Career Explorer > Career Details
| Wool Buyer |
$49,980 Annual Average (US Bureau of Labor and Statistics) |
| Career Cluster: Marketing, Sales & Service | |
| General
Information: Wool buyers purchase wool for processors on a contract basis or for resale. |
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| Career
Information: Wool Buyers assess and value wool being sold by farmers through merchant and country wool buyers and through auctions. They examine fleece and inspect samples of the wool for fineness, color, length of fiber, amount of reject wool (seedy burry, dead and black), natural grease, and foreign matter present to ascertain market value. These Wool Buyers offer a price to the seller on a lot or graded basis. Wool Buyer purchase wool on behalf of their company for clients. They visit wool stores to evaluate wool samples by determining color, yield (amount of actual wool in a sample without water, grease and dirt), micron (thickness) and length. They grade wool into different types, such as hogget or ewe wool, and full-length fleece or belly pieces; they attend auctions to buy wool and also buy wool from farmers through merchant and country wool buyers over the phone or in person. They arrange the transportation of the wool to clients. A merchant wool buyer collects wool samples from farmers, evaluates samples by determining color, yield (amount of actual wool in a sample without water, grease and dirt), micron (thickness) and length, weighs samples; writes up details on a quote sheet and sends it to the main office to determine the wool price. They then return to the farm to collect the bales and sends invoices to farmers and to the main office. They may press wool into bales, perform clean ups, or prepare an audit of accounts. |
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| Educational
Requirements: 4 year degree |
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| Suggested High School/Collegiate
Courses: Agriculture, biology, animal science, leadership, economics, education, math, business and computers. |
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| Skills
Necessary: Mathematical , Work independently , Decision Making , Computer Skills , Written Communications , Detail Oriented , Works under pressure , Sales , Basic Business Principles , Negotiating , Good with Animals , Quick Thinking , Steady Nerves , Good Judgment , Confidence |
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| Job
Availability: Steady Growth |
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| Location
of jobs: In western and southwestern states, where large amounts of sheep are raised. |
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| Working
Conditions: Much work is done in an office with a computer. A great deal of time is also spent on the phone. Some travel to producers and processing plants maybe required. |
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| FFA
Programs that Promote this Career: Agriscience , CDE: Ag Issues , CDE: Ag Sales , CDE: Livestock Evaluation , CDE: Marketing Plan , Supervised Agriculture Experience: Exploratory , Supervised Agriculture Experience: Ownership/Entrepreneurship , Supervised Agriculture Experience: Placement , American Degree , Stars Over America , Proficiencies , Risk Management Essay , New Century Farmer |
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| Related
Occupations: Agriculture Business , Agriculture General , Trader/Broker |
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| FFA Sponsors/Employers in this Industry: Animal Source texas inc. , Calusa Creek Tree Farm , Carhartt , Dow AgroSciences , Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa , Fastline Publications , Furr Systems , GROWMARK, Inc. , Iowa State University , Midwest Grain & Barge Company , Shores Horse Blanket Company , Soppe Systems, Inc. , Technekes , Tractor Supply , Vantage Town & Country , Wilbur Ellis |
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| Current
FFA Sponsor/Employer Opportunities Available: Advertising Sales Representative , Advertising Sales Support , Graphic Designer , Customer Service , Telephone Sales / Telemarketing , Summer Student Intern , Assistant Manager , Store Manager , Team Member , Receiver , Team Leader , Clothing Team Member , Sales and Marketing Summer Internship , Sales Representative , Intern , PCA Agricultural Crop Consultant |
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