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CapitalPress.com
Friday, May 7, 2021
People & Places
Sheep ranch caters to specialized market
By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Established 1928
ALBANY, Ore. — Knit-
ters and other fiber art-
ists can be highly particular
about their wool require-
ments, which is no problem
for the folks at Iron Water
Ranch.
The farm near Albany,
Ore., raises seven different
breeds of sheep with wool
characteristics suitable for
producing everything from
clothing to rugs.
Kirsten Holbo, who runs
the ranch, encourages her
customers to get even more
specific, going so far as to
recommend fleeces from
individual sheep.
“Oh, Daphne sounds per-
fect for you!” Holbo might
tell a client seeking spe-
cific wool qualities. It can be
an effective way to ensure
repeat business.
“There are standing
orders for some of the sheep.
They want the same fleece
year after year,” she said.
Iron
Water
Ranch,
founded more than four
decades ago and named after
the high mineral content of
its groundwater, raises sheep
exclusively for wool and
breeding stock.
The operation uses rams
and artificial insemina-
tion to produce lambs from
about 500 breeding ewes
that occupy the 140-acre
home base and roughly 500
acres of grass fields that are
leased.
“We work within our
community to ensure we can
feed our sheep,” said Zane
Van Horsen, Holbo’s daugh-
ter, who helps run the farm.
The company’s revenues
are generated in equal pro-
portions from wool sales,
lamb sales and agritourism
that focuses heavily on edu-
cating consumers and new
sheep producers.
Visitors are invited onto
the farm for about five to
eight events a year that help
them learn about the sheep
industry or how to process
wool.
Capital Press Managers
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Western
Innovator
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IRON WATER
RANCH
Founded: 1976
Operators: Kirsten Holbo
and her three children,
Zane Van Horsen, Kieran
Van Horsen and Adrian
Van Horsen.
Location: Albany, Ore.
Acreage: 140 acres at
the home base, another
500 acres leased within
20 miles.
Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press
Kirsten Holbo, left, and her daughter, Zane Van Horsen, operate Iron Water Ranch
near Albany, Ore. The sheep farm generates revenues from selling breeding stock
and wool as well as agritourism.
For example, the farm’s
annual lambing school in
January offers advice on
nutrition, veterinary drugs
and minimizing mortality,
among other topics.
The hands-on experience
is reassuring for new shep-
herds who are lambing for
the first time, compared to
simply reading instructions
online, Van Horsen said.
“They can actually han-
dle the lambs,” she said. “It
makes you feel a lot less
alone if there is someone
you feel you can talk to.”
Similarly, the farm’s
“April Floof’s Day” event is
geared toward teaching vis-
itors about spinning wool
into yarn and other ways to
use the versatile fiber.
Holbo and Van Horsen
are both experienced spin-
ners, with Iron Water Ranch
selling value-added prod-
ucts in addition to raw wool,
which helps them relate to
curious visitors.
“We can tell them what to
do with it and how to spin it
to their best benefit,” Holbo
said. “They feel like, ‘I have
a resource I can ask, and I
can move forward and be
successful.’”
Aside from generating
revenues from admission
fees, the events can drum
up sales of lambs and wool
as customers become more
confident in their abilities.
Iron Water Ranch has
imported genetics from New
Zealand bloodlines and con-
centrates on breeding sheep
that naturally thrive on
pasture.
Though in-breeding can
assist in keeping animals
consistent with breed type,
Iron Water Ranch avoids the
practice to instead reap the
benefits of hybrid vigor, Van
Horsen said.
It’s more important to the
farm to have genetic diver-
sity, she said. “We don’t
want to get ourselves into a
genetic hole.”
The farm wants to edu-
cate consumers about wool
characteristics and dispel the
misconception that the fiber
is itchy and uncomfortable.
Product uses depend on
the diameter of the fiber
type: Narrow wool fibers
are more comfortable on
the skin while wider fibers
improve product durability.
Many of the sheep are
adorned in jackets to pre-
vent sticks and leaves from
attaching to their fleeces,
which
increases
wool
quality.
“It’s a lot easier to keep it
out than to get it out,” Van
Horsen said.
Fiber artists are attracted
to naturally colored wool,
and the rarity of a fleece can
command a premium.
