Important Announcements

Region 4 Directors Report

We regret the accidental omission of portions of the District 4 Directors' report in the 2008 summer Romney Ramblings newsletter. Posted here for you is the complete report.

As this is my last report as director, I firstly want to thank the membership for the opportunity to serve you for the last four years. I hope I have made some positive contributions for the organization, and inspired new breeders along the way.

The Regional Show will be at the Oregon State Fair-Aug.23,2008. It will be a morning show. Ed Julian will be the judge for the white and natural colour Open Division. The junior show and wool show are also key elements. There will be extra premiums and awards as well so plan on participating in this event! OSF is a place to see a lot of good sheep and many old friends!

As we prepare for the future, the Romney breed, because of its easy care, hardiness and good forage conversion, are favorably positioned for the challenges and opportunities we face. With a clear vision of where we want to be as an association, an assessment of where we are now and a set of objective criteria to measure our progress, we can move forward as a breed association to a successful future with the common goal of producing and promoting Romneys.

Maria Rooney, District 4

FROM YOUR NEW PRESIDENT...

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for electing me President of ARBA. I must thank our outgoing president, Sue Kalina-Barker for her dedication and stamina. Under her guidance, the board compiled a long list of accomplishments, including the improved financial footing of our organization, updated promotional materials and breed standards, the development of additional materials and activities for juniors members, as well as the improvement of the ARBA website. Thanks to President Sue, I am taking over a house in order, and for that I am extremely grateful. As President, I plan to further develop and expand on many of the initiatives begun in the past four years as well as continue ARBA’s overall fiscal soundness.

Thankfully, I won’t be attempting to do any of this on my own. I have a very capable board to work with and I plan to tap into the many and varied talents of each of them. However, this does not imply that all you members are off the hook; don’t be surprised if you get an email or phone call requesting your opinion or help in your area of expertise. And conversely, don’t be afraid to offer us your assistance or opinion where you see a need.

This leads nicely into how I think ARBA can be improved during my tenure. I see a need for still more youth participation in the form of higher numbers of junior members and more emphasis on ARBA youth at shows, all with the goal of raising the profile of Romneys as the ideal youth and 4H animal. Junior members constitute a significant part of the future of ARBA. As such, they need to be cultivated and motivated to play their role in the promotion of the breed.

I also see room for improvement in communication between the board and the membership. With the ARBA website and Romney Ramblings, our newsletter, we have at our disposal two very effective conduits for information. I would like to see more information aimed at educating our members in the areas of genetics, veterinary research, nutrition, marketing and more. In drawing more members to these sources, it is my hope that membership will in turn be more likely to communicate with me and the board.

We have promoted Romneys for years as a true dual purpose breed. I am convinced that our breed is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the current trends towards locally grown goods. The time is optimal for promoting our breed as a source of high quality wool on a high quality carcass, with the added benefits of great mothering, parasite and foot-rot resistance, and ease of handling. With proper management and local marketing, there is no reason why each of our ewes cannot generate $40-$80 (or more) per year in fleece sales to handspinners, as well as a couple of excellent market lambs raised primarily on grass selling for around $1 per pound live weight. If you are having trouble believing it, watch the ARBA website and newsletter for articles about Romney breeders who are doing this very thing right now. I think the time is right for Romney breeders of all stripes to share in this goal. Don’t get me wrong; shows are essential for presenting the breed to potential new breeders. I personally attend (and enjoy) several shows per year involving a 10-hour or greater drive. However, in these times of ever higher gas and grain prices and increased government meddling in the movement of livestock, I believe the local promotion of the dual purpose advantages of our breed will be the key to its future success. I hope I can count on many of you in the pursuit of this goal. I, for one, do not want to see Romneys go the way of some other breeds that will go unnamed, bred almost exclusively for pleasing a showring judge. I suspect I am not alone in this feeling.

I am convinced that all of you have something valuable to contribute to the organization, and I am eager to hear it. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you.

--Cindy

ARBA Honors Jack and Bessie Kalina

ARBA honored Jack and Bessie Kalina at the 2007 ARBA annual banquet at NAILE. Ed Julian narrated some of the history about Jack and Bessie, who have dedicated many years to the association plus promoting the Romney breed across the United States.

Jack’s involvement with ARBA dates back to 1972 and over the years he served on the board as President and Director for 20+ years. He was active in promoting Romney youth; ARBA becoming incorporated as a non-profit in Oregon; and establishing the six ARBA districts that we use today. During this time Bessie worked along with Jack serving as chair person for the Hospitality Committee at the 1981 Pacific International; the 1998 National Show and Sale committee plus countless other Romney/ARBA related activities.

The Kalina family, now consisting of three generations, continues today promoting ARBA. Ed called Jack and Bessie up to the front of the banquet room to receive their gift of appreciation……a beautiful wood carving of Jack, Bessie, a Romney and their dog done by Glenn McCune.

PLANNING ON DOING AI?

Before you begin, obtain the ARBA registration number on the ram you select! Also be sure to send in to the ARBA office the transfer to you of the breeding units. For further information and assistance read the information on the AI page and contact your ARBA secretary 541-476-6428 or secretary@americanromney.org