Managing Your Flock for Success
Have sheep or thinking about getting a flock? Producers of all experience levels will find something for them in this lively, wide-ranging course. There is no one right way to raise sheep – just a palette of options for you to choose from, to suit your farming objectives and lifestyle. Taught by experienced sheep producers and Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, this course covers many of these different options, and strongly encourages active student participation.
Target Audience
All levels – This course is designed for commercial producers seeking to build their knowledge in production, marketing, processing, and sales of lamb and sheep products, to have a more profitable enterprise. The focus will be on temperate Northern climates, but we welcome participation from producers from various locations and support will be provided to all.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course you will have:
- Enhanced knowledge of nutrition, health, facilities management, handling, record keeping, selection of animals, and lambing.
- Identified opportunities for improving profitability through improved pasture productivity, controlling parasites, and reducing predator losses.
Webinars
The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.
Webinars Schedule
Live instruction for 2025 has concluded. You are welcome to enroll now to complete this course on a self-paced schedule and join our next live session in Winter 2026. All webinars are recorded and posted in your online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely and may return to participate in future live offerings of the course as well. Please join us!
Your Instructor
Rachel Moody grew up on a family dairy farm and
participated in 4-H showing cattle, goats and chickens. She has been in
ag education for almost two decades and is currently a livestock
educator with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Capital Area Ag and Hort
Program in the Albany area. Rachel and her husband purchased her
family’s farm where they have a farm store and raise poultry, sheep,
cattle and have a team of drafts.
Jess Waltemyer was born & raised on a small family farm in Renfrew, PA. She has always had a passion for animals, community outreach, & knowledge. In 2010, she graduated from University of Findlay with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. Shortly after graduation, she started her career at Cornell University in the Animal Science department, where she collaborated with multiple staff and faculty developing research projects while managing the 250 head Cornell Sheep Flock. In addition to her management role, she instructed the Practical Large Animal Handling Couse, co-lectured the Dairy Sheep Management Course, Instructed Advance Lambing Internships, & was the Instructor for the Meats Course. She received her Master of Professional Studies degree from Cornell University in 2019 with a focus on Animal Science Education. In 2024, she took on the role of the PRO-Livestock NYS Small Ruminant Extension Specialist for Cornell University, where she works with small ruminant producers, extension educators, and industry stakeholders across the state of New York.
Student Testimonials
“I've had sheep for a few years but wasn't making any money and wasn't well-educated on everything I should have known. This course helped fill in those gaps and now I feel ready to expand my flock.”
“Learning from experienced shepherds was very beneficial, especially hearing about the behind-the-scenes items that MUST be considered in a sheep operation.”
“The course has inspired and motivated me to keep moving forward with our sheep production. Great value!"