Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association, Inc.

101st Annual Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival 

Saturday, April 24, 2010
Rain or Shine
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tolland Agricultural Center
Route 30, Vernon/Rockville, CT

The Connecticut Sheep, Wool and Fiber Festival celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009 and we are off to a great start for our next century.  The festival,  started in 1909 by the CT Sheep Breeders Association, as a program “to promote the keeping of sheep in Connecticut”, has evolved and expanded into a premier sheep and fiber festival by providing exhibits, demonstrations and vendors from the sheep, wool and fiber arena.  This event is a delightful agricultural and learning experience for the general public as well as shepherds and fiber enthusiasts.  Exhibits and activities include: sheep exhibits, shearing demonstrations; vendors, fleece sale, educational lectures; ox cart rides, wool skirting, a sheep dog trial, fleece to shawl contests, kids corner, knitting instruction, ask the veterinarian, food, vendors, ox cart rides, festival logo shirts,  music, vendors and fun.

 Contact us if you would like to volunteer to assist with our festival

Were you part of creating the World's Longest Scarf?

In 2009, the United Nations International Year of Natural Fibres, there was a worldwide effort to knit the World’s Longest Scarf.  Participants paid a fee or were sponsored for every inch they could knit or crochet and all proceeds went to Heifer International.  With short notice and almost no publicity, Anne McIntyre-Lahner found knitters and crocheters who managed to raise $220 on our behalf.  

Printable 2009 Flyer ~ Page 1 JPEG ~ Page 2 JPEG ~ Publisher File

2009 info left for reference - check back often the 2010 details!

Festival contacts

Contact the appropriate person below for entry forms, rules, or information.

Event Co-chairs

Kevin Woolam (860) 559-3537    email

Dennie Burak (860) 526-3883    email

Vendors

Tracy Zulick, DVM   email      View list of 2010 vendors

Workshops and Seminars

Rick Trojanoski   email

Regina Malsbary  (860) 742-5483   email

A Quick Guide to the Festival Grounds:      

Elliot Building– Seminars, NO ANIMALS ALLOWED

Gold Building– Shepherds’ Café, vendors, NO ANIMALS ALLOWED

Green Barn– Vendors & Livestock

Gunther Field– Sheep Dog Trial

Pavillion– CSBA Vending, Music

Red Barn– Vendors, Seminars & Livestock

White Barn– Vendors, Seminars 

All Day– Learn various crocheting skills with members of the Happily Hooked On Crocheting Guild

Learn the Basics of Crochet

9:30 - 10:30AM; Noon – 1:00PM; 2:30 – 3:30PM

Tunisian Knit & Purl Demonstration – 11:00 – 11:30AM

Crochet with Unspun Roving Demonstration – 1:30 – 2:00PM

Spinning Bee – 12:00 - Bring your wheel or spindle and participate in this contest for cash prizes! Run by Ewe & I 4-H Club.

Spin–In – All Day - Bring your wheel or spindle and spin and chat with other spinners or get warmed up for the Spinning Bee.

A series of free one hour fiber related seminars will be offered in the white barn.  

Free Seminars in the Elliot Building

12:00 – National Animal Identification System (NAIS) – The Federal Government recently decided that this program will be turned over to the individual states to regulate.  Find out what Connecticut’s plans are with Dr. Mary Jane Lis, DVM, State Veterinarian.

1:00 – 3:00 CT Blanket Program - Quality control seminar with Jo Judd and friends

Free Seminars in the Red Barn

Sheep Shearing – Lara Sullivan will be shearing sheep from the UCONN flock and Melissa Cunningham will be on hand to explain the process as it progresses and answer questions.

Skirting Demonstrations - Skirting is "the practice of separating all inferior portions from the bulk of the fleece at shearing time". Come and join the fun of 'hands-on' learning.

11:00 -Angora Rabbit Grooming – by long time breeder Chris Morgan from Wooly Buns

1:00 - Sheep 101- Basic sheep husbandry with Randy Knight, UCONN Shepherd

You can win $150 by designing the winning 2011 shirt! 

UCONN Cooperative System

The Connecticut Cooperative Extension System is a statewide, informal education system within the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Cooperative Extension educational programs and problem-solving assistance are based on the research of land-grant universities such as the University of Connecticut.

Cooperative Extension programs are delivered throughout Connecticut in one-on-one sessions, workshops, short courses, and demonstrations, and via satellite teleconference, print publications, videotapes, radio, newspaper, periodicals and the Internet. Educational programs and materials cover a wide range of subjects, with emphasis on animal health and agriculture, family, community, 4-H Youth development, food, nutrition, food safety, natural resources, land use, environment, plant agriculture, horticulture, and gardening.

Connecticut Cooperative Extension employees are located at the main campus in Storrs and in eight county Extension Centers. These eight centers are located in Fairfield County, Hartford County, Litchfield County, Middlesex County, New Haven County, New London County, Tolland County, and Windham County.

Extension Email           Extension Website

DIRECTIONS

The Tolland Agricultural Center is only a few minutes off of I-84 on Route 30 in Vernon/Rockville, CT.

FROM HARTFORD: Take I-84 East to Exit 67. At the bottom of the ramp turn left on to Rte. 31. Go a short distance to the junction with Rte 30. Turn right on to Rte 30 East and TAC will be 1/8 mile on your right.

FROM BOSTON: Take I-84 West to Exit 67. At the bottom of the ramp turn right on to Rte. 31. Go a short distance to the junction with Rte. 30. Turn right on to Rte 30 East and TAC will be 1/8 mile on your right.

On site parking fee of $5.00 per car.

No Dogs Allowed On Grounds except permitted service dogs for the disabled & Trial Dogs in designated area only.