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When
the wool market was experiencing a rough patch, threatening the
livelihood of her 100-year-old family farm and the industry as a
whole, Magruder took a proactive approach to the situation—but she
wanted support. Joel Pynch, a sheep producer and longtime friend of
Magruder’s was the first to volunteer for her initiative to develop
alternative uses for wool.
“Joel came up to me after a meeting I was
speaking at and said, ‘I’m your man,’” says Magruder. That was the
beginning of a business partnership between Joel and his wife Kay
Pynch and Magruder, which led to the start of a company in 2002
called Oregon Shepherd, natural wool insulation. The idea for
wool insulation came from a committee of ag industry professionals
that was assembled by Magruder and the Pynchs, including producers,
wool processors, extension service people and farm service agency
representatives. The committee came up with several ideas, pet beds
and weed control fabric, but wool insulation ultimately prevailed.
They spent a significant amount of time applying for grants and
received a sustainable research grant, funding assistance from the
American Sheep Industry, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and a
U.S. Department of Agriculture value-added producers’ grant.
The
next few years they researched and tested natural wool insulation
and how to produce it. They discovered that wool insulation is an
extremely sustainable and environmentally-friendly option for homes.
When they had the process figured out, they started producing the
insulation in Rainier, Ore., in 2009 and were ready for sales.
“It has increased my appreciation for anything on a shelf, because
it doesn’t get there easily,” says Magruder. “We’re pretty
specialized, we have a small target market. It’s not what everyone
wants,” she says. The product attracts consumers who prioritize a
sustainable, environmentally friendly way of living. Oregon
Shepherd insulation is made from 100 percent natural wool, using
wool from sheep all over the U.S.—including Magruder Farms. The
insulation is made from the coarser fibers that are not ideal for
clothing through a very simple process. First, the wool is sent
through a granulator to chop it up. Then it is moved through the
system by air, and a borate solution is applied to increase flame
and pest resistance. Then the wool goes through a cyclonic air
separator and is packaged and shipped. The energy required to
produce Oregon Shepherd insulation is less than 10 percent of the
energy required to produce traditional insulation materials. It is a
sustainable and renewable resource since sheep grow a new crop every
year. Wool is completely recyclable and can be remanufactured,
reused, or biodegraded. Wool does not deteriorate and it holds its
shape, so the insulation lasts forever. Because of the crimped
nature of wool, when wool fiber is packed together, it forms
millions of tiny air pockets which trap air and in turn serves to
keep warmth in during winter and out in the summer. Oregon
Shepherd is proud to be the only facility in the U.S. that produces
a wool insulation product that meets the building code requirements.
The company has shipped product across the U.S. including Hawaii,
Alaska, Vermont, and Canada. Oregon Shepherd wool insulation is
popular with purchasers of “tiny houses,” a social movement where
people are downsizing the space that they live in to homes as small
as 400 square feet. The company’s sales have increased more than 200
percent from 2010 to 2011 and they project more than a 200 percent
increase again in 2012. While Magruder singlehandedly cares for
a few hundred ewes at Magruder Farms, she plans to focus more of her
efforts on growing Oregon Shepherd. “We still are researching and
improving and making changes to the product and the packaging,” says
Magruder. “We’ve faced a lot of challenges but we continue to move
forward one step at a time.” No matter how big Oregon Shepherd
might get, Magruder Farms will always be a priority. “I love what I
do, I love agriculture because it’s such an important part of
everyone’s life. I think food production is the basis of not only
our economy but our health and safety. So I’m very proud to be part
of that food production chain,” says Magruder.
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