Wisconsin Shepherd Summer 2013

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SUMMER 2013

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7811 Consolidated School Rd., Edgerton, WI 53534 • www.wisbc.com

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE

PERMIT NO. 203 EAU CLAIRE, WI

A PUBLICATION OF THE WISCONSIN SHEEP BREEDERS COOPERATIVE

VOLUME 25, NUMBER 3

WISCONSIN SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 12 YEARS! Workshops To Focus on Management Following a drought year of historic proportions, the overwhelming rainfall of 2013 has kept farmers in the upper Midwest on a financial rollercoaster and livestock producers in particular on the knife edge of survival. If feed can be found, it comes with a hefty price tag as crops suffer and the prospects for record yields dwindle in the face of stagnant ponds where hayfields once stood. For graziers there is at least some relief, but no less need for even tighter management to make the most of struggling stands.

For sheep producers the trauma can be two-fold as market prices continue to dictate negative profit margins. It boils down to making the most of what you have, being smart about the resources that are available and making common sense decisions. Those are recurring themes found in the educational sessions that will be offered at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in September.

To help pasture-based sheep operations keep their competitive edge, this year’s Shepherds’ Workshops will feature Dr. Kathy

Dr. Kathy Soder, co-owner of K Bar K Farm in central Pennsylvania with her husband Ken, will be discussing forage and pasture management issues at Jefferson, along with tools for sheep production in the 21st century.

Soder is an Animal Scientist at the USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit in University park, PA. Soder, Animal Scientist at the USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit in University Park, PA. Dr. Soder completed her graduate work at Montana State University in range sheep nutrition and Penn State in dairy

nutrition including pasture-based systems. She also worked for two years as a Research Technician at the Montana Wool Laboratory in Bozeman, MT. She has been at her current position since 1998, See WORKSHOPS on Page 3

Auction Becomes Pinnacle of Festival

By Tim Miller, Chairman, Scholarship Auction; WSBC Board Member; Sheep Producer BELOIT — Today we just cut Please help fund our scholar­ football 2nd crop hay. Our custom baler ship and educational seminars by • Weekend on Lake Michigan in told me he heard of new crop attending the Shepherds’ Auction Port Washington hay bringing $285/ton, wrapped in the Activity Center, at 1 p.m. on • 2 Tickets, Brewers Home Game ryelage $100/bale, and small Saturday, September 7. Started in against Reds, September 13, square bales $5 each. Corn is still the early 90's to fund scholarships, Club Level above $5 a bushel and screenings the auction has generated thou­ $214 a ton, if you can find them. sands of dollars of financial • Weekend stay at Blue Harbor, Sheboygan – good for a year.

Market lambs are $1.20 per cwt. support for college students and 2 Badger Hockey Tickets on live - if you are lucky. Times like educational programs sponsored • Center Ice for Home Game at these call for unconventional by the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Kohl Center think­ing, innovation, and enthusi­ Cooperative. This year we are asm. A youthful body fueled adding a sheep cheese and wine • Gift Baskets for lambing/ by energized labor can replace tasting for all Shepherds’ Auction kidding barn, fitting & showing, capital, something this 60 year registered buyers beginning at breeding, and the Shepherd! old body lacks. So who will 12:15 PM in the Activity Center. • Holiday lamb dinner manage these sheep businesses Our thanks go to members of the • Round of Golf for 4 at Cottage into the future? How and where Wisconsin Dairy Sheep Coop­ Grove's The Oaks will they learn the skills? The next erative who have graciously generations in sheep production donated the cheese for this event. • Decorative sheep blanket Here are just a few of the • Joseph Farquharson print, Black­ agriculture are the key. Whether featured Shepherds’ Auction faced Sheep on Landscape, as a cottage industry, second items received so far! matted/framed profession, part time job, or multi-skilled herdsman, or farm • 2 Tickets Indiana at Wisconsin • “The Concrete Sheep” and Badger Football (Nov. 7th, manager for a 3rd party investor, many, many more!

2013) it is our obligation to aid their See AUCTION on Page 8 development.

• Green Bay Packers autographed

Since 2004 the Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial has been a popular feature of the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, scheduled for September 6-8 at Jefferson Fair Park, Jefferson.

Got Sheep?

Stock Exchange = Opportunity for Producers For producers looking to sell sheep, the newest feature at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival may offer the best deal around. The Stock Exchange, a new member service provided by the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative, will open on Friday, September 6, at Jefferson Fair Park and will provide breeders the chance to sell their sheep at a bare bones cost of only $25 per pen. The concept is simple: Rent a pen and sell your sheep. Steve Bingen, WSBC board member and superintendent of the Stock Exchange summed it up by saying “If you are looking for an audience and want to sell sheep, this is the lowest priced venue you could find.” Bingen, a producer from West Bend who chaired the Bred Ewe Sale for many years, added, “Jefferson is a natural for this kind of sale. It attracts everyone from beginners to veteran breeders and the market place concept fits in well with the festival atmosphere.”

