Sheep & Wool Festival Has Something For Everyone

By Sarah Young Livestock Editor
Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:49 AM CDT

The Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival is the place to be Sept. 5-7. The three-day event held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Jefferson has activities slated for everyone, from the fiber arts enthusiast to the sheep producer.

In its seventh year, the event provides educational experiences, breeding, market and fleece shows, auctions, all things wool, and stock dog trials, clinics and shows.

The event opens at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and continues through Sunday, closing at 3:30 p.m. Admission to the event is $5 per person, with children under 8 free. Weekend passes are available at the gate for $10

Producer education

In an era of rising feed and food costs, survival in the livestock industry hinges on making the right decisions; decisions backed up by the most up to date information available at the Festival.

-Sheep 101

Sheep 101 is a full day workshop scheduled for Friday. The workshop is geared toward beginning shepherds.

The scheduled topics are: Pastures for Sheep; Records Are a Part of Raising Sheep; Resources for Sheep Producers; Wool Breeds and Their Uses; Health Management Programs for Sheep Producers; Common Sense Feeding for Sheep; and Is Direct Marketing the Answer.

Pre-registration is required for the workshop and can be made online at http://www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com, by calling Jill Alf at 608-868-2505 or e-mailing mailto:wisbc@centurytel.net.

- Shepherds’ Workshops

Shepherds Workshops will be held Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.

Topics on Saturday include: Sheep Production in an Era of $6 Corn; Adding Value to Wool Production; Profitable Maternal Selection; Websites As a Tool For Sheep Promotion; Parasite Control & Anthelmintic Resistance; Livestock Identification Update & Equipment Available; Forage Management for Big and Small Flocks; Innovations In the Sheep Industry; and Scrapie Situation and Outlook.

Sunday topics are: Feeding the Flock: Using By-Products; Important and Economic Pluses of Wool; Major Diseases of Sheep; Utilizing the Stratified 3-Tier System; Successful Sheep Selection Programs; and Introduction to Mule Sheep: The Bluefaced Leicester’s Link to Grass Fed Lamb.

- Shearing Demonstrations

Shearing demonstrations will be provided by David Kier, Eleva. Kier has traveled the world shearing sheep and regularly travels the state shearing both large and small flocks and maintains his own commercial flock. The demonstrations will be held Saturday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Kier will also host a workshop at 1 p.m. on Sunday about how to shear a standing sheep. This shearing technique is designed for those persons inexperienced in standard shearing positions, who cannot physically handle an animal or occasionally have to handle an animal.

Herding 101 and Stock Dogs

Owners of herding breeds of dogs can also test or train their dogs in Herding 101, another clinic returning after a very successful inaugural last year.

Two options are available for dog owners: An instinct test, which will test the dog’s potential or classes consisting of two 15-minute sessions or a two-day option of four sessions total. Herding 101 is open to any herding breeds with a recommended minimum age of 8 months and up for herding classes, and a range of 4 to 8 months for instincts test.

Dog owners should pre-register for Herding 101 by contacting the Festival office at 608-868-2505 or www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com.

Other dog events include the ‘Crook & Whistle’ Stock Dog Trial and Stock Dog Shows. Check the festival website for a schedule of these events.

Auctions

-Ram Test Alley

The Ram Test Alley sale is a private treaty sale of performance tested rams in the Wisconsin Ram Test, NSIP or BSIP. Rams must be in place by 9 a.m. on Saturday and bidding is from 3-4 p.m. with sales final at 4:30 p.m.

- Shepherds’ Auction

The auction will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. This annual event supports the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative educational and scholarship activities. Auction items are provided by festival exhibitors, vendors, WSBC members and supporters. Donations are accepted until 3 p.m. Saturday. To donate, contact Jill Alf at 608-868-2505 or mailto:wisbc@centurytel.net prior to the Festival and at the Festival in the Activity Center at the Festival.

- Silent Auction

The silent auction will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. The auction supports the WSBC activities and projects.

- Used Equipment Auction

The popular used equipment auction will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. It features all types of equipment. All items need to be consigned no later than 1 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Warm-Up Arena.

Fiber Arts

- Wonders of Wool Classes

Classes include Felted scarves and Felted Father Christmas, Natural dyeing, Crazy Quilt, Rectangle Wool Basket, Designing at the Wheel, Beaded Knitting, and more. Beginning classes are also available in spinning, knitting, crochet, and weaving. And new this year, sign up for classes online or by calling 608-868-2505.

- Make It With Wool

If fashion is your thing, Wisconsin’s Make It With Wool competition will be held on Saturday and is the place to see designers of all ages compete for a chance in the national spotlight. Watch the judging results in the ‘Best of Wisconsin’ fashion show at 3 p.m. Want to enter MIWW? Go to the website for complete details of the age categories and criteria, including the quilt, wall hanging and novelty classes.

- “Art Under Foot”

A delightful display of hooked rugs will again be featured this year. These fibers arts projects have been sponsored by the Cream City Rug Hookers and the Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Inc.

For Youth

There are fiber arts classes for kids, including Will “Ewe Teach Me to Knit, Will “Ewe” Teach Me to Felt, and Make A Drop Spindle & Learn To Spin On It.

Sheep shows, lead class competition, classes for new and experienced shepherds, fleece show and sale, Sunday demonstrations of traditional fiber arts by the Marshall Pleasant Spinners, daily stock dog shows, and so much more!

- Youth Sweepstakes

Taking part in the 'Youth Sweepstakes' can provide a first opportunity for youth who participate in the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival Any youth who enters any of the events listed is automatically entered in and eligible for Sweepstakes awards. Events included are: junior showmanship, skillathon, judging contest, poster contest, lead line, junior breeding sheep and market lambs.

Points will be awarded based on participation and placing within each event. Overall sweepstakes points will be determined by a combination of total points from an individual's four highest scores; with no more than two of those scores from exhibiting breeding animals or market lambs.

Country Store

The Country Store will feature over 120 exhibitors from across the country, offering everything from baskets to drop spindles; yarn to jewelry; rug looms to roving. New expanded shopping hours: Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cooking With the Chefs!

On Sunday, Chef Jack Kaestner, from the Oconomowoc Lake Club will prepare several of his favorite lamb dishes and answer questions while preparing the meal.

More information online

For complete listing and event details visit the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival website at http://www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com.

 

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