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Meet the Ranchers: John Helle, 3rd generation, Duckworth founder. The man behind the mission. A dedicated father, husband, and rancher. The “Mick Jagger of Wool”, though we’re pretty sure he would roll his eyes at that nickname. Some 15 years ago, John struck up a conversation with a stranger on the chairlift at Maverick Mountain, the local ski hill outside Dillon, MT. The stranger happened to be a veteran of the outdoor industry. It was that day that the idea for Duckworth was Born. But the real story started long before that fateful powder day. John, born and raised in Dillon, has spent his entire life on the same land his family has worked for generations. Through a lifetime of dedication and passion, he furthered his families legacy and built one of the largest sheep operations in Montana. The Merino wool he produces is widely considered to be some of the finest in the entire world. That doesn’t happen by accident. The extreme, high-alpine Montana climate pushes the flock to grow a uniquely dense crimp in their wool, giving the wool incredible natural stretch, durability, and insulating power. Working alongside the Montana Wool Lab at Montana State University, he built a world-class genetics program to systemically breed the flock down to an average of under 19 microns- the itchiness that commonly defined wool bred out entirely. His genetics work is not only essential for Duckworth’s operation, but is now being shared with partner ranches across the the country, raising the bar for the entire wool industry. The mission statement of Duckworth is “to revitalize the American Wool industry through American manufacturing.” John is the visionary behind making that a reality. An avid skier, ADV motorcyclist, and Beaverhead search & rescue volunteer, John lives the life Duckworth is built for, and every design choice and thread in our clothing is a reflection of that. #DUCKWORTH