Dan purchased 37 sheep in 1994 with the express intent of beginning to milk in 2-3 years. At the time he purchased his flock, there were two very active cheesemakers making sheep milk cheeses in the Midwest and the market for sheep milk was very strong. By 1996, Dan was ready to begin milking but the market for sheep milk had totally collapsed. In Feb of 1996, Dan attended a meeting held in Eau Claire to explore the possibility of establishing a cooperative to market sheep milk. Dan joined the Steering Committee charged with developing the bylaws and establishing the coop as a legal entity. In the Fall of 1996, Dan was elected to the Board of Directors for the newly formed cooperative. He has served as the president of the cooperative since 1998.
Dan Guertin
Shepherd's Pride Farm
6380 Lake Elmo Ave
Stillwater, MN 55082-8331
phone: 651-430-3732
fax: 651-430-99285
email: shepride@mn.mediaone.net
Don is a graduate of Ohio State University. He has been General Manager of Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative Association, Canal Winchester, OH for the past 12 years.
Don Van Nostran
Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative Association
9449 Basil-Western Rd. NW
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
phone: 614-837-9665
fax: 614-834-2008
Cody is from a purebred Shropshire sheep operation in Oconomowoc, WI. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 with a B.S. degree in Animal Sciences. During his college career, he completed an internship working at Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association at Baraboo, WI. After graduation, he was hired by Equity as a livestock marketer. Cody is located at the Equity facility in Richland Center, and works with the Electronic Lamb Auction at both Richland Center and Johnson Creek. Cody also has served as the sheep representative from the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative on the Board of the Wisconsin Livestock Breeders Association.
Cody Hiemke
Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association
Richland Center Auction Market
26702 County Hwy. O
Richland Center, WI 53581
Phone: 608-647-6151
Fax: 608-647-8076
Email: richlandcenter@equitycoop.com