Karissa Isaacs is the Director of Producer Resources for Superior Farms. Founded in 1964, Superior Farms is North America’s largest and most sustainable processor and marketer of lamb. In her role at Superior Farms, Karissa works directly with producer partners and the development of programs to improve production efficiencies and consistency through camera grading, genetic research and producer education. Prior to joining Superior Farms, Karissa
worked for the American Lamb Board in Industry Relations focusing on lamb quality and production research, educational programs and outreach for producers. Karissa grew up in the sheep industry and focused her education and career in lamb quality. She obtained her B.S. and
M.S. degrees from Colorado State University in Animal Science with a focus in meat quality, working on numerous lamb quality projects including her thesis on Differentiating Flavor Differences in American Lamb and the 2016 National Lamb Quality Audit.
Rusty Burgett of Perry, Iowa serves as the Executive Director for the National SheepImprovement Program where he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of NSIP and
advancing the program for sheep producers nation-wide. He has been with NSIP for 7 years helping producers advance their flocks through genetic selection. Rusty also operates a
commercial Polypay flock focusing on a low-input production system coupled with custom targeted grazing. He also serves as a co-chair for the American Sheep Industry Association’s Genetic Stakeholders committee and is on the board of directors for the Iowa Sheep Industry Association. Previously, Rusty managed research and teaching flocks for Iowa State University and University of Wisconsin-Spooner Agricultural Research Station where he also was able to
conduct research and producer outreach. His background in ruminant nutrition, meat science/growth and development as well as breeding and genetics helps him to assist producers regardless of flock size, goals or markets.
Tom Boyer is a 4 th generation sheep producer that has raised seedstock Rambouillets since 1965. In recent years Boyer Rambouillet was merged into Legacy Sheep Company which includes Casey & Kristan
Earl. Tom has long had a passion for good sheep and particularly for programs, groups and research that advances sheep production. He has served as President of the Utah Wool Growers and Co-chair of Genetic Stakeholders [ASI] with Dr. Ron Lewis. Tom is also an Accredited Farm/Ranch Manager, Agricultural Consultant and Rural Appraiser with The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He has managed and appraised farms and ranches throughout the western United States and consulted on agricultural operations including sheep operations nationally and internationally.
Boner is a past president of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association who previously served as the Region VII director to the ASI Executive Board. In that capacity he represented Idaho, Montana and Wyoming within the association. He left that position in 2019 when he was elected secretary/treasurer of ASI and now serves as vice president.
A sheep and cattle producer in Glenrock, Wyoming, Boner previously was chairman of the Mountain States Lamb Cooperative and has worked tirelessly for the sheep industry as a part of ASI’s Wool Council, Lamb Council and Let’s Grow Committee.
A fifth-generation sheep rancher from Montana, Lehfeldt’s family has been involved in the sheep industry for 135 years. Lehfeldt has served on ASI’s Wool Council and is a director for the Montana Wool Growers Association. In addition, he served on the American Lamb Board and has been the sheep industry representative to the National Grazing Lands Coalition.