Monica Ebert's guest appearances

Monica Ebert

Wool Academy with Elisabeth van Delden

Head Shepherd

Dave Maslen

Mark Ferguson

Willy Gallia

Mac Bishop

David Mitchell

John Roberts

Stephen Russell

Peter Morgan

Peter Ackroyd

Chad Taylor

John Parkinson

Ben Watts

Robert Ryan

Alison Van Eenennaam

Sandi Brock

OwlTail

This week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have Monica Ebert.Monica has been involved with sheep her entire life. She grew up on a stud farm in North East Kansas, USA breeding and showing British Downs Breeds. The passion for wool came a little later after Monica studied Fashion Design and Marketing at University. This is where she started to see the link between fashion and fibre. She decided she wanted to focus on wool as it goes into apparel. Monica interned in Texas at the Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research centre. Monica returned to Texas AgriLife Research to complete her masters degree focusing on wool supply chains. There she focused on a genetic study crossing Australian Merino genetics to try and fine up the Rambouillet (Merino) in the US. From there she went to Montana State University to manage the Wool Research Lab for a year, focusing on working with local wool growers in the state of Montana. Mark and Monica worked together at the NZ Merino company and both left at similar times. Mark to start neXtgen Agri and Monica to South Africa. Monica is working for South Africa's (SA) biggest wool broker, BKB, managing a brand named Core Merino. Monica has been there for the past four years and she's been focusing on the environmental impact on fibre growing and what that means globally to both the producer and the consumer. Core merino is a wool athleisure brand started in 2012. Monica came on board in 2018 and gave the whole brand a revamp. "South Africa is a beautiful country, people enjoy being outdoors and being active"The perfect market for a merino athleisure brand but at the time they were only marketing it towards farmers. Monica increased the Core Merino online presence and the orders started adding up.Monica also gives Mark a run down of the farming systems in SA. Sheep are a massive part of the economy but as are crops and Angora goats- with South Africa having the largest agoria goat population in the world. “The farmers here are incredibly resilient.” It’s not an easy place to farm with the weather, natural predators and animal health issues like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) disrupting supply chains. With no first stage processing in SA, and Chinese borders closed to South African raw wool due to a FMD outbreak, it is getting increasingly harder for wool brokers to shift wool. This is the second time in the four years that Monica has lived in SA that a FMD outbreak has resulted in China closing their borders.“It has made the industry wake up and realise maybe we’re too reliant on others. They are now looking at what they can do, but it won’t be an overnight fix. "We could fine-up the wool and target the European market or process wool ourselves.” Monica says.After four years in SA, Monica is now back off to the US. She’ll be working with the Woolmark company in North America working with multiple active outdoor brands.“I think we can see the need to collaborateHead Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited, we help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best - info@nextgenagri.com.Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand.These companies are leaders in their respective fields and it is a privilege to have them supporting the Head Shepherd Podcast. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

This week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have Monica Ebert. Monica has been involved with sheep her entire life. She grew up on a stud farm in North East Kansas, USA breeding and showing British Downs Breeds.  The passion for wool came a little later after Monica studied Fashion Design and Marketing at University. This is where she started to see the link between fashion and fibre. She decided she wanted to focus on wool as it goes into apparel. Monica interned in Texas at the Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research centre.  Monica returned to Texas AgriLife Research to complete her masters degree focusing on wool supply chains. There she focused on a genetic study crossing Australian Merino genetics to try and fine up the Rambouillet (Merino) in the US.  From there she went to Montana State University to manage the Wool Research Lab for a year, focusing on working with local wool growers in the state of Montana.  Mark and Monica worked together at the NZ Merino company and both left at similar times. Mark to start neXtgen Agri and Monica to South Africa. Monica is working for South Africa's (SA) biggest wool broker, BKB, managing a brand named Core Merino. Monica has been there for the past four years and she's been focusing on the environmental impact on fibre growing and what that means globally to both the producer and the consumer.  Core merino is a wool athleisure brand started in 2012. Monica came on board in 2018 and gave the whole brand a revamp.  "South Africa is a beautiful country, people enjoy being outdoors and being active" The perfect market for a merino athleisure brand but at the time they were only marketing it towards farmers. Monica increased the Core Merino online presence and the orders started adding up. Monica also gives Mark a run down of the farming systems in SA. Sheep are a massive part of the economy but as are crops and Angora goats- with South Africa having the largest agoria goat population in the world.  “The farmers here are incredibly resilient.” It’s not an easy place to farm with the weather, natural predators and animal health issues like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) disrupting supply chains. With no first stage processing in SA, and Chinese borders closed to South African raw wool due to a FMD outbreak, it is getting increasingly harder for wool brokers to shift wool.  This is the second time in the four years that Monica has lived in SA that a FMD outbreak has resulted in China closing their borders. “It has made the industry wake up and realise maybe we’re too reliant on others. They are now looking at what they can do, but it won’t be an overnight fix. "We could fine-up the wool and target the European market or process wool ourselves.” Monica says. After four years in SA, Monica is now back off to the US. She’ll be working with the Woolmark company in North America working with multiple active outdoor brands. “I think we can see the need to collaborate Head Shepherd is brought to you by <a href="https://www.nextgenagri.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">neXtgen Agri International Limited</a>, we help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best - info@nextgenagri.com. Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. These companies are leaders in their respective fields and it is a privilege to have them supporting the Head Shepherd Podcast. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week. Check out Heiniger's product range <a href="http://www.heiniger.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a> Check out the MSD range <a href="https://www.msd-animal-health.co.nz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a> Check out Allflex products <a href="https://www.allflex.co.nz/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a>

