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Ludlam to lead Michigan Sheep Producers Association

The newly selected executive director of the Michigan Sheep Producers Association says demand for lamb throughout the pandemic has remained strong.

Samantha Ludlam tells Brownfield while consumption during Easter last year was down significantly, ethnic markets and holidays later in the year helped make up for loses.

“Another theory that’s bouncing around as to why lamb has remained resilient in the market is because so many more people were cooking from home and just wanted to try different things,” she says.

The same cannot be said for wool which she says has made federal relief dollars vital for producers.

“Wool did tank pretty hard unfortunately on a commercial side,” she says.

Ludlam grew up on her family’s sheep farm in Hopkins and has been involved in the association since she was young.  She is also balancing the part-time position while being a first year Agriscience teacher and FFA advisor at Dundee Community Schools. 

Ludlam replaces Maury Kaercher who served the organization for a decade before retiring this January.