San Angelo specialist serves as global sheep industry ambassador

Writer: Susan Himes, 325-657-7315, [email protected]
Contact: Reid Redden, 325-653-4576,  [email protected]

SAN ANGELO  — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service sheep and goat specialist Dr. Reid Redden is part of a global delegation of young leaders currently touring New Zealand as part of the Sheep Industry Ambassador Program.

The tour establishes a forum of young leaders from the world’s foremost sheep producing countries, whose goal is to work collaboratively in the future to address the changing needs of the industry and to share ideas on best practices and industry-related issues.

“I’m extremely honored to be able to represent the U.S. abroad,” Redden said. “To be invited to share knowledge with other industry leaders and work together on shaping the future of the sheep industry is an incredibly exciting prospect.”

Redden was one of three Americans selected to participate, along with Dr. Whit Stewart and Laurie Johnson. Stewart is a professor at the University of Wyoming and completed his doctorate through New Mexico State University while working at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo. Johnson is an instructor for the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program at Minnesota West Community and Technical College.

“The U.S. ambassadors were selected and sponsored by the American Lamb Board,” said Redden. “This program is held in collaboration with Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Meat & Livestock Australia.  This is an ongoing program and the location rotates annually among the three nations.”

The ambassadors are touring New Zealand’s premier sheep entities on both the North and South Islands alongside other ambassadors from the host nation and Australia. The tour showcases the industry supply chain and allows the ambassadors to highlight the importance of the growing demand for lamb among the three countries.