Thank you to all who participated in DLGC’s Summer Meeting on June 26 and June 27 in Brookings and White, South Dakota. Friday night’s lamb recipe tasting and fellowship was well attended, with a couple of folks driving in from Michigan! The Shepherd’s Gift: GM1 for HD auction was presided over by Kevin Quail, and brought in over $1,670. Thanks go out to both the generous donors who provided original and collectable items for the auction as well as the bidders. All proceeds from the auction go to The Shepherd’s Gift: GM1 for HD to help in various aspects of the GM1 project.

GM1 Cooperators Recognized

On Saturday morning, Dr. Steven Hersch (MD, PhD Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital, Professor of Neurology) SKYPED in to the Pioneer Lutheran Church to talk with DLGC members and HD Families about Huntington’s Disease. He also offered his opinions on the value of the Ovine GM1 Project and answered questions about the future of the project.

Dr. Steven Hersch joining DLGC from Boston via SKYPE

Next up, a couple of HD families shared their stories on living with Huntington’s Disease and their interest that the Ovine GM1 Project find funding as soon as possible to investigate further its efficacy in treating HD.

Dr. Larry Holler then presented a “refresher course” on Ovine GM1 Gangliosidosis with an update on the status of the NIH grant proposal submitted by Dr. Hersch. We expect word on the grant status very soon.

Dr. Larry Holler on Ovine GM1 Gangliosidosis

The Lamb Supper was another wonderfully delicious opportunity for folks to network and get to know each other. The GM1 Project truly feels like “Families helping Families” and this was a time for the Sheep Producer families to get to know better the HD families. Thank you to David and Penny Patterson and MJ for cooking such wonderful pulled lamb barbeque and fixins!

Lamb Supper and Networking

The day continued with a tour of the Holler’s farm just down the road from the church. We were able to see that the operation really is basically a typical sheep farm-nothing fancy! Gabe and Abigail, the terribly scary guard dogs, escorted us around the farm to make sure the sheep stayed safe.

Gabe

Abigail

Larry Holler

Just Sheep

More Sheep

Spring Lamb

The 2015 Summer meeting wrapped up with a cooperator’s meeting to go over the GM1 Cooperator’s Contract. If you are interested in learning more about participating in the GM1 Project, please contact the Dakota Lamb Grower’s Coop at dakotalambgrowersATgmailDOTcom and we would be happy to talk with you.

Have a wonderful summer and stay tuned for more updates!

Mina