Fall, 2011 - The Big E

First Time at the Big E

Success - Champion natural-colored Border Leicester yearling ewe! Maybe it was beginner's luck, but we were thrilled. 

And what a terrific venue. The fairgrounds in West Springfield, MA is impressive - definitely not your typical state fair. We took our camper and stayed in the lot behind the sheep barn, just steps away from our animals. We found everything to be clean, and everyone was helpful and friendly. There is plenty to do from watching a free evening show of oldies music to wandering through the 6 replicas of the New England states' capitol buildings. We took a day trip through some beautiful areas and stumbled upon Smith and Amherst Colleges nestled in the hills. We thought this would be a one-time trip, but decided we have to return.

Summertime 2011

ZNK Border Leicester Summer Update

Great Lakes Fiber Festival - Wooster, Ohio

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional kick-off for summer, and ours began with a successful weekend at the Great Lakes Fiber Festival in Wooster which hosts the National Border Leicester Sale. We sold three sheep. The black ram lamb won his class and was sold to Sarah Jakeman of Some Day Soon Farm, New York. The white ewe was second in her class and was sold to Montana Aerie along with our other yearling ewe in the sale.

June and July on the Farm - West Liberty

In spite of a very hot summer, it was a good one. As soon as Jerry arrived home from Wooster, our granddaughter Lucia's 2-week visit began. Zac and Rebecca took off for Spain, and we gladly offered to entertain Lu while they traveled. We introduced her to the sheep, hoping that she'll get to feel comfortable around them and help her Pappy show them someday. Her favorite activity, as seen in the photo, was helping Pappy mow the lawn.

In the meantime, I started renting a booth at Hidden Treasures in West Liberty. I have hand-painted yarn, hand-spun yarn, roving, and hand-knitted items for sale. I'm hoping the sales improve in the fall when people are looking for woolen projects to do, as well as hats, scarves, mittens, and wrist-warmers to keep them warm this winter. Look here for future listings of fleeces for sale.

In July, Christine, a dear childhood friend, visited us from California for a few days. She thoroughly enjoyed the small farm experience, including helping Jerry wash and trim sheep.

It was time, of course, to get them ready for the Ohio State Fair later in the month.

Speaking of the state fair, we had a second in a class of 5 and a 3rd in a class of 12. Two of our fleeces placed second and third. We had hoped to do better. Unfortunately, the ewe we thought could be a winner didn't get entered.

Michigan Fiber Festival - Allegan

Mid-August brought us to the Michigan Fiber Festival in

Allegan where we were very successful.

In the yearling ewe white long-wool class we had a first

and third. Those 2 ewes then won the pair of yearling ewes.

The first place ewe went on to win champion white long-wool ewe and then supreme champion ewe.

In the natural-color long-wool show our yearling ram won

his class and was reserve champion NC ram. The NC yearling ewe and the NC ewe lamb each won their class with the yearling being the champion and the lamb being the reserve champion NC ewes.

We also sold a lot of fleeces, so it was definitely a successful year in Michigan!

What's Next?

We're headed to the Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts, to show for the first time. We look forward to seeing familiar faces at the Border Leicester Show and meeting new breeders as well.

Lambing Time!

Things have been busy in the barn. Still waiting for the last ewe to deliver, but 18 lambs running around so far!

Wisconsin Lamb Joins Our Flock

Looking like she belongs in Ohio!

Jerry found a natural-colored ewe lamb with a beautiful fleece from www.thistlewoodborderleicesters.com, so three days after Christmas, we headed north through Chicago and continued northwest of Madison Twenty-one hours later we arrived home (on our 37th wedding anniversary) with our new ewe lamb.

Louisville, 2010

Jerry made his annual trek to the NAILE in Louisville last week along with 6 white and black sheep (including 2 yearling ewes, 1 ram lamb, and 3 ewe lambs). The natural-colored ram lamb, the first banner-winner we raised from birth (mother was the 2008 champion ewe and father was the 2009 champion ram), won reserve champion ram. Every year we learn more about how to prepare the sheep and their fleeces and we also learn how different judges look for different things! All in all, it's a great experience and fun to reconnect with friends. John Guffey is helping Jerry out in the picture above with the reserve champion.

Now it's time for shearing, which happens tomorrow. We will have a lot of fleeces (lamb, white, and natural-colored) available. Let us know if you're interested, spinners - only $5 a pound!

Barn Quilt

We live in Champaign County, Ohio. The chamber of commerce started a barn quilt program several years ago, where businesses and farms could design a quilt and display it on their buildings/barn. We decided to join the group of over 60 barn quilts this year. Since we raise both white and natural-colored Border Leicester sheep and I (Dena) spin the wool, we designed a quilt that includes the sheep and a quilt pattern called "spools." Here is a picture of the quilt on our barn.

Michigan Fiber Festival

I'm finally getting around to posting on the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan. Every year the third week of August, I (Dena) head to the MFF for a few days of workshops that include spinning, knitting, basket-making, and numerous other crafts. This year I came home with a rib basket and skeins of painted yarn. Eileen and Ruthann always join me for this annual trek. Of course, one of the highlights is eating at a couple of great restaurants...the London Grill in Plainwell and Salt of the Earth in Fennville. They are both worth the trip!

Jerry has been bringing sheep to show on the weekend for the past few years. The people are great, the atmosphere is pretty laid back, and we've had success. This year wasn't any different. We won several classes with the 6 sheep Jerry brought. We had first place white yearling ewe, first place natural colored yearling ewe,

first place natural colored ewe lamb, second place white ram lamb, second place natural colored yearling ram. We had reserve champion white ram, champion white ewe, champion natural-colored ewe, and best fleece of the show.

We topped off the weekend with dinner at Tim and Janet's, friends of ours who live in Kalamazoo, just a short drive from Allegan. A great way to end summer!