National Sheep Industry Improvement Center

DIRECTORS/STAFF

An eight member Board of Directors provides administrative, policy and programs direction for the American Sheep and Goat Center. Voting members represent a diversity of grassroots interests in the production, marketing and financial management of sheep, goats and their products.

An Executive Administrator carries out the Center's day-to-day activities. Technical and administrative support is authorized to be contracted periodically by the Board as needs arise. The Board may also establish the need to authorize contracts with state and federal agencies.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul P. Lewis Chair Oregon Paul is actively involved in the production of hair sheep in Bonanza, OR. He and his wife have been active partners in the family ranching and farming operation for 35 years. He has a BS in Mathematics from Cal. Poly State Univ., San Luis Obispo and extensive financial training as part of a career with State Farm that spans nearly 40 years. He has served as the President of the California Wool Growers Association, President of the local sheep association and past president of the California Farm Bureau Sheep Committee and the California Suffolk Sheep Breeders Assn.
Clark Willis Vice Chair Utah Clark Willis has not only been involved in the sheep and cattle industry, but also has a background as a rural appraiser, ranch consultant, rural realtor and livestock nutrition specialist.. He has been involved with the sheep, cattle and farming industry his entire life where he has been the owner/manager of the family sheep and cattle operation since he purchased it from his father in 1983. His operation currently includes range ewes, feeder lambs and irrigated ground that produces alfalfa, barley, soft white wheat, oats and raspberries. He has a BS in Agricultural Economics and a Masters in Agricultural Industries from Utah State University. Clark has a Farm & Ranch Appraisal License, Real Estate License, and Mortgage Lender License. He has served in many industry positions including the Utah Agricultural Advisory Board, Utah State Legislature’s Agricultural Sustainability Task Force, President of the Utah Wool Growers Association and Board/Council member of the American Sheep Industry Association. Mr. Willis is currently on a number of volunteer committees and is the Executive Director of the Utah Wool Growers Association.
Greg Ahart *Secretary-Treasurer* California Greg grew up on his family’s ranch in Lincoln, CA where he was actively involved showing sheep, being a student herdsman at UC Davis and gaining a BS in Agricultural Economics. He joined Superior Farms right after graduation in June 1995. Greg is presently General Manager of Superior Farms Dixon Facility. He gained that position after working his way through the ranks from Quality Control Technician, Fabrication Supervisor, Case Ready Operations Manager, Plan Manager and now General Manager. Among his many outside activities including various judging assignments, Greg is on the Board of Directors of the CA Wool Grower Association where he serves as Treasurer and is an ASI Committee Member of the Lamb Council.
Linda Campbell Voting Director Virginia Linda has served as chair of the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center. She runs a large dairy goat operation in Luray, Virginia along with an internet provider/web hosting company. Linda provides guidance and help to many operation throughout the United States as well as Internationally. She has been a long time member of the 6000+ membership American Dairy Goat Association, serving as Chair many times. She has held numerous conservation and policy positions within the state of Virginia and serves as a member of the National Animal ID Committee. Linda brings a unique perspective to the ASGC.
Guy R. Flora Voting Director Ohio Guy Flora is an editor of the Shepherd Magazine, educator and sheep operation owner-operator in the rich farmland north of Columbus, Ohio. As immediate past president of ASI, he has vast experience and knowledge of the U.S. Sheep industry. Mr. Flora has overseen numerous national initiatives for lamb, wool, sheep health and research.
Chase T. Hibbard Voting Director Montana Chase is an active sheep and cattle rancher and offers ranch management, appraisals and consulting services in Montana. He has a BA in Political Science from Amherst and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. Mr. Hibbard has 30 years of financial experience beginning as a lending officer for Crocker Bank and extending to currently being a director of Wells Fargo Bank in Helena. He was a member of the Montana House of Representatives for 4 terms and has served as the president and past president of numerous local, state and national organizations. He has served on the governing boards of numerous other public and industry related organizations.
Dr. Larry Miller Voting Director Maryland Larry Miller has been a part of animal agriculture since his youth in Illinois. He attended undergraduate and graduate school in the Midwest with emphasis on animal sciences, biology and agricultural economics, and provided leadership for the coordination and administration of research and education in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC for nearly 38 years. Larry received an M.S. degree from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. from Purdue University and has visited every 1862 Land Grant University. He has been closely allied with the sheep and goat industries over the past two decades. Dr. Miller represented the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research and Economics on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors from 1997-2006; administered several USDA research and education grants supporting the sheep, goat and animal fiber industries since 1988; and continues an active relationship with the American Sheep Industry Association and the American Dairy Goat Association. Upon his retirement from USDA in 2007, Dr. Miller was selected to serve as the Director of the DISCOVER Conference Series, a unique forum for the exchange of ideas and issues important to animal agriculture, sponsored by the American Dairy Science Association. Larry has an extensive network of contacts including administrators, scientists, commodity groups, federal agencies, and other stakeholders valuable to the American Sheep and Goat Center.
Dr. Tim Turner Voting Director Texas Tim Turner has owned and operated Southwestern Livestock Mineral Company since 1980 which blends custom free-choice minerals and premixes for livestock. He is also owner and operator of the T Star Ranch since 1993 which is rangeland grazing for sheep, cattle, white-tailed deer and goats. This ranch has been in the Turner family since 1878. Tim also has served many organizations, both farm related and not. He is currently a member of the American Sheep Industry's Association's Animal Health Committee, but has served on the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association, Texas and Southwestern cattle Raisers' Association, Texas Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He has also been Director of the Southwest Bank, PT A President, and member of the National Live Stock and Meat Board, the local school board and the U.S. Foreign Animal Disease Committee.
STAFF Steven Lee Executive Administrator Steven is the Executive Administrator for the American Sheep and Goat Center. He currently works from his home in Thomaston, Maine. Steven grew up on a small cotton farm in Mississippi where he participated in most aspects of farming development. After a career as a college professor, Steven came to work for the federal government through the Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Guaranty Program in Denver, Colorado. While there he gained an extensive background in financial planning, lending requirements, loan servicing and real estate development as well as considerable experience in computer programs associated with the Federal Government. Steven is our IT expert as well as our Chief Financial Officer/Administrator handling day to day Grant and Financial Operations as well as managing the Office Operations.	ASGC P.O. Box 646 Rockland, ME 04841-0646 Phone: 202-350-9065 Fax: 207-354-4024 e-mail: stevelee@asgcusa.org