There is nothing else like them: producer groups. New Zealand, Australia, England, South America – shepherds in these areas regularly join and attend producer groups, often for many years. Why? Because producer groups work. Sheep producers and other farmers and ranchers meet on a regular basis, share knowledge and experience, gain up-to-date information from guest speakers and other sources, evaluate their own operations, try new techniques, improve productivity, and gain immeasurable knowledge to help their operations expand and be profitable.

How do these groups work and what are the results? This session will focus on the nuts and bolts of producer groups. For the past 20 years, Woody Lane has organized and facilitated three successful producer groups in western Oregon, in more than 500 meetings. This webinar will focus on how groups are organized, what they do, how shepherds benefit from being members, how groups can be financed, and the critical role of the facilitator. In addition, Dave Ollila, Extension Sheep Field Specialist of South Dakota will add his experiences. Dave works with a sheep group in western South Dakota.