The global potential of wool, with Monica Ebert

Core Merino

IntroductionMonica Ebert is the International Brand Development Manager at BKB in South Africa. Part of Monica's work portfolio is the company's outdoor apparel brand Core Merino. In this episode, Monica talks about the opportunities and challenges of marketing a South African merino wool product.About Monica EbertMonica Ebert Is The International Brand Development Manager At BKB In South Africa. Her Responsibilities Include Managing The Companies Clothing Line Core Merino. Monica Joined BKB In March Of 2018 After Living And Working In The Wool Industry In New Zealand And The United States. Monica’s Passion For The Wool Industry Stems From Her Lifelong Involvement In The Sheep Industry Having Been Born Into A Small Purebred Sheep Operation In Kansas, USA. She Received Her Bachelor’s Degrees In Apparel Design And Apparel Marketing From Kansas State University And Completed Her Master’s Degree At Angelo State University Where She Focused Her Research Efforts On Sheep And Wool Production And Apparel Product Development Concentrating On The Processing And Manufacturing Of Wool Into Activewear Garments. Through Her Research And The Development Of A Supply Chain Entirely Within The United States Textile Industry, She Gained Unique Insights Of The Wool Supply Chain From “Sheep To Shop”.

<h2>Introduction</h2>Monica Ebert is the International Brand Development Manager at BKB in South Africa. Part of Monica's work portfolio is the company's outdoor apparel brand Core Merino. In this episode, Monica talks about the opportunities and challenges of marketing a South African merino wool product.<h2>About Monica Ebert</h2>Monica Ebert Is The International Brand Development Manager At BKB In South Africa. Her Responsibilities Include Managing The Companies Clothing Line Core Merino. Monica Joined BKB In March Of 2018 After Living And Working In The Wool Industry In New Zealand And The United States. Monica’s Passion For The Wool Industry Stems From Her Lifelong Involvement In The Sheep Industry Having Been Born Into A Small Purebred Sheep Operation In Kansas, USA. She Received Her Bachelor’s Degrees In Apparel Design And Apparel Marketing From Kansas State University And Completed Her Master’s Degree At Angelo State University Where She Focused Her Research Efforts On Sheep And Wool Production And Apparel Product Development Concentrating On The Processing And Manufacturing Of Wool Into Activewear Garments. Through Her Research And The Development Of A Supply Chain Entirely Within The United States Textile Industry, She Gained Unique Insights Of The Wool Supply Chain From “Sheep To Shop”.

#104 Monica Ebert about the outdoor apparel brand Core Merino

IntroductionIn this episode, Monica Ebert shares insights about her experience with the IWTO Young Professionals program and how it has helped her career including finding her current job role as Market Developer Manager at NZ Merino. As a young wool industry professional, Monica talks about how students can advance their careers and how companies can connect to the young and upcoming talents. If you thought you could never sell or buy a sheep through Facebook, think again, as Monica talks about how her family does sheep sales online.About Monica EbertMonica’s passion for the wool industry stems from her lifelong involvement in the sheep industry having been born into a small purebred sheep operation in Kansas, USA. She received her Bachelor’s degrees in Apparel Design and Apparel Marketing from Kansas State University and completed her Master’s degree at Angelo State University where she focused her research efforts on sheep and wool production and apparel product development concentrating on the processing and manufacturing of wool into active wear garments. Through her research and the development of a supply chain entirely within the United States textile industry she gained unique insights of the wool supply chain from “sheep to shop”. When the opportunity arose in 2014 to attend the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Cape Town, South Africa through the young professional program, Monica took advantage of the chance to learn more about the global wool industry through farm visits as well as networking at the Congress. Now with several IWTO events under her belt she has now begun to take a larger role in the international wool industry and assisted the IWTO staff by serving as the coordinator of the young professionals at the 2016 Congress in Sydney, Australia.

<h2>Introduction</h2>In this episode, Monica Ebert shares insights about her experience with the IWTO Young Professionals program and how it has helped her career including finding her current job role as Market Developer Manager at NZ Merino. As a young wool industry professional, Monica talks about how students can advance their careers and how companies can connect to the young and upcoming talents. If you thought you could never sell or buy a sheep through Facebook, think again, as Monica talks about how her family does sheep sales online.<h2>About Monica Ebert</h2>Monica’s passion for the wool industry stems from her lifelong involvement in the sheep industry having been born into a small purebred sheep operation in Kansas, USA. She received her Bachelor’s degrees in Apparel Design and Apparel Marketing from Kansas State University and completed her Master’s degree at Angelo State University where she focused her research efforts on sheep and wool production and apparel product development concentrating on the processing and manufacturing of wool into active wear garments. Through her research and the development of a supply chain entirely within the United States textile industry she gained unique insights of the wool supply chain from “sheep to shop”. When the opportunity arose in 2014 to attend the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Cape Town, South Africa through the young professional program, Monica took advantage of the chance to learn more about the global wool industry through farm visits as well as networking at the Congress. Now with several IWTO events under her belt she has now begun to take a larger role in the international wool industry and assisted the IWTO staff by serving as the coordinator of the young professionals at the 2016 Congress in Sydney, Australia.

#014: Monica Ebert on how to advance your career through the IWTO Young Professionals program