The farm’s fleeces range
in price from $20 to $80
per pound, with the fleeces
vacuum-packed,
boxed
and shipped around North
America.
Iron Water Ranch has
built its reputation the
old-fashioned way, by par-
ticipating in fairs and fiber
shows where contest vic-
tories translate into buzz
among wool and sheep
consumers.
Social media are also
crucial for the company,
which promotes its events
and sheep on Facebook and
Instagram.
“A lot of people like to
Sheep breeds: Romney,
Bluefaced Leicester, Meri-
no, Corriedale, Columbia,
Romeldale, Jacob.
Revenue sources: Breed-
ing stock, wool products,
agritourism.
know where their wool actu-
ally comes from,” Holbo
said.
Initially, Holbo intended
to become a veterinarian
when she was an undergrad-
uate studying animal science
and business at Oregon State
University.
After traveling to New
Zealand as part of a student
exchange and working for
sheep producers, however,
she became more interested
in production agriculture.
Once she earned a mas-
ter’s degree in agriculture
and resource economics,
Holbo worked a variety of
jobs while raising livestock
at the family’s Iron Water
Ranch.
The
operation
has
been constantly evolv-
ing since then, she said.
“Markets change and situ-
ations change and oppor-
tunities change. You just
always have to be paying
attention.”
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Northwest berry breeder inducted into ARS Science Hall of Fame
Chad Finn developed
industry-leading
cultivars for growers
By GEORGE PLAVEN
Capital Press
CORVALLIS,
Ore.
— Known for his boom-
ing laugh and crushing bear
hugs, USDA plant geneticist
Chad Finn left an indelible
mark on the Northwest berry
industry.
For 26 years, Finn worked
at the Agricultural Research
Service station in Corvallis,
Ore., breeding new varieties
of blueberries, blackberries
and strawberries. His cul-
tivars have generated $450
million in sales for growers
over the last decade.
A tragic accident claimed
Finn’s life on Dec. 17, 2019
while he was on vacation in
Hawaii. He was 57.
On April 13, Finn was
posthumously inducted into
the ARS Science Hall of
Fame, cementing his legacy
with the agency’s highest
Capital Press File
USDA/ARS berry breeder Chad Finn
honor. Inductees are selected
by a panel of their peers from
the ARS, other federal agen-
cies and academia, recogniz-
ing lifelong achievements in
science and technology.
“It is quite an honor,” said
Bob Martin, Finn’s longtime
friend and boss at the ARS.
Martin, who is now
retired, was one of several
colleagues who helped put
together the nomination for
Finn. Over the course of
his career, Finn released or
co-released 51 berry culti-
vars, some of which have
gone on to become industry
standards.
Tillamook — the name
of a strawberry variety Finn
developed and released in
2014 — is now the No. 1
planted strawberry in Ore-
gon. Two of his thornless
blackberry cultivars, Colum-
bia Star and Black Diamond,
have also become the most
widely planted in Oregon
during the last five years, and
are highly sought after by
processors.
Last year, three more
late-season fresh market
blackberry varieties devel-
oped by Finn were released,
named Galaxy, Eclipse and
Twilight, which Martin
described as a hybrid of east-
ern erect-cane and western
trailing blackberry traits.
Finn’s breeding pro-
gram was one of the most
diverse in the world, Mar-
tin said, hosted visiting sci-
entists from countries such
as Argentina, Australia, Can-
ada, Chile, China, France,
Germany, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, South Africa and
Spain.
“He certainly was a peo-
ple-person,” Martin said.
“By collaborating with peo-
ple, they could bring more
expertise into the program.”
Before he died, Martin
said Finn had other cultivars
in the pipeline that new ARS
breeders will be able to carry
across the finish line.
Bernadine Strik, a horti-
culturist and extension berry
crops specialist for Oregon
State University, worked
closely with Finn on a col-
laborative breeding program
between the university and
the local ARS laboratory.
Finn was a regular fixture at
the OSU North Willamette
Research and Extension
Center, teaming with Strik on
field trials.
One of their accomplish-
ments, Strik said, was pio-
neering a commercial blue-
berry variety, called “Mini
Blues,” unique for its small
berries and intense sweet-
ness. Since the fruit can-
not be economically har-
vested by hand, Finn and
Strik studied how they could
grow the crop with minimal
labor inputs and machine
harvesting.
