4th Annual Small Scale Sustainable Sheep Farming Event February 17, 2018
Speakers, vendors, lunch and more!
We still have space for vendors! If you have products or information related to sheep, fiber animals or fiber and would like to have a space at the 2018 Sustainable Sheep Farming Event, please contact us. There is no vendor fee but you must register in advance and provide a current MN ST-19 form.
Cost: $20/person, discount for SSFC members
Please pre-register by February 11, 2018
New Journey Church
505 9th St. NW
Fosston, MN 56542
Attendees are welcome to bring a fleece to be judged and available for sale after the judging. No cost to enter fleece but please let us know you’ll be participating when you pre-register.
Cost: $20/person, discount for SSFC members
Please pre-register by February 11, 2018
New Journey Church
505 9th St. NW
Fosston, MN 56542
Attendees are welcome to bring a fleece to be judged and available for sale after the judging. No cost to enter fleece but please let us know you’ll be participating when you pre-register.
9:00 am Registration Coffee and donuts
9:30 Introductions
9:45 Wool types and values, Marketing; Travis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Fleece Demo, Fleece competition; Brooke Hendrickx
Breakout sessions 10:45 Sheep Handling Equipment and Management; Alan Hendrickx
OR
Alpaca Fiber and its uses; Karvakko Alpaca Farm
11:30 SSFC Annual Meeting
NOON Lunch catered by Palubicki’s Deli
1:00 Virtual tour of Rafter P Ranch; Dan Persons
2:00 Margo Hanson Fecal Egg Count Demonstration
Please Pre-Register for meal planning [email protected] or 218-776-2223 More information: sheepcommunity.com
9:30 Introductions
9:45 Wool types and values, Marketing; Travis Hoffman, Ph.D.
Fleece Demo, Fleece competition; Brooke Hendrickx
Breakout sessions 10:45 Sheep Handling Equipment and Management; Alan Hendrickx
OR
Alpaca Fiber and its uses; Karvakko Alpaca Farm
11:30 SSFC Annual Meeting
NOON Lunch catered by Palubicki’s Deli
1:00 Virtual tour of Rafter P Ranch; Dan Persons
2:00 Margo Hanson Fecal Egg Count Demonstration
Please Pre-Register for meal planning [email protected] or 218-776-2223 More information: sheepcommunity.com
The Small Scale Sustainable Sheep Farming event brings together people who raise sheep, or who want to raise them, with those who are interested in sheep products. This event provides information for those interested in raising sheep sustainably for meat, wool, or milk, with those interested in purchasing local sheep products. Consumers interested in local sheep products find this event helpful in connecting them with the right producers.
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The 3rd Annual Small Scale Sustainable Sheep Farming Event Was a Success! Thank you to all the participants and attendees who make this event possible. Special thanks to the New Journey Church in Fosston, MN who hosted the event.
February 18, 2017
New Journey Church
505 9th St.
Fosston, MN 56542
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Presentation Topics
SSFC Updates and New Junior Board Member Scholarship Opportunity: Julie Zilka
Wool: Its Properties and Possibilities: Julie Zilka
Minnesota Meat Inspection: How Producers Can Get Their Products to Consumers: Andy Siira (MDA)
Livestock Guardian Dogs - the right choice for predator control?: Colleen Williams, Stoney Brook Maremmas
Keeping Fleeces Clean: Byron Johnson
Annual SSFC meeting and Voting for Board of Directors
Improving forage and livestock production through managed grazing: Jeff Duchene (NRCS)
Lunch
Educational Displays and Informational Booths Related to Farming
Presentation Descriptions
Duchene: Improving forage and livestock production through managed grazing: This presentation will discuss the value of grazing management to improve forage productivity and discuss whether pastures should be re-seeded or whether grazing management can address the productivity issues alone or in conjunction with other management practices. The bottom line will be to raise healthier, more productive forages and grazing animals.
Johnson: Get better prices for your wool. Clean fleeces bring higher prices, learn how to keep your fleeces cleaner.
Zilka: Wool, one of the earliest fibers to be spun and woven into cloth, is one of the most important animal fibers used in the textile industry. In this presentation we will discuss the properties of wool, and what makes it such a unique and versatile fiber. We’ll talk about the different breeds of sheep, the differences in their fiber, and the uses of their various fiber types in the textile market as well as what makes a fleece desirable to hand spinners and the craft market. The discussion will include tips for the care and feeding of animals for fiber production.
