Expo Speaker Lineup

Dr. Schramm earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University in 2007. Since graduating from St. George’s University, She has served as the herd veterinarian for over 10 years at the Virginia Tech Dairy Teaching and Research Farm. In addition, Dr. Schramm is a clinical Associate Professor at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine where she is responsible for assuring the welfare and health of production animals, safety of the food supply, and teaching veterinary students in the field, classroom, and in hands-on laboratories. She has published numerous research articles related to ruminants, has spoken at several conferences, and participates in outreach programs. Dr. Schramm noted that treating ruminants is “just in my blood.” She grew up on a large farm with cows, sheep, and goats. She still has a flock of her own. 

Dr. Morris received her B.S. in Animal Science from Purdue University and her Masters in Preventive Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis.  She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University.  She completed an internship in production management medicine at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and a Residency in livestock herd health and reproduction at the University of California, Davis.  She is a diplomate of American College of Theriogenologist (Bovine). Currently, she is a veterinarian and assistant professor with the University of Missouri and has been in the Food Animal Medicine and Surgery Section since August 2022. She sees all livestock species and is primarily an ambulatory clinician, as she enjoys seeing animals and clients on the farm. Dr. Morris has special interest in food animal theriogenology, preventive care, and herd health. 

Dr. Brown holds a B.S. and M.S. degree in Animal Science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a Ph.D. in small ruminant nutrition from the University of Limpopo, South Africa. He was a postdoctoral research associate for small ruminants at Virginia State University Cooperative Extension. Currently, he is a Small Ruminant Specialist at the University of Missouri Extension. Dr. Brown has been working with sheep and goats for more than a decade. His research and extension interests focus on the use of tannin-containing forages against intestinal parasites and low-input small ruminant production. He has published numerous research articles.

Dr. Murphy received a B.S. in Animal Science and M.S. in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed a Ph.D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016. Currently, he is a Research Geneticist at the USDA ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, NE. Before joining the USDA, he was an Assistant Professor of Sheep Production at Montana State University. Dr. Murphy’s research program is sheep focused and includes breed effects on meat and wool quality, evaluating maternal performance of crossbred and composite ewes, and estimating production impacts of sheep diseases with the intent of identifying genetic tools to reduce their occurrence. Dr. Murphy is currently the chair of the technical committee for the National Sheep Improvement Program and action lead of the research and emerging technology committee for Sheep Genetics USA. He and his wife Megan live on a small farm and enjoy raising a few sheep in their spare time.

Nick Forrest has over 35 years experience as a sheep producer and forty five years experience as a meat, deli, and bakery manager for Kroger Company. He has served as president of The American Lamb Board, a board member of the American Culinary Federation of Cincinnati, director on the Lamb Council of ASI, chair of the USDA Lamb Checkoff program, president of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, and served on the board of the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program. He is currently the Director of the American Lamb Roadshow. He is currently working with Four Hills Farm in sales and as a merchandiser for ten Ohio Whole Foods stores promoting fresh American Lamb. He might be best known for his lamb cooking demonstrations that have taken place at state sheep association meetings, sheep and wool festivals, and countless grocery stores throughout the United States.

Dr. Fletcher completed a B.S. from Virginia Tech in Animal and Poultry Science and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2007 from St. George’s University.  He came back to his hometown and was part owner in a private large animal mobile vet practice for 16 years.  During this time, he had a strong emphasis on small ruminant medicine and surgery.  Just recently, he has taken a position with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as the Regional Veterinary Supervisor.  In his current role, he has the pleasure of helping other veterinarians and producers with outreach education.  He also is involved with collecting samples for the National Scrapie Eradication Program and for the 2024 NAHMS sheep study.  Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Fletcher and his wife Mandy operate an NSIP flock of seedstock Katahdins.

Dr. Thomas earned his Ph.D. in Animal Sciences with an emphasis in Reproductive Physiology in 2017 from the University of Missouri. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri. He maintains an active applied research program in reproductive management of livestock, coordinates the breeding program for cattle at the University Agricultural Experiment Station Research Center, and serves as program advisor to the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program. The primary research focus of the Thomas lab is control of the estrous cycle, specifically to facilitate use of reproductive technologies such as timed artificial insemination and embryo transfer. He has published numerous research articles.

Lynn earned a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in 1984. He is a first-generation shepherd on a fifth-generation farm that has been in the family for more than 120 years. He has been raising Katahdins since 1997. As an early adaptor of regenerative farming practices, he uses cattle and sheep to graze his cover crops. He has been president and board member of KHSI, chairman of the National Sheep Improvement Program, and has served as a board member of the Missouri Sheep Producers Association for over 8 years. He is currently serving on the Missouri Farm Bureau Sheep Committee and is an executive board member of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) for Region 4.

Dr. Rahe has a B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Economics and earned her Ph.D. in Regional Planning from the University of Illinois in 2013. She currently is an Associate Extension Professor in Agricultural Economics at the University of Missouri, the Educational Director of Agricultural Business and Policy Extension Program, and Associate Director for the Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center. Prior to this, she was the Director of Missouri Small Business Development Center for Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Ohio State Extension Community Economist.  Her work focuses on community economic development, rural wealth creation, community capital framework, value-chains, regional and local food systems, economic resilience, income inequality, economic impact analysis and strategic planning, and program evaluation. She is and was the website manager of Ohio State and Missouri extension services. She has published numerous journal articles, produced videos, and has presented at several conferences.

Taylor earned her B.S. in agricultural journalism from the University of Missouri, and her M.S. in agricultural communications from Texas Tech. Currently Taylor is a communications and program strategist with the University of Missouri Extension, where she spearheads ideation and execution of promotional and outreach efforts to connect Extension and audiences in moments that matter. Prior to joining the university, Washburn’s career revolved around strategy and marketing for agricultural companies and government agencies. Most recently, she led digital strategy and client multimedia marketing efforts for Brownfield Ag News and Learfield News and Agriculture.

Dr. Moore obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees in Animal Nutrition at North Dakota State. He was a professor for several years at NDSU where he taught classes and did research focusing on ruminant nutrition and production.  During his time at NDSU, Dr. Moore also coached the livestock judging teams in addition to being a livestock judge himself from coast to coast and in Canada. He has received numerous awards for teaching and student advising from NDSU and distinguished service awards from several youth and livestock organizations. Dr. Moore left NDSU at the beginning of 2009 to become the Secretary/Treasurer of the American Shorthorn Association in Omaha, Nebraska. He has given presentations throughout the US, Canada, Great Britain, and New Zealand. He served two terms as president of the International Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team Coaches Association and was a board member for the National Pedigreed Livestock Council.

Britton obtained his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University. While attending OSU and Fort Scott Community College, he competed on livestock judging teams winning numerous awards and other honors.

Britton is from Paris, MO where he grew up on a diversified livestock operation where the main part of the operation focused on their 375 head registered Katahdin ewes. Britton enjoys attending sheep shows and helping youth within the Katahdin breed and encouraging them to get more Katahdins in the show ring. He also enjoys judging livestock shows, and playing basketball and slow pitch softball. Britton taught Ag Education for 3 years at Community R-6 High School after graduation. He is now a Credit Analyst at TPNB Bank in Paris, MO.