He stressed that any type of sheep can be marketed through the Stock

Exchange; registered, purebred, commercial, wether-type, fiber type, ewe or ram lambs, mature ewes or rams. Sellers will be in complete control of the sale of their sheep and can put up a bid board if they choose, sell at a set price, or negotiate with buyers as they please, any time between Friday morning and the close of the festival on Sunday afternoon.

Requirements are simple: Sheep must be healthy and presentable, but do not need to be washed or fitted. Health papers are not required if sheep originate from within Wisconsin and sell back into the state. If sheep originate from outside Wisconsin or sell outside the state, health papers are required. Exit health papers can be written at the festival at an additional cost to the seller and sheep may arrive or leave at any time. The Stock Exchange will be conveniently located adjacent to the equipment displays on See EXCHANGE on Page 10

2

THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN As Sue Sees It: So far, the heat of summer has eluded us and I for one am grateful. I thoroughly enjoy the warm days and cool nights. For many of you though, the rains could subside for a little while.

Summer is a great time to be a part of the sheep industry. The serenity of watching the ewes on pasture, and the entertainment of the lambs bouncing around. Of course, we all worry about the price of feed and the availability of hay, but it takes a certain type of person to appreciate being a shepherd.

Fair season is upon us. Take the time to stand at the end of any of the livestock barns on show day, and absorb some of the energy coming from the exhibitors. I don’t think there is a better way to teach responsibility than by being the caregiver of an animal. And hope springs eternal just prior to the judging. Heart and soul has gone into many of these projects and each young person is sure that their animal will be the chosen champion. Again, what better way to teach being a gracious winner as well as a gracious loser.

I do hate the word ‘loser’. I prefer to think that the losers are those who never took the opportunity to put their project in the public eye, who never had the courage to be

at the lower end of a class, and to grow from the experience.

Before we know it, it will be time for the WI State Fair. Don’t forget to visit the Wisconsin Wool Works in the center of the sheep barn. You will find countless items that would make perfect Christmas gifts, or a perfect gift for yourself. This is a very unique shop that helps support the WI Sheep Breeders Coop. Stop for a few minutes, have a seat and watch the spinning demonstrations.

For those of you who are exhibitors at the State Fair, please take the time to visit with our urban neighbors and teach them just a tiny bit about the industry, and let them know that we are friendly helpful people.

Once State Fair is finished, we all gear up for the WI Sheep & Wool Festival. Every year is an adventure, with the country store, the sheep shows, dog trials, lead line, make it with wool, silent & live auctions and so much more. If you didn’t get a catalog go online to the festival website to order one. Enjoy every minute of your summer and don’t forget to visit a few fairs.

Sincerely, Sue Rupnow President, Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative

The Wisconsin Shepherd is a quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative, a non-profit organization dedicated to the diverse interests of the Wisconsin sheep industry.

Inquiries about WSBC and address changes for WSBC and The Wisconsin Shepherd should be directed to Jill Alf, Executive SecretaryTreasurer, WSBC, 7811 Consolidated School Road, Edgerton, WI 53534; 608-868-2505 or wisbc@centurytel.net.

EDITOR Bob Black, 920-623-3536 ADVERTISING MANAGER Kelli Gunderson, 9726 N. Fork Creek Rd., Shannon, IL 61078; 815-821-5905 or robkelgundy@yahoo.com WSBC officers and directors are: PRESIDENT Sue Rupnow: Wausau, 715-675-6894 VICE PRESIDENT Keith Schultz: Ft. Atkinson, 920-568-0895 Steve Bingen: West Bend, 262-629-4221 Elmer Held: Oakfield, 920-583-3084 Tim Miller: Beloit, 608-879-9567 Gary Klug: Platteville, 920-309-2181 Laura Meyer: Watertown, 920-206-8445 Jeff Nevens: Lodi, 608-592-7842 Alan Thorson: Columbus, 920-344-1235

Can’t wait to see you at The Festival!

SUMMER 2013

2013 Wisconsin Junior Targhee Sheep Association Starter Flock Winner The Wisconsin Junior Targhee Sheep Association is proud to announce its 2013 Starter Flock winner, Amber Borchardt of Watertown, Wisconsin. Amber is a senior at Watertown High School, and is an active leader in both the Watertown FFA, and the Jefferson County Lucky Clovers 4H organization. She has experience with beef cattle, chickens and sheep through her aunt's farm, and exhibiting cattle at the Wisconsin State Fair, but she has never owned her own sheep until now.

