Martin Seeks Checkoff Proposals
Published: Friday, June 11, 2021
A Noble County sheep farmer with a passion for education, wants to bring more promotional and research dollars to this area of the state, and invites area producers to contact him regarding possible projects that may benefit the local sheep industry.
Kim Martin is the District 2 director for the Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Program. He maintains a small flock of Tri-Cross sheep near Cromwell.
Every year, the Indiana sheep industry awards funding for projects that promote the state's lamb and wool industry. Last year, four projects were funded, all in central or southern Indiana. Martin would like to see local sheep organizations, including 4-H groups, submit funding requests for projects in his six-county area of northeastern Indiana.
The six counties in District 2 are: DeKalb, Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben.
According to Martin, checkoff money can be used to support a range of activities that benefit the sheep industry as a whole. Examples include educational events, workshops, promotional information, advertising and equipment.
Last year, the Indiana sheep checkoff awarded funding for a small ruminant workshop, 4-H sheep meeting activities, upgrades to the Indiana Sheep Assn.'s website, and funding for a statewide shearing school.
All of the money for these projects came from a .5 percent fee collected from the market price of every lamb sold in Indiana.
Martin, a retired history teacher from the West Noble School Corp., knows firsthand that wool is a superior material for jackets, gloves and other clothing. During the Vietnam War, he served as a military policeman in Germany. On one cold, snowy night, he was assigned to patrol a bridge over the Autobahn. He stood on that bridge for two hours, protected by a wool coat, hat and socks.
"Wool is the only material you can wear that gets wet and will still keep you warm," he said. "So, I learned right away the benefits of wool."
He said lamb meat is known for being a healthy form of protein, especially for patients with heart conditions. That's because the fat is located on the surface of the meat and can be easily trimmed.
"It's not only delicious, but it's healthy for you," Martin said.
Wool byproducts, such as lanolin, are also quite valuable.
"Every time I'm around sheep I always rub my hands in the wool," he said, referring to the moisturizing substance that secretes from the animal's sebaceous glands. "Then you take and rub your hands together and it makes your hands real soft."
Martin said the checkoff delivers a solid return for producers. For every dollar invested, there is a $10 return, he said.
Martin and other leaders of the Indiana Sheep and Wool program each year choose the projects that will receive funding. However, he said local sheep groups can't apply for funding if they are not aware of the opportunity. As District 2 director, he invites 4-H club leaders and local sheep groups to contact him if they need anything—from digital scanners to building a 4-H food stand at the county fair. He will then connect the applicants with Meredith Cobb, a Purdue University agribusiness researcher who oversees the Indiana sheep checkoff program.
Sheep checkoff funding can be used only for promotion or research efforts.
Anyone with an idea for a checkoff project in District 2 can contact Martin at 260/215-7076 or bike_path_martin@hotmail.com.
They can also contact Cobb at 765/426-1195 or mcobb2@purdue.edu.
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