ASRA Executive Secretary / Treasurer Job Posting available here {PDF}. Interested candidates should submit their resume, application, and a cover letter detailing their experience and suitability for the position by January 20, 2025.

October Shropshire Voice
The October issue of the Shropshire Voice will be mailed in late November 2024. The digital is available now at this link.

Centerstage
Two months still available for the Centerstage ad on shropshires.org
Following the auction for the Centerstage Ads last spring, two months were not sold. If you  would like to have the June or July 2025 month, please contact Becky  Peterson or Rinda Maddox.

Deaths in the Industry

  Robert Glenn “Bob” Johnson of Marshfield, Mo., was born Nov. 3, 1944, in Oak Ridge, Tenn. to William and Helen Morris Johnson. He departed this life on June 16, 2024, at the age of 79.  Bob worked as a field agent for the USDA for 35 years before working as an agricultural loan analyst for Southern Missouri Bank until fully retiring in 2016. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict stationed in Vilseck, West Germany. Bob was a member of the Marshfield United Methodist Church where he served as an Elder, served the Marshfield School and Webster County boards and was an Assistant Sheep Superintendent at the Missouri State Fair. He also was a member of the American Shropshire Sheep Association where he served as President and on the Board of Directors during a pivotal time in that organization.
    Bob loved raising livestock passing this love to his children and grandchildren. He raised Hereford cattle as a youth in Texas County and Shropshire and Suffolk sheep in Webster County with his family.  He and Karen provided many great memories showing sheep across the Midwest at county, state, regional and national sheep shows and for that Kari, Russ, Gina, and Mary Anne and their children will be forever grateful.
    Bob’s greatest role in life was being Karen’s primary caretaker for 13 years.  He embodied the promise he made to Karen, “to have and to hold… for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forward.”  Bob and Karen were a formidable team, quite possibly the greatest teammates to have ever lived.
    He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Karen.
   Bob is survived by four children, Kari Johnson and Rob Hill, Marshfield, Mo., Russ Johnson and Molly, Wooster, Ohio, Regina Wilson and Kalen, Bentonville, Ark. and Mary Anne Keck and Jason, Niangua; eight grandchildren Colby Chastain, Morgan Johnson, Mason Johnson, Mallory Johnson, Margo Johnson, Milo Johnson, Kirsten Keck and Hunter Keck; one brother, Bill Johnson and JoAnn, Houston; brother-in- law, Ted and Eva Marie Morse, Marshfield; sisters-in-laws, Elsie McColgin, Raymondville, and Jolene  Carson and Gregg, Rolla as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends that became family.
    Inurnment with military honors was held July 18, 2024, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield. Memorial contributions may be made to TLC Programs or the Ark at UMC in care of Fraker Funeral Home.  

    John S. Albin, 95, of Newman, Ill. died April 20, 2024 at home surrounded by his loving family.
    John was born on Oct. 28, 1928, in Newman, to Leonard B. and Grace H. (Harrington) Albin. He married Marjorie A. Albin on Sept. 10, 1949, and spent 71 wonderful years together until her passing in 2021. He was also preceded in death by his parents and one son, Marty Albin.
    John is survived by two children, Perry (Cathy) Albin and David Albin; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, with one on the way; and a very close family friend, Will Coolley.
    John graduated from Newman High School in 1946. He was the captain of the football team his senior year and had an undefeated season. After high school, he continued his education by attending Millikin University for two years and played for the Millikin football team. He transferred to the University of Illinois, where he was a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity and graduated Bronze Table and received a B.S. degree in agriculture.
    John was a farmer for over 50 years and was involved in agriculture all his life. John was honored as The News-Gazette’s Farm Leader of the Year and received the Prairie Farmer Master Farmer award. He was the national president of the American Shropshire Sheep Association, president of the Illinois FBFM board for many years and was elected to the Newman CUSD 303 school board for several years, where he served as president for part of his tenure. He also dedicated 30 years to Parkland College’s board as board chairman. 
John and Marjorie founded Longview Capital Corporation in 1978, a multi-bank holding company focused on agriculture in rural areas. Beginning as one of the smallest banks in Illinois, it has grown to a financial institution with 17 locations through purchasing and branching. John and Marjorie were awarded the Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.
    John attended Wesley Chapel Church all his life. He was also a member of the UI Foundation and was a loyal fan of the Illinois football team. John and Marjorie traveled to Mexico for many years.
Memorial donations may be made to Wesley Chapel Church or the Albin Cemetery.

Past Deaths in the Industry here

Dwarf Gene Policy News
In 2023, after 2 years of discussion, the ASRA Board instituted a project to assess the presence of the Dwarf gene with in the Shropshire breed. The Dwarf Gene is a simple autosomal recessive defect that is characterized by the affected offspring being proportionally reduced in frame size and weight to approximately 80-85% of normal size.  These individuals are often characterized by “increased muscle shape” in the show ring.  It is unclear at this time if the difference in phenotype of the muscle is due to a change in the size of the muscle fibers or due to differences in the distribution of muscle related to the change in frame size.   Carrier animals (and in some cases affected individuals) cannot be easily distinguished from dwarf-free animals due to normal differences in phenotype between different bloodlines and individuals. The Dwarf gene is present mostly in the black-faced wether-type sheep.
    At any sale where Shropshire Futurity Ewes may be consigned, Shropshire consignors must be able to guarantee, by testing or parentage, the DNA of their sale entries. All sheep offered at these sales must be guaranteed to have the genotype FF, no Dwarf gene carriers  (FD) or Dwarf animals (DD) will be offered for sale. These genotypes will be posted on the sale orders at such sales or in online catalogs. This will continue into 2024 and 2025. In addition, some animals at designated shows be sampled and DNA tested through a recognized testing facility. All test results will be confidential and only the exhibitor will be informed of the result. Shows at this time include the All American Junior Show as well as the NAILE Open and Junior Shows. Other shows may be designated in the future. All Champion and Reserve Champion Rams and Ewes as well as 5 previously random drawn placings will be tested as well as the Ewe Lamb and Yearling Ewe Futurity winners.  There will be no penalty in 2024 for animals testing with 1 or more Dwarf alleles (D). In 2025, there will be penalties levied. The ASRA Dwarf/DNA committee will hear all appeals. The ASRA currently does not prohibit a breeder from registering animals with 1 or more D alleles but suggests that breeders use the technology available to make wise breeding decisions.
    In 2023, 26 samples collected at the AAJS and NAILE were sent to GeneCheck. A total of 3 samples had a result of FD. No results were DD. The exhibitors of these animals were notified by the secretary but otherwise, results are not shared.
    Further information about Ovine Dwarfism can be found at this link.

ASRA Hall of Fame
    The Shropshire breed and its breeders are rich in history. The American Shropshire Registry Association (ASRA) has developed the Hall of Fame to honor people/families that have had a profound and positive impact on the growth, development, and legend of Registered Purebred Shropshire Sheep in the United States. The award will consist of a certificate with the recipient and/or farm name. The award will be presented/mailed to the recipient, if the recipient is deceased, the award will be presented to a family member. The recipient’s name will be added to the American Shropshire Registry Association Hall of Fame list that shall be printed in “The Voice”. It is the ASRA Board of Directors goal to embrace, celebrate and honor those people/families who have been historically influential to the Shropshire Breed. Click here for eligibility and nomination information (PDF).