. Each 
presentation will be followed by a question and answer period to provide 
the fullest discussion possible regarding hair sheep production.

"I strongly urge all Southwest Virginia farmers to attend my conference on 
agriculture on September 27th to learn more about the promising 
opportunities which exist in hair sheep production for the agricultural 
economy of our region," Boucher concluded.

To register for the conference, or to receive additional information, 
please contact Congressman Boucher’s Abingdon office at (276) 628-1145 or 
register by email [EMAIL PROTECTED]


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