Amber already has plans to exhibit her new flock at 6 different shows this summer, including the USTSA National Junior Show. She also hopes to get her brother and cousin

Amber Borchardt, senior at Watertown H.S., was the winner of the 2013 Wisconsin Junior Targhee Sheep Association Starter Flock. Pictured (l - r) Andy Nevens, Lodi; Todd Taylor, Arlington; Amber Borchardt; Leslie Nevens. involved with the Targhee breed.

Amber’s mother, Rhonda, is very proud of her daughter and her accomplishments, and will be supporting her with her new flock.

The Wisconsin Targhee Sheep

Association will be hosting the 2013 National US Targhee Sheep Association Show and Sale at the UW-Arlington Research Station July 18-20, www.ustargheesheep. org.

Larry Mead ( l ) accepts the 2013 Art Pope Award at the recent Midwest Stud Ram Sale in Sedalia, Missouri. Mead and his brother the late Bud Mead were chosen by the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative board as recipients of the award which recognizes extraordinary service to the sheep industry and is in honor of the late Dr. A. L. Pope, who retired from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995. Shown with Mead is Bret Oelke.

Targhee National Returns to Arlington The U.S. Targhee Sheep Association 2013 National Show and Sale will be held July 18 – 20 at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station in Arlington, Wisconsin. After a well-attended and successful event in Columbus, Montana, USTSA members are excited to be heading to Cheese Country for another great show and sale. There will be a tour of the Arlington Agricultural Research Station on Thursday at 3 pm, with the shows starting at 8 am on Friday and the National Sale at Noon on Saturday. The Arlington Producers 4-H Club will be providing concessions throughout the event. Please visit the USTSA website for more details, www.ustargheesheep.org, or contact Mardy Rutledge at (702) 292-5715, ustargheesheep@ gmail.com.

The USTSA would also like to thank show sponsors, including: ➢ Roswell Wool - sponsoring the Wool Show Awards ➢ Mid-States Wool Growers - sponsoring the Junior Champion & Reserve Rams and Ewes ➢ Big Gain Wisconsin, LLC - sponsoring the Junior Showmanship Awards and the Junior Premier Exhibitor

Award ➢ Badgerland Financial Junior Show ➢ United Cooperative Junior Show ➢ Nasco - Junior Show ➢ Profiles Show Supply ➢ Ewesful Gifts ➢ Todd & Lynette Taylor ➢ Cindy Rodeback ➢ A&J Nevens Livestock

Groenewold Fur & Wool Co. The Midwest’s #1 Wool Merchant

304 E. Avon Street PO Box 663 Forreston, IL 61030 USA Tel: 815-938-2381 email: office@gfwco.com

web: www.gfwco.com

September 6-8 2013 Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival

SUMMER 2013

THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

August 15 is deadline for

WORKSHOPS Continued from page 1 where she conducts research on nutrition, grazing behavior and methane output of pasture-based dairy and livestock. She also coowns a grass-based seedstock sheep operation with her husband Ken in central Pennsylvania. On Saturday Dr. Soder will discuss the basics of pasture management for sheep emphasizing the critical need to improve both pasture and animal productivity. In a second presentation she will cover sheep nutrition and behavior on pasture, with an emphasis on “learning to think like a sheep” and using behavioral traits of sheep to advantage in pasture systems.

Building a competitive edge for 21st century sheep production is the underlying theme of Dr. Soder’s third workshop. The husband-wife team at K Bar K are at the forefront of performance-based sheep production. Managing 125 Polled Dorset ewes in a low maintenance system, their goal is to produce genetically superior breeding stock suited for foragebased seedstock and commercial flocks producing lambs for both ethnic and traditional slaughter markets. Their traditional-style Dorsets are raised in a low-input, pasture-based system that utilizes estimated breeding values (EBVs) through Lambplan performance records, artificial insemination (importation of Dorset genetics from the UK), and ultrasound in their selection program. In addition they pride themselves on their biosecurity measures and thanks to the use of AI the entire flock has been closed since 2005.

Even in the best of years, profitable pasture systems can easily be derailed by inadequate weed control in pastures, fence lines and woodlots. Understanding the threat of poisonous plants to grazing animals can be especially challenging in years of extreme weather conditions as livestock search for every edible morsel.

There are scores of toxic plants and trees in the Midwest that are responsible for cases of toxicosis in livestock and producers will have the opportunity to learn more about poisonous plants in Peg Reedy’s workshop on “What’s Growing In Your Pasture?”

Reedy, Walworth County UWExtension, will outline what plants can cause major problems, how to recognize them and proper pasture management to reduce the likelihood of poisoning. In another session, Lynn Haynor, Midwest Organic Services Association, will discuss what going organic means and what does it take for a farm to be certified organic, translating the rules and regulations as they apply to sheep production. Covering such management questions as the use of dewormers and how long does it take to transition a flock or farm to organic status will help clarify the options available to farm families considering going organic.

