By The Wisconsin Wool & Sheep Festival
Spend the weekend with us as we celebrate the multi-purpose wool- and fiber-bearing animals as well as the wonderful and renewable products that they provide for us.
One of the Midwest’s major events for sheep producers and fiber enthusiasts is set for September 11-13. It’s a full weekend of activities – full of entertainment, shopping and education and it’s all at Jefferson Fair Park, Jefferson, Wisconsin, just 30 miles west of Milwaukee off I-94.
Auction Becomes Pinnacle Of Festival
Please help fund our scholarship and educational seminars by attending the Shepherds’ Auction in the Activity Center, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 12. Started in the early ’90s to fund scholarships, the auction has generated thousands of dollars of financial support for college students and educational programs sponsored by the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative.
Food, Food, Food
Check out the new food vendors at Jefferson this year! In addition to the kitchen in the Activity Center, River’s Edge (remember their pies!), Charlie’s (it’s all about corn dogs and lemonade), Ayers Tropical Sno and the FFA Alumni with their ice cream snacks, we’re joined by Creme de la Crepe with everything from “Crepizza” to Crepes with peanut butter and jelly to Pizza and even funnel cakes. It’s not just about the fiber this year, how about that food!
The Stock Exchange
A new marketing opportunity for sheep producers is being offered this year. Called The Stock Exchange, the newly established venue provides buyers and sellers an inexpensive marketplace for private treaty sales of all types of sheep
Wonders of Wool Classes
Three full days! Seventy-plus classes for all experience levels taught by 37 nationally recognized instructors. There are a few classes left to register for. Ease of registration thru the website!
Make It With Wool
If fashion is your thing, Wisconsin’s Make It With Wool competition will be held on Saturday. This 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. A collection of wool quilts and wall hangings will be shown on Saturday & Sunday, sponsored by the WI Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts.
Fun Events for Everyone
This year there will be a special day for kids called “Wooly Y.” And don’t miss the Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial, sheep shearing demonstrations, sheep shows, lead class competition including the costume class, 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!
Country Store
Come to Jefferson prepared to shop! The Country Store will feature over 130 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 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p/m.
Walk & Knit
After everyone found out how much fun this event could be, this year there will be 11 full teams complete with matching t-shirt who will be walking as fast as they can and knitting at the same time. It will be held Saturday at 4:30pm. Come and see the fun!
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Admission is only $8 per person, weekend passes $15. Kids 8 and under free. Parking free. Camping available on the festival grounds.
Registration and entry forms, plus complete festival information is available online.
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Shearing demonstration:
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FYI, PETA: Inside The Wool Industry.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on September 2, 2015