Several Ohioans recognized at ASI Convention

By Matt Reese

Don Van Nostran, from Athens County, was recognized with a Wool Achievement Award at the American Sheep Industry Association Convention held in late January in Scottsdale, Ariz. In 1989, Van Nostran became the general manager of the Mid-States Wool Growers cooperativeand served in the position for almost 20 years.

Ohio’s Don Van Nostran (right), Athens County, received a Wool Achievement Award from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) during the 2012 ASI/National Lamb Feeders Association (NLFA) Convention. He is pictured with fellow award winner Bob Woodbury of Colorado.

Van Nostran has also been the long time voice of the sheep shows at the Ohio State Fair, but in recent years he has been gaining a reputation as a top-notch producer of fresh, local, farm-labeled lamb that is sold on the shelves of the Kroger store in Athens. While at Mid-States, rather than give up the farm and move the family, Van Nostran chose to make the daily drive from Athens County to the cooperative’s Columbus-area warehouse — a 1.5-hour trip each way.

Other Ohio highlights from the ASI convention include the ASI Environmental Steward Award presented to Rick and Marcie Moore of Cottage Hill Farm in Harrison County, recognitions from the

Rick and Marcie Moore of Cottage Hill Farm, Harrison County, were the national recipients of the ASI Environmental Steward Award. The Moore family’s sheep operation also includes Rick’s parents, Stanley and Jo Ann, and Rick and Marcie’s son and daughterin- law, Steve and Angie.

National Lamb Feeder Association for the industry leadership of Henry Zerby (OSU) and Roger High (Ohio Sheep Improvement Association), and two fourth place finishes from Ohio contestants in the Make It With Wool Contest.

“We were very pleased with the number of people who came out to the convention from Ohio,” High said. “We did very well at the convention. Ohio is blessed with a lot of representatives on a lot of committees and councils at the national level to give Ohio some real input in what is going on in the sheep industry.”

Two Ohioans received leadership awards from the National Lamb Feeders Association (NLFA). They are Henry Zerby (left), Ohio State University meat scientist, and Roger High (right), Ohio Sheep Improvement Association executive director and OSU Extension sheep specialist. They are pictured with Burdell Johnson (center), past ASI president from North Dakota.