“That cultivar is widely
adapted,” Strik said. “I think
that variety will add a real
interesting piece to the com-
mercial blueberry industry.”
Seeing Finn inducted
posthumously into the ARS
Hall of Fame is bittersweet,
Strik said.
“We all miss him,” she
said. “Chad was a really gen-
erous, friendly, outgoing,
kind person. You weren’t
just a colleague. You were a
friend.”
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THROUGH
SATURDAY MAY 8
Junior Livestock Show of Spo-
kane (live): 9 a.m. Spokane County
Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana,
St., Spokane Valley, Wash. The Junior
Livestock Show of Spokane will be
in person this year. A live auction will
be May 8. Face masks and social dis-
tancing are required. Website: www.
juniorshow.org
WEDNESDAY MAY 12
Poop in the Pasture? Ideas for
Pasture Management (virtual):
6-7:30 p.m. Join Clark Conservation
District to learn about best man-
agement practices for your pasture.
Whether you continually graze or
rotational graze, there are solutions
to improve productivity. Lisa Schuch-
man from USDA-NRCS will teach you
how to get the most out of your pas-
ture system while also keeping poop
out of surface waters. This is the sec-
ond of a three-part webinar series,
Manure Matters. Contact: Sam Frun-
dle, sfrundle@clarkcd.org
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
MAY 13-15
Washington FFA Convention
(virtual): The convention will main-
tain its traditional agenda, with
one session streamed on Thurs-
day and Friday evenings and two
on Saturday. The new state officers
will be announced Saturday eve-
ning. Website: www.washingtonffa.
org/91st-convention
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
MAY 14-16
California FFA’s 93rd State
Leadership Conference (online):
This year California FFA members
from all corners of the state will have
access to the premier leadership
event offered by our association as it
will be delivered through a multi-fac-
eted online platform. The conference
will be three days jam packed with
learning, growth and inspiration.
Website: www.calaged.org
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY
MAY 18-19
Oregon Board of Agricul-
ture Meeting (virtual): The Oregon
State Board of Agriculture will hold
its quarterly meeting on May 18-19
by video/conference call. To attend
you must join the meeting remotely.
Call in details are available on each
agenda. The meeting agendas and
pre-meeting materials are available
on the State Board of Agriculture
webpage, https://bit.ly/3xkoNDX.
Resolutions under review relate to
collective bargaining for agricul-
tural workers and permitted uses on
lands zoned exclusive farm use. To
provide written public comments to
the board, submit them by email to
Karla Valness at kvalness@oda.state.
or.us prior to 5 p.m. May 12. Include
BOA Public Comment May 2021 in
MarketPlace.capitalpress.com
your email subject line.
site: www.expowest.com/
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WEDNESDAY MAY 19
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY
JUNE 9-11
facebook.com/FarmSeller
Manure Matters — Keep-
ing Poop Out of the Water (vir-
tual): 6-7:30 p.m. Have you ever
wondered what effect your crit-
ters’ poop is having on our water-
sheds? Join Clark Conservation
District to learn about the moni-
toring Clark County does on bacte-
ria in our waterways. Experts Brent
Davis and Eric Lambert from Clark
County will present on county reg-
ulations and cover what you can be
doing to keep our local watersheds
free of your livestock and horse
manure. This is the third of a three-
part webinar series, Manure Mat-
ters. Contact: Sam Frundle, sfrun-
dle@clarkcd.org
MONDAY-THURSDAY
MAY 24-27
Natural Products Expo West
(online): Virtual presentations and
an online trade show focusing on
natural products and foods. Web-
World Pork Expo: Iowa State
Fairgrounds, Des Moines. The
world’s largest pork industry-spe-
cific trade show brings together
pork producers and industry profes-
sionals from around the world for
three days of education, innovation
and networking. Website: https://
worldpork.org/
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
JUNE 24-26
United Fresh Convention
and Expo (in person and online):
Los Angeles Convention Center.
Whether online or in person, United
Fresh is your partner connecting
the global fresh produce industry.
Sponsored by the United Fresh Pro-
duce Association and the Fresh Pro-
duce and Floral Council. Website:
https://www.unitedfresh.org/unit-
ed-fresh-convention-expo-2021/#
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Index
Dairy .....................................................11
Markets .................................................14
Opinion ...................................................8
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