AgEmerge Podcast 134 with Jeanne Carver of Shaniko Wool Co

Jeanne Carver is the Founder and President of Shaniko Wool. Her story is one of successful adaptation to changing market needs. Jeanne and her late husband Dan have been using sustainable and regenerative practices for decades. Jeanne said Dan was an engineer and a systems thinker which is key to how they understood the land, soil and their operation. From her family’s Imperial Stock Ranch, she and Dan transitioned from selling commodity lamb and wool to selling retail products that are ecologically sensitive. With the founding of Shaniko Wool Company, she has overseen the expansion of the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified American wool into a variety of products and markets by working first with the ranchers, and with designers, brands and exclusively U.S. supply chain partners. Watch episode here: https://youtu.be/Lj1gy73MUdY Jeanne is at the forefront of an economic and rural revival, helping rebuild the importance of traditional skills, connections to the origins of food and fiber, and strengthening local, regional and domestic supply chain partners. Her story is one of successful adaptation to changing market needs. From her family’s Imperial Stock Ranch (est. 1871), she and her late husband Dan transitioned from selling commodity lamb and wool to selling retail products that are ecologically sensitive. With the founding of Shaniko Wool Company, she has overseen the expansion of RWS certified American wool into a variety of products and markets by working first with the ranchers, and with designers, brands and exclusively U.S. supply chain partners. In an era of outsourcing and disconnect, she has led tirelessly with traceability and accountability, building relationships across the domestic textile industry. Jeanne Carver, 2023 Hall of Fame Award Jeanne serves on several boards related to agriculture, and in 2014, Jeanne became the source and voice of American wool for Ralph Lauren’s first Made in America Winter Olympic uniform program, and again in 2018 and 2022. Jeanne believes the most important story she has shared is how well-managed herds of grazing animals on their ranch have revitalized grasses and contributed to healing streams and the restoration of traditional salmon runs in Buckhollow Creek, a major tributary to the designated wild and scenic Deschutes River. With the Carbon Initiative, she is investing in the research and measured and verified results of an even greater story: the positive ecosystem impacts of Shaniko Wool Company ranches across a broader piece of the American landscape. Points of Interest: - Jeanne and her husband Dan have been using sustainable / regenerative practices for decades. - Her late husband was and engineer and was a systems thinker which is key to how they understood the land, soil and their operation. - They operated Imperial Stock Ranch which was established in 1871. - Her husband charged Jeanne with finding a market for selling their harvest. - They evolved through the Value added journey, Jeanne understood that they needed to measure and monetize ecosystems deliverables - They’ve done amazing things for the water and the whole basin, restoring salmon as one example - She and her company are mentioned in King Charles book about food and farming https://www.shanikowoolcompany.com Got questions you want answered? Send them our way and we’ll do our best to research and find answers. Know someone you think would be great on the AgEmerge stage or podcast? Send your questions or suggestions to [email protected] we’d love to hear from you.