Thorne assumes role of sheep, goat program specialist

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Jake Thorne is stepping into a new role as a sheep and goat program specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, San Angelo.

Thorne was previously a sheep and goat associate. As a program specialist, he will continue to work under Reid Redden, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension sheep and goat specialist.

“Jake will continue to develop and deliver quality small ruminant educational information to farmers and ranchers in Texas and beyond, specifically within the areas of his Ph.D. research — tools and technologies to advance quantitative and molecular genetics in the sheep and goat industry,” said Redden, who is also the director of the Texas A&M AgriLife center at San Angelo.

Expanded role

Redden said Thorne has been an outstanding asset and that his new role more accurately reflects what he had been doing for the agency and the skillset he provides. Thorne is also the program coordinator of the AgriLife Fecal Egg Counting Lab.

“I’m excited about the projects we have in place and upcoming projects I’ll get to be more involved with,” said Thorne. “We have five field days scheduled over the summer and fall for producers, industry tours and a young entrepreneur’s industry tour program in the works. I’ll also continue working on our incorporating genetic technology project, as well as working on grants.”

Thorne worked for Texas A&M AgriLife Research over eight years before transitioning to AgriLife Extension in 2018.

He was recently recognized by the American Society of Animal Science for his ongoing research on genomic marker technology for litter size in sheep.

Thorne is in the process of completing his doctorate remotely in animal physiology/genetics from the University of Idaho. He earned his bachelor’s in animal science and master’s in physiology of reproduction from Texas A&M University.

“I think this new role will allow me to expand my industry leadership capabilities and push me to increase my skillset further,” Thorne said. “I’m excited to broaden my center involvement and for this next step in my career.”