Shepherd's Harvest festival scheduled May 8-9
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 04/22/2010 9:10 AM
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LAKE ELMO, Minn.— Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival is a tradition every Mother's Day weekend on the Washington County fairgrounds.
The 13th annual festival will be held May 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking and admission are free. An estimated 7,000 people visited last year. It's Minnesota's largest sheep and wool festival.
"We draw from a big area," said Winnie Johnson, a member of the all-volunteer organizing committee. "There are lots of people who really look forward to this event."
It's a chance for people to see and learn about all things fiber, and not just sheep— it has expanded to include rabbits and alpacas, and is held in conjunction with Llama Magic, a sort of horse show, only for llamas. Meat goats will also be on the fairgrounds this year.
"For rural people, there's some alternative farming kinds of things that they can learn about or for urban people, or rural-wannabes, it's a chance to learn about these things, how to use the fiber and meet the people," Johnson said.
More than 120 vendors will sell every animal fiber, rare hand-spun yarns, spinning wheels, pottery, horn, lanolin and veterinary supplies.
"People who are interested in knitting or weaving, things like that, they love the vendors. They'll find things all in one place they can't find anywhere else," said Johnson.
Each day will have live entertainment and demonstrations of sheep shearing and dogs herding sheep. People should plan to arrive early to see stock dog demos; they will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Classes will help everyone from fiber beginners to experts. Topics include beginning spinning, working with natural dyes and workshops on making specific projects. One of the Sunday classes will help encourage new shepherds or people thinking of starting a flock. Encouraging people to become shepherds is part of the festival's mission, Johnson said.
Some classes filled the first day of registration, April 1.
Minnesota's only fleece competition will take place Saturday. Fleece are judged on quality, length and cleanliness, then may be sold through silent auction.
"We typically have about 100 fleeces entered and have few left over," Johnson said.
The festival also has an alpaca fleece competition certified by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association.
Authors scheduled for readings and signings during the festival are Frances Iverson, author of the children's book, "The Weaving Adventures of Edgar and Rita", and Kathryn Sletto, with her book "Keeping Watch: 30 Sheep, 24 Rabbits, 2 Llamas, 1 Alpaca and a Shepherdess with a Day Job."
New this year to the festival is David Vavreck, one of fewer than 20 full-time horners in America. He will demonstrate how he carves bone, horn and antlers into tableware, toys and textile tools.
Minnesota's largest Fiber Sandwich will begin Saturday. Vendors contribute clean, carded wool that is layered, as if it's being made into a sandwich. The wool is divided and given to spinners to make into yarn, which goes on sale Sunday at 1:30 by silent auction. Money from the sale will be given to Heifer International,a non-profit organization that gives livestock and agricultural training to people who regularly struggle for food and income. Registration for spinners is free, but space is limited.
The festival is also a chance to step inside a Kazakh Yurt, a portable, felt-covered, wood-framed home used by nomadic people in Central Asia. Linda Johnson-Morke, who owns the yurt, will be giving felting demonstrations. She studied the craft in Mongolia. People who get to the fairgrounds early Saturday can watch the yurt being assembled.
"Not very many places in Minnesota do we get a chance to see a real yurt," said Johnson.