After historic highs just two years ago, the lamb market has turned optimism to frustration for many producers who face the prospect of yet another touch and go year for lamb profits.

Dave Johnson, Equity Co-op, will discuss the current trends and whether or not there is light at the end of the lamb market tunnel in “The Lamb Market: What’s Ahead?” scheduled for Saturday morning. But profit begins and ends with management, and a significant, but too often dismissed, piece of the management puzzle centers on shearing. David Kier, Professional Shearer from Eleva, WI, contends that shearing is too often overlooked and underrated, and is just as much a part of profitable management as genetics, nutrition and health.

Kier will discuss the proper time to shear, preparations for shearing, how nutrition relates to shearing,

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along with what your shearer needs to get the job done right.

Kier will also be demonstrating sheep shearing on both Saturday and Sunday of the festival, and will offer a shearing workshop on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Indoor Arena.

And for wool producers seriously opting for the value added market, Holin Kennen, Evansville, WI, Fleece Show Coordinator and spinner, will cover the fine points of skirting fleeces in her “Fleece Skirting for Handspinners & Show” on Sunday morning in the West Exhibit Building.

For breeders considering rare breeds of sheep, take a walk on the historic side with Neil Kentner, Mason, MI, wool judge and producer as he tours the Hall of Breeds and then discusses the attributes and multiple uses of what are often referred to as heritage breeds. Kentner is the past Michigan Purebred Producer of the Year and his wealth of information makes him a perennial favorite of producers. The Shepherds’ Workshops are open to all and no pre-registration is required.

Educational sessions will take place in the East Exhibit Building unless otherwise noted in the festival catalog or online at www. wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival. com.

Wild and Woolly Photo Contest Mark it on your calendar: The deadline for the Wild and Woolly Photo Contest is Thursday, August 15.

The Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival and Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative has announced changes in the annual Wild and Woolly Photo Contest. This year, a panel of judges will select the winning photos prior to the Festival.

Judging will be based on photo clarity, content, composition and appeal. All photos entered in the contest will be displayed throughout the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, which will take place September 6 through 8 at Jefferson Fair Park.

Anyone can enter the contest, regardless of age, whether they raise sheep or are WSBC members. Photographers may enter any of the following classes: Scenic Photo, Just Lambs, Kids and Sheep, Photo Taken by Youth (for youth 18 and under) and Any other Sheep or Wool Photo.

Photographers may enter more than one class, and they may enter more than one photograph

in each class. Photos can be either color or black-and-white prints, should not be mounted and should measure approximately 8 x 10 inches.

There is a $5 per photo entry fee, and premiums will be awarded to the top photos in each class based on the number of contest entries. In addition, each class winner will be awarded a $50 cash or gift-certificate prize from one of the contest sponsors: Ewesful Gifts, The Country Today and Wisconsin State Farmer, Ewephoric! and Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Coop­ erative. Woodman’s Markets is sponsoring the contest’s Best of Show prize.

For complete contest rules for the Wild and Woolly Photo Contest, visit www.wisconsin sheepandwoolfestival.com or see the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival catalog. For more information, contact Jane Metcalf, contest chair, at tjmetcalf@ centurytel.net or 608/868-3268.

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4

THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

SUMMER 2013

WSBC presents the

12th Annual Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival September 6-8, 2013 • Jefferson Fair Park, Jefferson For complete details, go to www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com Schedule of Events

(P) Pre-registration required for these classes and activities. • Check Map for locations.

THURSDAY 8:00 – 7:00 Vendor Setup – Country Store 10:00 – 3:00 Registration Open – Pick-up Camping Permits Lobby – Activity Center 4:00 – 7:00 MSSBA Sheep Check-in – Sheep Barn FRIDAY Gate Open: 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. - Admission charged.

7:00 a.m. Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial Opens – West Field Stock Exchange opens (See Map) 7:30 Registration Open Lobby – Activity Center 8:00 Sheep 101 – Beginning Shepherds’ Clinic (P) – West Exhibit Building Photo Contest – Entries open for viewing – Activity Center Silent Auction (Donations accepted until 9:00 a.m. Sat.) – Activity Center 9:00 – Noon Poster Contest - Entries accepted – Activity Center 9:00 – 4:00 Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes (P) Country Store Open 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Noon – 5:00 MSSBA & Open Skein Contest Entry Check-in Design Challenge Entry Check-in – Wonders of Wool Building 1 3:00 – 8:00 Fleece Show – Check-in - All Entries – West Exhibit Building 6:00 – 7:30 Open & Junior Sheep Check-in – Sale Arena All Day MSSBA Sheep Check-in – Sheep Barn SATURDAY Gate Open: 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. – Admission charged 7:00 a.m.

Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial – West Field 7:30 Registration Open – Lobby – Activity Center 7:00 – 8:30 Fleece Show – MSSBA Entries – Check-in – West Exhibit Building 7:00 – 9:30 Fleece Show – Open, Junior Entries – Check-in – West Exhibit Building 7:00 – 9:00 Open Sheep Check-in – Sale Arena 8:00 – 10:00 MSSBA Sheep Entries Check-in – Sheep Barn 8:00 Shepherds’ Workshops (unless otherwise noted) – East Exhibit Building

Hall of Breeds – Indoor Arena

Newborn Lambs! – Indoor Arena 8:00 – 9:00 Make It With Wool – Registration & Hospitality – Lobby – Activity Center 8:00 – 11:00 Skillathon! (and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.) – West Exhibit Building (south end) 8:00 – 1:00 & 3:00 – 5:00

MSSBA & Open Skein Entry Check-in Design Challenge Entry Check-in – Wonders of Wool Building 1 8:15 – 4:15 Wooly U (P) – Wonders of Wool Building 1 Country Store Open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

9:00 Art Under Foot Hooked Rug Exhibit Open – Activity Center

Wonderful Wisconsin Wool Wool Quilts & Wall Hangings – Activity Center Silent Auction – Deadline for donations! – Activity Center 9:30 Judging - MSSBA Shetland Fleece Show – West Exhibit Building 9:00 – 11:00 Judging - Make It With Wool – Activity Center 9:00 – 3:30 Silent Auction – Bidding! – Activity Center

9:00 – 4:00 Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes (P) 10:00 Judging – Open Sheep Shows – Meat & Wool Breeds – Sale Arena

Judging – Open & Junior Fleece Shows – West Exhibit Building 11:00, 1:00 & 3:00

Shearing Demonstrations – Indoor Arena Noon Judging - Midwest Shetland Sheep Breeders Show Sheep Barn 1:00 – 3:00 Skillathon! – West Exhibit Building (south end) 1:00 Shepherds’ Auction – Activity Center 1:00 Consignments Close – Used Equipment Auction – Warm-up Arena 2:00 Used Equipment Auction – Warm-up Arena 2:00 Make It With Wool – Awards Presentation & Best of Wisconsin Style Show – Activity Center 6:00 – 7:00 Silent Auction of Fleeces – West Exhibit Building 6:00 Lead Class Competition – Sale Arena SUNDAY Gate: 7:00 a.m. – Admission charged 7:00 – 8:00 Weigh-in - Market Lambs – Sheep Barn 7:30 a.m.

Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial – West Field 7:30 Registration Open Lobby – Activity Center 7:45 Judging Contest – Youth Sweepstakes Activity – Beef Barn 8:00 – 9:00 Check-in - Junior Sheep Show – Sale Arena 8:00 – 3:30 Hall of Breeds – Indoor Arena

Newborn Lambs! – Indoor Arena 8:30 – 3:00 Fleece Sale (Private Treaty) – West Exhibit Building 8:30 – 3:30 Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes (P) 9:00 – 3:30 Art Under Foot Hooked Rug Exhibit – Activity Center

Wonderful Wisconsin Wool Quilts & Wall Hangings – Activity Center 9:00 Shepherds’ Workshops (see schedule) – East Exhibit Building 9:30 Judging – Junior Showmanship

Junior Breeding Sheep Show to follow

ASBA Midwest Regional Junior Southdown Show – Sale Arena

Judging – Market Lamb Showmanship Open Market Lamb Show to follow – Sheep Barn 9:00 Judging – Open & MSSBA Skein Competition – Wonders of Wool Building 1

Judging – Design Challenge – Wonders of Wool Building 1 9:30 & 11:00 Shearing Demonstrations – Indoor Arena 10:00 – 3:00 Fiber Arts Demonstrations – Wonders of Wool Building 1 Country Store Open 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Noon Cooking With the Chefs! – Activity Center 1:00 Shearing Workshop – Indoor Arena

Judging – MSSBA Handmade Shetland Wool Competition – Sheep Barn 3:00 Wisconsin Club Lamb Association Annual Meeting/Awards Presentation – Sheep Barn 3:30 Festival Closes – Thanks for coming and have a safe trip home!

Shepherds’ Auction t ’ 1:00 pm - Saturday - September 7 Don t!

