United Suffolk Sheep Association

What United Suffolk Sheep Association does

The United Suffolk Sheep Association (USSA) is a non-profit corporation founded in 1886 and headquartered in Holland, Iowa, serving as the official breed registrar and member association for Suffolk sheep breeders across the United States. Its mission is to "define, register, promote and improve the Suffolk breed to provide leadership for the advancement and future of the entire U.S. Sheep Industry." The organization is governed by a Board of Directors elected from a two-district membership structure (East and West of the Mississippi River, realigned from four districts in 2024) and operates with an 11-50 person staff led by Executive Secretary Amanda Everts.

USSA's core technology is the Digital Suffolk online platform (hosted via digitalovine.com), which provides pedigree registration, flock management, NSIP genetic data submission, and sale consignment functionality. Supporting integrations include wlivestock.com and BreedersWorld.com for online bidding at the annual National Suffolk Sale, Showman.app for junior show entries, PayPal for payments, and Facebook Livestream for remote sale viewing. The annual Suffolk Event serves as the flagship in-person gathering combining the National Suffolk Sale, educational sessions (delivered in partnership with Reproduction Specialty Group), the Hall of Fame banquet, and the UJSSA junior show. The UJSSA youth organization (ages 9-21) is a sub-brand feeding the long-term membership pipeline.

The revenue model is multi-stream and membership-based: recurring annual membership dues (USSA and UJSSA), one-time event registration fees ($80 individual / $225 family), per-sheep transaction fees for registrations and transfers, free classified advertising for members, and Foundation-administered scholarship/grant programs (up to $53,000 in scholarships and 25 Youth Ewe Grants of $1,000 each in 2026). The customer base comprises three segments — purebred Suffolk breeders (primary), commercial sheep producers using Suffolk sires, and UJSSA youth members — all SMB or individual customers. The organization has no venture backing and no parent company; governance is member-driven through district elections.

Name

United Suffolk Sheep Association

Legal name

United Suffolk Sheep Association

Website

https://suffolks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The United Suffolk Sheep Association (USSA) is the official 1886-founded non-profit breed registrar for Suffolk sheep in the United States, operating the Digital Suffolk online registry platform and hosting the annual Suffolk Event, National Suffolk Sale, and youth programs through UJSSA for purebred breeders, commercial producers, and young members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Breed Registry

NAICS

Sheep and Goat Farming (1124), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Breeding Stock & Genetics (Rams/Bucks, Stud Services, AI/ET Programs) (AFAEAFAE)

Keywords

• Sheep breed registry
• Livestock breed association
• Breed registration services
• Youth livestock programs
• Sheep industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

Holland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for USSA and UJSSA (youth) members providing access to registration, events, and programs
2. Event Registration Fees: Fees for attending Suffolk Event including educational sessions, meals, and junior shows. Individual registration $80, family registration $225
3. Sheep Registration Fees: Fees for registering Suffolk sheep and transfers
4. Classified/Marketplace Sales: Free classified ads for members to sell sheep, equipment, and related items; online sales platform
5. Scholarships and Grants: Foundation programs providing financial assistance to youth for sheep purchases ($1,000 grants) and educational scholarships (up to $53,000 offered in 2026)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

USSA is the official U.S. breed registry and member association for Suffolk sheep, providing pedigree registration, transfers, and flock management through the Digital Suffolk platform. It runs an annual flagship Suffolk Event that combines educational sessions, the National Suffolk Sale (consignment auction with online bidding), and a junior show, while operating the UJSSA youth program that delivers grants, scholarships, and leadership development.

Product overview

The United Suffolk Sheep Association operates a breed registry and member services organization rather than a technology product. Its core offerings center on the Digital Suffolk online registry platform for sheep registration and flock management, combined with signature events including The Suffolk Event (annual showcase with educational sessions, National Suffolk Sale, and Hall of Fame recognition) and the United Junior Suffolk Sheep Association (UJSSA) youth program. Supporting offerings include the Suffolk U Webinar Series for education, the Ewe Lamb Grant Program for youth flock starts, Futurity Program for competition, Percentage Registry for partial Suffolks, NSIP data integration, scholarships, and the Suffolk Source annual publication. The association provides classified advertising, sale management through wlivestock.com integration, and junior show coordination via Showman.app.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UJSSA (United Junior Suffolk Sheep Association): Youth organization for Suffolk sheep enthusiasts ages 21 and under, offering leadership opportunities, educational programs, and junior shows.

