During WWII, wool provided clothing for troops fighting overseas, and for products at home. During the 1941 crop show, Leland Sudlow captured this display on the significance wool. This week’s Throwback Thursday looks at wool production during WWII. Over half of the soldier’s uniforms used wool, and it was used in blankets for troops. Tanned sheep hides with wool were used in airmen’s jackets. The Commodity Credit Corporation purchased wool at $0.40/lb, under the guidance of the OPA (Office of Price Administration). According to the display in 1941, South Dakota produced enough wool for 197,728 uniforms. This is a significant amount of wool! 1942 had the highest number of sheep in South Dakota with 2.4 million sheep and lambs in production. To keep troops clothed and warm, sheep and lamb production was a must during WWII.
SDAHM Sudlow 72-0-38