Awards at Annual Convention

Pres. John Helle awarding Dr. Bill Hawkins the Flock Guardian Award.

Jim Hoover and Dr. Bill Hawkins were honored with the Flock Guardian award at the finale banquet. Hoover recently retired from Wildlife Services after working to protect livestock owners from predators for 36 years. Hawkins, a long time member of the Montana Wool Growers and Montana Stockgrowers, has served tirelessly as the Miles City Ram Sale's veterinarian. At 82 years of age, Hawkins is the oldest practicing vet in the state of Montana, and possibly the nation.

In the annual speed shearing contest, Wade Kopren, Chase Cantrell, and Ryan Keyes won the contest with a time of 4:07. "Slow but Steady," Keith Braaton, Brent Roeder, and Ralph McWilliams came in second at 4:10, and "The Guns" Loren Opstedahl, Reid Redden, and Jake Yerger finished third (4:17).

The National Make It with Wool competition will be held January 21-23, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. Jasmine Powell will be representing Montana in the junior division and Kacey Gollehon will represent Montana in the senior division at the national contest and style show. Kacie Killen won the adult division and will compete in a mail-in judging in January. The mail-in competition allows competitors to send in their garments, photographs of it being worn, and a short video modeling the garment. THe winner of the mail-in judging will attend the national style show as the national winner. Amanda Powell was the 2009 state winner in the 'Made for Others' category. Powell sewed for her neice, Angelin Toth. The category is district and state level only.