Activity Center - Jefferson Fair Park I s Mis Check out the auction list online at www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com

Wonders of Wool Class Schedule & Instructors

Pre-registration Required by August 15! www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com Half-Day Classes = 3 hours • Full Day Classes = 6 hours FRIDAY – ALL DAY CLASSES • 9 am-4 pm 501 The Shepherd’s Rug (2-Day Class).......................................................... Letty Klein 502 An Introduction to Rare Wools................................................................Deb Robson 503 Window Into Collapse Weave – Weave A Scarf.........................................Chris Vuco 504 Spinning Long & Short Fine Fibers.....................................................Carol Rhoades 505 Beginning Spinning (Repeated as Classes 605 & 705).............................. Deb Jones 506 Advanced Techniques in Felt Bags......................................................Suzanne Higgs 507 Passionate Purples............................................................................Stefania Isaacson 508 Rug Hooking...................................................................................... Linda Harwood 509 More Broom Making: 3 Styles of Wisk Brooms.....................‘Little’ John Holzwart FRIDAY – MORNING CLASSES • 9 am-12 pm 521 Felted Bangle Bracelets.................................................................................. Jan Falk 522 Beginning Two-Color Knitting........................................................... Mary Jo Harris 523 Shell Fringe Scarf...................................................................................Tracey Schuh 524 Weave A Dishcloth...................................................................................Jane Grogan 525 How to Select Color Palettes for Knitting & Other Fiber Arts............Nancy Shroyer 526 Modified Wool Drying Basket.................................................................. Bev Larson 527 I Heart Duplicate Stitch.............................................................................. Amy Tyler 528 Not Just For Socks: Sock Blank Dyeing.................................................... Mo Brown FRIDAY – AFTERNOON CLASSES • 1 pm-4 pm 531 The Perfect Size Little Felted Purse............................................................... Jan Falk 532 Simply Shetland................................................................................... Nancy Barnett 533 Make A Beaded Bead................................................................................ Nora Ahlen 534 Portuguese Style Knitting................................................................... Mary Jo Harris 535 Ribbon Necklace With A Lot of Flair!...................................................Tracey Schuh 536 Weavette Loom Weaving..........................................................................Jane Grogan 537 Casting On For Great Beginnings........................................................Nancy Shroyer 538 Spinning Marl Yarns................................................................................... Amy Tyler SATURDAY – ALL DAY CLASSES • 9 am-4 pm 601 Three L’s & Three C’s (2-Day Class).......................................................Deb Robson 602 Colorworks: Eco-Printing & Flower Pounding...............................Karen Rognsvoog 603 Spinning Companion Yarns..................................................................Carol Rhoades 604 Birdpods - Wild & Wooly....................................................................Suzanne Higgs 605 Beginning Spinning (Repeat of Classes 505 & 705).................................. Deb Jones 606 SOCKS: Fair Isle Design & Techniques..............................................Nancy Shroyer 607 Shaping with Stitch Patterns...................................................................... Amy Tyler 608 Plysplit Garlic Basket............................................................................Brian Doggett 501 The Shepherds Rug (Day 2) SATURDAY – MORNING CLASSES • 9 am-12 pm 621 Beginning Felting: An Exercise............................................................ Mary Wallace 622 Express Yourself on SAORI Looms! (Repeated as Class 633)...........Chiaki O’Brien 623 The Wave: An Infinity Crohook Scarf..........................................................Liz Sutter 624 Punch Needle Picture Frame.................................................................... Chris Savoy 625 Beginning Viking Knit Bracelet................................................................ Barb Heike 626 Tapestry Triangles................................................................................ Ruth Manning 627 Stepping It Up With Colorwork.............................................................Kathy Krause SATURDAY MORNING 4-HOUR CLASS • 8:30 am - 12:30 pm 628 Dual Coated Fleeces: Spinning In the Grease...........................Diana Armes Wallace SATURDAY – AFTERNOON CLASSES • 1 pm-4 pm 631 Small Felted Vessel............................................................................... Mary Wallace 632 Wool Felted Cuff Bracelet – With a New Twist??............................. Margie Meehan 633 Express Yourself on SAORI Looms! (Repeat of Class 622)...............Chiaki O’Brien 634 Double Viking Knit Bracelet (Advanced)................................................ Barb Heilke 635 Handspun Landscape In Tapestry........................................................ Ruth Manning 636 Basic…But Beautiful Brioche................................................................Kathy Krause 637 Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving........................................................ Cheryl Stegert 638 Polymer Washer Necklace..............................................................Lynne Bergschultz SATURDAY - AFTERNOON 4-HOUR CLASS • 1:00 – 5:00 pm 639 Herbal Milk Base Soap Making............................................................ Linda Conroy SUNDAY – ALL DAY CLASSES • 8:30 am-3:30 pm 701 Silk Painting/Surface Design..........................................................Karen Rognsvoog 702 Super Stylish Sculpted Felt Hats..........................................................Suzanne Higgs 703 Fiber Art Basket.............................................................................Cindy Ellenbecker 704 Nuno Felt Scarf..................................................................................... Mary Wallace 705 Beginning Spinning (Repeat of Classes 505 & 605).................................. Deb Jones 706 Intro to Tablet Weaving.........................................................................Brian Doggett 707 Blending Colors at The Wheel................................................................... Amy Tyler 708 Home Cheese Making........................................................................... Linda Conroy 709 Beginning Hand Caning...................................................................... Mary Jo Harris 601 Three L’s & Three C’s (Day 2) SUNDAY – MORNING CLASSES • 8:30 am-11:30 am 721 The Shepherds Rug (Advanced)............................................................... Letty Klein 722 Norwegian Knit/Crochet Cuffs............................................................Carol Rhoades 723 Spinning Bulky Yarn!.......................................................................Stefania Isaacson 724 Bengala Dye (Repeated as Class 742)................................................Chiaki O’Brien 725 Needle Felt Soft Sculpture Horse..........................................................Danita Doerre 726 Fair Isle Knitting 101...........................................................................Nancy Shroyer 727 All About The Angora Rabbit............................................................... Donna Towell 728 Handmade Paper Ornaments & Cards...........................................Lynne Bergschultz SUNDAY – AFTERNOON CLASSES • 12:30-3:30pm 740 Knitting with Silk Handkerchiefs.........................................................Carol Rhoades 741 Blending Fibers with A Hackle.................................................Diana Armes Wallace 742 Bengala Dye (Repeat of Class 724)....................................................Chiaki O’Brien 743 Spindle Spinning For Beginners..........................................................Nancy Shroyer 744 What Will Angora Do For You.............................................................. Donna Towell 745 Kumihimo Braiding............................................................................. Cheryl Stegert

