By Betsy Freese
Livestock Editor

It's too much work. Sheep producers don't have computers. No one will use it.

This was Tom Drudik's reaction two years ago when his son, Doug, a computer specialist, told his parents they needed a Web site for their Nebraska sheep farm. Luckily, Doug prevailed, launching www.NebraskaSheep.com. Tom quickly realized his concerns were wrong.

Today, the Drudiks' popular site has more than 700 sheep producers listed in their unique U .S. Sheep Breeders Online Directory. Also included in the free national directory are club lamb producers, sheep shearers, show judges and more. It's a one-stop sheep shop.

Surprised by success
"My main purpose was to offer information and services to sheep producers," says Tom Drudik, "My secondary purpose was to expose our sheep-breeding program to more people. We are continually surprised by the success of the site and the variety of visits we get from people all over the world," Their farm Web site gets more than 16,000 page views and 5,000 user sessions per month.

Before they launched NebraskaSheep.com, the Drudiks sold almost all production from their 125 ewes to local buyers.

Today, 90% of their buyers find them on the Internet.  Buyers go to their site, look at photos of lambs for sale and "call to say we'll be by tomorrow," says Drudik. If he doesn't have what they want in their price range, he quickly sends them to other breeders.

"Some sheep breeders do not want other breeders linked on their Web pages because they think they will lose customers," says Drudik. "I do not believe that. I promote sheep. It is not our philosophy that someone is going to take a buyer away from us. One breed of sheep cannot do it all for everyone. We need to work together."

The Web has saved sheep producers "miles of travel searching for breeding stock" says Drudik. "You can sit at home and study breeding programs before making farm visits. Now all we need is a way to deliver sheep electronically!"