Products and services

• Digital Suffolk Registry Platform Online platform providing Suffolk sheep pedigree registration, flock management, transfer services, NSIP data submission, and sale consignment tracking for U.S. Suffolk breeders.
• Suffolk Sheep Registration & Transfer Services Official breed registry service issuing pedigrees for purebred Suffolk sheep and recording ownership transfers, including a Percentage Registry Program for sheep with partial Suffolk ancestry.
• National Suffolk Sale Annual consignment sale of top registered Suffolk rams and ewes from leading breeders, featuring online bidding through wlivestock.com and livestream coverage.
• The Suffolk Event Annual flagship gathering combining educational sessions, the National Suffolk Sale, the Suffolk Hall of Fame banquet, and junior show activities for members and youth.
• UJSSA (United Junior Suffolk Sheep Association) Membership Program Youth membership organization for Suffolk sheep enthusiasts through age 21, offering leadership opportunities, contests, junior shows, and the foundation for the adult USSA membership pipeline.
• Youth Ewe Lamb Grant Program Foundation-funded grant program providing up to $1,000 in financial assistance to youth members for the purchase of registered Suffolk ewes, with the grant recipient contributing $250 of the purchase price.
• Suffolk Futurity Program Point-based competition program recognizing outstanding Suffolk ewe lambs and yearlings across USSA's geographic districts.
• Suffolk U Webinar Series Educational webinar series covering sheep management topics including breeding nutrition, parasite management, lambing management, barn cameras, and NSIP data submission.
• Classifieds / Suffolk Marketplace Free online marketplace for USSA and UJSSA members to list Suffolk sheep, equipment, and related items for sale with a 60-day posting window.
• Suffolk Source Publication Annual print and digital publication serving as the primary news, results, and educational resource for USSA members and Suffolk breed enthusiasts.
• UJSSA Scholarships Foundation-funded financial awards offered to UJSSA members pursuing higher education, with up to $53,000 in scholarships available in 2026.
• Suffolk Hall of Fame Recognition program honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the Suffolk breed and the U.S. sheep industry.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Willoughby Livestock SalescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional sale management company that manages and operates the National Suffolk Sale, including online bidding platform wlivestock.com and Facebook livestream coverage. Partnership provides sale catalog management and bidder coordination.
• Reproduction Specialty Group (RSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSG facilities host educational sessions on sheep reproduction, health and nutrition for the 2026 Suffolk Event. Partnership provides advanced educational content for adult and youth participants.
• National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)Technology or IntegrationNSIP provides estimated breeding values (EBVs) and genetic data for Suffolk sheep; USSA facilitates data submission through Let's Grow Grant program for members to improve flock genetics.
• State/Regional Suffolk AssociationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of affiliated state associations including California Suffolk and Hampshire Sheep Breeders Association, Iowa Suffolk Sheep Association, Montana Suffolk Sheep Breeders Association, Northeast Suffolk Sheep Association that promote Suffolk breed regionally.
• United Suffolk Sheep FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation provides financial support for youth ewe grants, scholarships, entrepreneur funds, and event sponsorships. Supports USSA mission through fundraising and donor recognition programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Sheep Industry Association: The national, broad-membership trade association representing the entire U.S. sheep industry. Comparable to USSA because both are non-profit, member-driven industry organizations that advocate for sheep producers, but ASI serves all breeds rather than a single breed like Suffolk.

Others

• National Sheep Improvement Program: Industry-wide genetic evaluation program providing Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) across sheep breeds. Not a competitor — it is USSA's integration partner through Digital Suffolk and the Let's Grow Grant — but thematically adjacent because it sits on top of breed-registry data and represents where sheep industry data infrastructure is heading.
• Willoughby Livestock Sales: Professional livestock sale management company that manages the National Suffolk Sale and provides wlivestock.com online bidding infrastructure. Acts as USSA's channel partner rather than competitor, but is a relevant ecosystem participant that demonstrates the modern sale-bidding layer USSA depends on.

Direct peers

• American Shropshire Registry Association: Breed registry for Shropshire sheep in the U.S. Runs the same kind of single-breed registry, transfer, and member services as USSA, and is a frequent co-participant in multi-breed shows and sales.
• Katahdin Hair Sheep International: Breed registry and member association for Katahdin hair sheep, one of the fastest-growing sheep breeds in the U.S. Comparable as a single-breed registry running registration, youth, and event programs, but represents the hair-sheep segment that increasingly competes with Suffolk for commercial lamb producer demand.
• American Rambouillet Sheep Association: Breed registry for Rambouillet sheep, a fine-wool and range breed. Operates with the same single-breed association model as USSA — registration, transfers, shows, sales, and member programs — but for a different breed segment.
• American Cheviot Sheep Society: National breed association for Cheviot sheep in North America. Comparable as a single-breed registry that maintains pedigrees, supports youth showing, and hosts breed events with the same operational template as USSA.
• American Hampshire Sheep Association: National breed registry and association for Hampshire sheep, another meat-type breed often cross-shown and cross-registered alongside Suffolk. Operates with the same model of registration services, shows, sales, and youth programs as USSA.
• National Lincoln Sheep Association: U.S. breed association for Lincoln sheep, a long-wool breed. Mirrors USSA's structure with pedigree registration, member services, shows, and youth engagement for a single breed, making it a directly comparable single-breed registry peer.
• American Southdown Breeders' Association: Official breed registry and member association for Southdown sheep in the U.S., a direct structural peer to USSA. Both run single-breed registries, host national shows/sales, manage youth programs, and provide registration and transfer services for their respective breeds.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedsuffolk
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedsuffolksheep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Suffolk Sheep Association