SUMMER 2013

THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

5

WSBC presents the

12th Annual Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival September 6.8, 2013 • Jefferson Fair Park, Jefferson For complete details, go to www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com

Shepherds Workshops

Registration not required • East Exhibit Building (Unless Otherwise Noted)

SATURDAY 8:00 a.m. Hospitality Hour Sponsored by: Mid-States Wool Growers, Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association and Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival 9:00 a.m. Pasture Management for Sheep Walking our pastures, many of us are tempted to ask ourselves if we should graze a particular paddock or should we leave them another day or move them now.

It’s tempting to graze every bite of grass, especially in drought conditions, but in doing so, we hurt the future production of our pastures. With increased feed costs and facing environmental challenges, improving our pasture management to provide low-cost forage for our flocks becomes even more critical. Come learn (or re-learn!) the basics of pasture management and some practical strategies that can be applied to any farm to improve pasture and animal productivity. Dr. Kathy Soder, Animal Scientist, USDA-ARS Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, Pennsylvania,

Shearing Management: Overlooked & Underrated For most shepherds wool is an unavoidable product of raising sheep, yet trying to find practical shearing management information is virtually impossible. Find out when to shear your flock, preparing for shearing, nutrition and shearing, handling sheep during shearing, what your shearer needs to get the job done right, preparation of the wool clip for your needs, effects of wool contamination on processing and more! Adding value to a wool clip starts by accepting the fact that shearing is a management tool just as much as genetics, nutrition, and health. David Kier, Professional Shearer, Eleva, WI. 10:00 a.m. The Lamb Market: What’s Ahead?

The volatility of lamb markets over the past few years has raised serious questions about profitability and survival for both producers and packers alike. What’s ahead for lamb prices and is there profit in the picture?

Dave Johnson, Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association, Baraboo, WI.

Organic Land and Sheep What does it mean and what does it take? An organic farm certifier and inspector will review what the USDA Organic regulations mean and who needs to be certified in organic production, along with the steps involved in certifying land or livestock. Lynne Haynor, Midwest Organic Services Association, will translate the organic rules into normal language and discuss the organic regulations as they apply to sheep production. For example, can you certify your land and not your sheep? Can you use dewormers? How long does it take to transition my flock or land? Come with any questions you may have.

11:00 a.m. Sheep Nutrition & Behavior on Pasture Why do sheep graze most in the morning and evening?

Why didn’t they eat this patch of forage? Why won’t they eat the new grain I just gave them? Are they getting enough nutrition on pasture? And why aren’t those new sheep I just bought doing well on pasture? Many of us have asked ourselves those very same questions. Learn to “think” like a sheep. This presentation will provide information on basic nutrition related to pasture-based systems, an introduction to grazing behavior of sheep and how we can use that behavior to our advantage in our pasture management. Dr. Kathy Soder, Animal Scientist, USDA-ARS Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, Pennsylvania.

SUNDAY 8:30 – 3:30 Making Sheep Cheese

Pre-registration required for this class!

Join Cheese Maker and Whole Foods Cook Linda Conroy for this introduction to home cheese making. Find out how simple it is to make cheese in your own kitchen!