Presenter Biographies
Jeff Duchene is a Grazing Lands Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He has served in this role for over 10 years, the past 8 with NRCS. He works with livestock producers on developing pasture management strategies to improve forage and livestock production through managed grazing systems.
Byron Johnson has lived in the Bemidji area for 63 years. His father raised sheep and Byron has been shearing for over 30 years. His father sold the original family homestead to the state park and Byron now lives one mile away from the old place. In his spare time, he fishes, weaves baskets and pursues other hobbies. He also works on the pipeline.
Andy Siira is a meat inspector with the MN Dept. of Agriculture. In his role with the Dept. of Agriculture he inspects meat shops that are licensed for equal to production. This equal to program is the equivalent to USDA inspection and allows shops to sell their products throughout the state of Minnesota. Part of his equal to inspection role includes inspecting the harvest of animals allowing the products produced from these animals to be sold by producers throughout Minnesota. Additional inspection duties include inspecting multi-ingredient product production and cook records as well as sanitation practices etc. within licensed facilities. Andy was raised on a grazing dairy south of Brandon and has raised sheep since he was a first grader. In high school he was lambing 65 ewes and the income made from this enterprise helped him pay for college. Andy attended South Dakota State University and earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Agronomy. Andy lives south of Brandon with his wife and 4 children (the oldest, a seventh grader, will be lambing 6 ewes this winter).
Colleen Williams is a Veterinary Technician who has been employed in small animal medicine since 1994. She also raises registered Hampshire and Dorper sheep, along with a handful of meat goats on her farm, Stoneybrook Maremmas. She came upon a Maremma Sheepdog purely by accident 14 years ago and was fascinated by how she interacted with the sheep. Since then, Colleen has come to love and respect this breed for their incredible bonding instinct. She has dedicated her heart to promoting the Maremma Sheepdog and to mentoring new owners in their journey of raising a successful livestock guardian dog.
Sheep producer and fiber teacher, Julie Zilka, divides her time between St. Paul, where she works as a Systems Analyst for the University of St. Thomas, and Park Rapids where she is a beginner Shepherd.
A lifelong fascination with natural fibers and the fiber arts prompted her to take up shepherding. Julie and her husband raise Finn, Gotland, and Cormo wethers, along with a very opinionated female Shetland, as a fiber flock.
Beyond the production of her own fiber projects, she is an advocate for the preservation of cultural handcraft techniques and works to promote the use of locally produced fiber and fiber products.
Julie is a member of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, the Midwest Weavers Guild, and the Sustainable Sheep and Fiber Community of Northern Minnesota. She teaches classes in fiber preparation and spinning.
February 18, 2017
New Journey Church
505 9th St.
Fosston, MN 56542
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Presentation Topics
SSFC Updates and New Junior Board Member Scholarship Opportunity: Julie Zilka
Wool: Its Properties and Possibilities: Julie Zilka
Minnesota Meat Inspection: How Producers Can Get Their Products to Consumers: Andy Siira (MDA)
Livestock Guardian Dogs - the right choice for predator control?: Colleen Williams, Stoney Brook Maremmas
Keeping Fleeces Clean: Byron Johnson
Annual SSFC meeting and Voting for Board of Directors
Improving forage and livestock production through managed grazing: Jeff Duchene (NRCS)
Lunch
Educational Displays and Informational Booths Related to Farming
Presentation Descriptions
Duchene: Improving forage and livestock production through managed grazing: This presentation will discuss the value of grazing management to improve forage productivity and discuss whether pastures should be re-seeded or whether grazing management can address the productivity issues alone or in conjunction with other management practices. The bottom line will be to raise healthier, more productive forages and grazing animals.
Johnson: Get better prices for your wool. Clean fleeces bring higher prices, learn how to keep your fleeces cleaner.
Zilka: Wool, one of the earliest fibers to be spun and woven into cloth, is one of the most important animal fibers used in the textile industry. In this presentation we will discuss the properties of wool, and what makes it such a unique and versatile fiber. We’ll talk about the different breeds of sheep, the differences in their fiber, and the uses of their various fiber types in the textile market as well as what makes a fleece desirable to hand spinners and the craft market. The discussion will include tips for the care and feeding of animals for fiber production.
Presenter Biographies
Jeff Duchene is a Grazing Lands Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He has served in this role for over 10 years, the past 8 with NRCS. He works with livestock producers on developing pasture management strategies to improve forage and livestock production through managed grazing systems.
