By SUSAN MYKRANTZ
Ohio Correspondent

SMITHVILLE, Ohio — Some might think that a producer and a food service instructor have little in common when it comes to the sheep industry, but in reality, the recipients of the Ohio Heartland Sheep Improvement Assoc.’s Meritorious Service Award and Friend of Sheep Award have put in countless hours to promote the industry and the use of lamb to consumers.

Duane and Donna Scheibe of Jeromesville were named as the recipients of the Meritorious Service Award for their work with the organization and the sheep industry during the Ohio Heartland Sheep Improvement Assoc.’s annual banquet.

Duane had grown up with dairy cattle and Berkshire hogs and got his start in the sheep industry when his father-in-law bought him six ewes in 1976. By 1978, he had started showing sheep at the Ohio State Fair. Now he shows their registered Targhee flock at all levels. Scheibes have consigned sheep to sales at both the state and national levels and have sold sheep in many states.

In presenting the award, Doug Kirkpatrick noted that the Scheibes have made many friends in the industry and have served as mentors for many younger breeders.

“They are quiet and gentle, and have been like a second set of parents for me,” he said. “There is never a dull moment when Duane is around. I have learned a lot from them.”

Andrew Arko, food service instructor at the Wayne County Schools Career Center was recognized for his help with the lamb promotion at the Wayne County Fair.

During the promotion, Arko and his students took and demonstrated the various cuts of meat available from a lamb carcass and created recipes to prepare the meat to enhance the flavors and tenderness of lamb. He has also taught his students to prepare the lamb used for the associations annual banquet, which is held at the career center.

During the meeting, Kathy Bielek was elected as president, Don Reichert was elected as vice president and Suzie Gortner was elected as secretary/treasurer. The Ohio Heartland Sheep Improvement Assoc. sponsors numerous activities throughout the year in addition to the annual banquet. They sponsor a lambing school, pasture walks, grazing tours, a cooking demonstration at the Wayne County Fair, hosted Ohio Sheep Day, and are planning a tour this year.