Jay Wilson Appointed
Sheep Center Director

WASHINGTON — Jay B. Wilson, executive vice president of the California Wool Growers Association, has been named executive director of the new National Sheep Industry Improvement Center. The center, soon to open its national office in Lakewood, Colo., was recently established to assist the domestic sheep and goat industries in developing new infrastructure.

Wilson was raised on a sheep ranch in Utah and has worked in many phases of the industry, including sheep production and legislative work. In his California post since 1987, Wilson has coordinated industry issues for the 47-member board of directors, researched and organized legislative information for 17 standing committees, edited an industry newsletter, served on 14 industry-related boards and committees, coordinated the association’s annual meeting and directed the California Ram Sale. He also analyzed the impact of proposed legislation and regulation on the association’s membership and coordinated meetings in Washington, D.C., between clients and congressional and regulatory leaders.

The nonprofit sheep center was created by Congress in the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to promote strategic development activities to maximize federal assistance to strengthen and enhance production and marketing of sheep and goats and their products in the United States.

The center will also assist the industry with infrastructure and business development, production resource development, and market and environmental research. A revolving fund will be used to finance the center’s intermediate and long-term loan and grant programs.

The sheep center is being established by USDA’s Rural Development mission area, but will be directed by a board comprised largely of industry representatives.