Dive into the story of sheep ranching in the American West — how land management works with the textile industry to reduce emissions, preserve healthy ecosystems, and create the clothes we wear.
Ben Carver, M.A. ’19, will be back on campus for this brown bag lunch session. Ben is vice president of Shaniko Wool Company, which was founded in 2018 and built on the legacy of his parents, Dan and Jeanne Carver, at the Imperial Stock Ranch (originally established in 1871) in north central Oregon. In 1999, the Carvers pioneered a new model, selling their wool directly to textile brands that valued transparency and land stewardship. In 2017, the Imperial Stock Ranch became the first ranch in the world certified under the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), setting a precedent for responsible wool production.
Today, Shaniko brings together a group of family ranches across the American West and is the leading U.S. source of RWS-certified American Merino. By supplying wool at scale with verified standards for animal welfare, land management, and chain of custody, Shaniko connects global textile partners to fiber grown with integrity.
At Shaniko, one of Ben’s primary roles is to implement the Carbon Initiative, which measures the positive carbon impact of the regenerative farming methods on all of their partner ranches throughout the West. Ben meets with ranchers, collects field samples, coordinates with the laboratory team, and provides feedback, which helps guide management decisions.
Ben also runs all certification programs, including the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and NATIVA Regen, helping ranchers create management plans that meet stringent guidelines. Ben’s passion for the environment, community, and sustainable practices guides his work with Shaniko Wool.
Ben Carver joined the family business in 2022 after a successful career in the humanitarian sector as a national director of programs. He led projects in conservation, education, and public health, from Yemen and Haiti to Lebanon and Pakistan.
