Olympic Zone: Shaniko wool clothes U.S. athletes

Jeanne Carver and her husband run the Imperial Stock Ranch in Shaniko, and sheep and cattle can be found grazing on their property.

Carver never thought her love for wool would start a partnership with an American brand, but a phone call changed all that.

It began with a controversy during the 2012 London Olympics, when uniforms worn by U.S. athletes for the opening and closing ceremonies were made in China.

Designer Ralph Lauren, facing backlash, decided to invest in the “Made in America” motto, which led him to Oregon.

Carver said she never expected her wool would go as far as it has, but she received a phone call from Ralph Lauren in New York out of the blue, asking her for wool samples.

“This is amazing! How did you find me?” Carver said the recalled asking.

Six months later, around Christmas time, after several conversations with Lauren, Carver found out her wool was going into the sweaters to be worn by Team USA at the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

“Most of us in America love sports. We love sports. We love the Olympics,” Carver said. “We all cheer our teams on, and that’s true in every country but we’re never that — rarely for the masses, are we connected to our team. And this ‘Made in America’ program that Ralph Lauren is doing helps make that connection for all of us.”

Four years later, Carver is still providing the wool for the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony, for sweaters, hats and mittens.

“You’re humbled. You’re honored. You just can’t believe it. It’s still a miracle ’til this day. It will always be a miracle in my life,” she said.