Byron Johnson has lived in the Bemidji area for 63 years. His father raised sheep and Byron has been shearing for over 30 years. His father sold the original family homestead to the state park and Byron now lives one mile away from the old place. In his spare time, he fishes, weaves baskets and pursues other hobbies. He also works on the pipeline.
Andy Siira is a meat inspector with the MN Dept. of Agriculture. In his role with the Dept. of Agriculture he inspects meat shops that are licensed for equal to production. This equal to program is the equivalent to USDA inspection and allows shops to sell their products throughout the state of Minnesota. Part of his equal to inspection role includes inspecting the harvest of animals allowing the products produced from these animals to be sold by producers throughout Minnesota. Additional inspection duties include inspecting multi-ingredient product production and cook records as well as sanitation practices etc. within licensed facilities. Andy was raised on a grazing dairy south of Brandon and has raised sheep since he was a first grader. In high school he was lambing 65 ewes and the income made from this enterprise helped him pay for college. Andy attended South Dakota State University and earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Agronomy. Andy lives south of Brandon with his wife and 4 children (the oldest, a seventh grader, will be lambing 6 ewes this winter).
Colleen Williams is a Veterinary Technician who has been employed in small animal medicine since 1994. She also raises registered Hampshire and Dorper sheep, along with a handful of meat goats on her farm, Stoneybrook Maremmas. She came upon a Maremma Sheepdog purely by accident 14 years ago and was fascinated by how she interacted with the sheep. Since then, Colleen has come to love and respect this breed for their incredible bonding instinct. She has dedicated her heart to promoting the Maremma Sheepdog and to mentoring new owners in their journey of raising a successful livestock guardian dog.
Sheep producer and fiber teacher, Julie Zilka, divides her time between St. Paul, where she works as a Systems Analyst for the University of St. Thomas, and Park Rapids where she is a beginner Shepherd.
A lifelong fascination with natural fibers and the fiber arts prompted her to take up shepherding. Julie and her husband raise Finn, Gotland, and Cormo wethers, along with a very opinionated female Shetland, as a fiber flock.
Beyond the production of her own fiber projects, she is an advocate for the preservation of cultural handcraft techniques and works to promote the use of locally produced fiber and fiber products.
Julie is a member of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, the Midwest Weavers Guild, and the Sustainable Sheep and Fiber Community of Northern Minnesota. She teaches classes in fiber preparation and spinning.
Sponsors
Marsh Creek Farm
Marshcreekcrossing.com
Twin Valley, MN
Back in Balance Minerals®
North Central Feed Products, LLC
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota
Marshcreekcrossing.com
Twin Valley, MN
Back in Balance Minerals®
North Central Feed Products, LLC
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota
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The second annual Small Scale Sustainable Sheep Farming event took place
February 20,2016. at 10 a.m.
Fosston Civic Center
February 20,2016. at 10 a.m.
Fosston Civic Center
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Photos by Bernis Ingvaldson
Topics included:
- Mark Hayek- "Building Resiliency in Pasture Systems," focusing on understanding the four ecological processes, the biological community, and how the various pasture conditions contributes to the health and function of each process.
- Alethea Kenney- Elaborated on the Sustainable Sheep Community Project
- Keila McCracken-Northern Minnesota Fibershed, what it is and how you can participate.
- Jennifer Wilder- "Midwest Textiles: A Photo Journal Tour," is a presentation on creating awareness of the rich textile community within the Midwest.
- Lynn Mizner- "Generating a Year- Round Income From Heritage Sheep," presentation.
The event included booths by local individuals and agencies providing information on getting started with sheep, available resources, and educational opportunities for those interested in sheep or buying sheep products.
Displays included:
Displays included:
- Tara Smith, of Green Tara Farm, to discuss raising fiber animals and demonstrate spinning; and
- Colleen Williams, of Stoney brook Maremmas, will have information on available livestock guard dogs and her breeding program.
- Lisa Wetzel, with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, will be there to answer questions about meat and milk marketing.
- North Central Feed Products, LLC and Balance Minerals® will have a booth of their available products.
- Northern Woolen Mills will also have information and yarns from the mill. A tour of Northern Woolen Mills will end the event.
Delicious lunch and snacks provided by Palubicki's Deli in Fosston. More information 218-657-2502 or click the link below to email.
North Central Feed Products, LLC Gonvick, MN 877-487-6040 [email protected]
Back in Balance Minerals® backinbalanceminerals.com