This introduction will offer an opportunity to explore this lost art. We will create and sample several simple cheeses that can be cultivated at home, also making cultured butter, feta cheese, mozzarella and several varieties of soft cheeses. After learning to make kefir, we will transform this fermented milk beverage into soft spreadable cheese and a soft condiment that can be used in the place of sour cream. Students will also learn some cooking ideas for whey, a byproduct of cheese making. You can build on this introduction to create many varieties of cheese in your own home. Materials fee of $20 covers cheese making ingredients and equipment, instruction, samples, cheese to take home, recipes, a cheese culture to get you started and a light lunch. Note: This is a full day, 6-hour class (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and you must PRE-REGISTER online. Go to www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com, then to Fiber Arts Classes and register for Class 708. The registration fee is $90 plus a materials fee of $20. The number of students is limited and registrations are on a first come basis.

SO RR Y CLO SED

10:00 a.m.

Advanced Sheep Production for the 21st Century EBVs, EPDs, AI, ultrasound…do these terms make your head spin? Have you wondered how they fit into practical sheep production? Kathy Soder is co-owner of K Bar K Farm in central Pennsylvania with her husband Ken. They breed production-oriented, performance tested and traditional style Polled Dorset sheep in a low-input, forage-based system, utilizing estimated breeding values (EBVs), artificial insemination using imported genetics and ultrasound in their selection program. Their goal is to produce genetically superior breeding stock suited for forage-based seedstock and commercial flocks, producing

market lambs for both ethnic and traditional markets.

What’s Growing in Your Pasture?!

While most plants are safe for consumption by livestock, a few plant species, including ornamentals, can sicken and even kill grazing animals. Recognition of poisonous plants and proper pasture and livestock management are important steps in minimizing the potential for poisoning.

Learn when and where poisoning can occur, how to prevent it, and what plants in the Midwest cause trouble in pastures and in forage. Peg Reedy, Walworth County UW-Extension.

Fleece Skirting for Handspinners & Show West Exhibit Building A well skirted fleece can make or break a sale or an award at a fleece show. Holin Kennen, Evansville, WI, an award-winning spinner and WSWF Fleece Show coordinator, will demonstrate how to skirt a raw fleece in order to present the best fiber. Get tips on evaluating a fleece for quality, soundness and suitability for the handspinning market. Fiber growers, sheep breeders and handspinners are all encouraged to attend this informative workshop!

11:00 a.m.

Rare & Heritage Sheep Breeds and their Wool Uses This unique walk and talk sheep tour will give you a first hand look about the many rare and heritage breeds of sheep. Learn the high points and the multiple uses of these unique animals and the wool they produce. Start your historic adventure in the Hall of Breeds and take notes, receive breed information and have active discussions with Neil Kentner, Mason, MI, as he shares his knowledge and practical experience of raising rare and heritage breeds of sheep and how he uses their wool.

Noon Cooking With the Chefs!

Activity Center It’s all in a day’s work for Executive Chef Jack Kaestner, Culinary Instructor, Milwaukee Area Technical College, as he prepares his favorite recipes using Wisconsin lamb! A supporter of Buy Local, Chef Jack and his staff prepare the finest menus using the highest quality, locally and sustainably grown ingredients. As a special feature this year, Chef Kaestner will be integrating Wisconsin sheep cheeses into this year’s demonstration of easily crafted lamb recipes. For more information on the Oconomowoc Lake Club and its dining facilities, go to www.oconomowoclakeclub.org.

Shearing Workshop Indoor Arena This is a free workshop for producers or anyone inter­ ested in shearing equipment and techniques, such as basic shears maintenance, breed differences, handpiece set up and adjustment, comb selection, tension, oiling and sharpening blades, hard to handle animals and shearing standing animals.

You are encouraged to bring a camcorder, pen or notebook.

David Kier, Professional Shearer, Eleva, Wisconsin. © 2013 Badgerland Financial, ACA.

FINANCING FOR FARMS • RURAL LAND COUNTRY HOMES Long-term, fixed rate financing available for properties of unlimited acreage!

Plus Crop Insurance, Tax Preparation, Farm Accounting Services and More!

www.badgerlandfinancial.com

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SUMMER 2013

SHEEP 101 – A Clinic for Beginning Shepherds!

Friday, September 6 – Pre-registration Required Full-day clinic for shepherds of all experience levels! Pre-registration required.

Register online at www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com, $60 per person.

If you have difficulty with website registration or do not have access to a computer, please contact wisbc@centurytel.net or call 608 868-2505. Thank you!

WEST EXHIBIT BUILDING

participants will rotate between this session and the Sheep Barns & Handling Demonstrations.)

8:00 a.m. Hospitality Hour

Sponsored by • Mid-States Wool Growers,

• Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales

• Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Co-op 9:00 a.m.

Resources for Sheep Producers It’s all about making the right decisions and the best managers effectively utilize the resources available to them. But, where are those resources? Threading the maze of governmental agencies can be daunting enough, but what about the financial, educational and technical resources a farm family must confront, not to mention social networking, print media and the scores of websites devoted to sheep production? Dr. Dave Thomas, Professor of Sheep Management & Genetics, UW-Madison CALS; Laura Paine, Grazing & Organic Agriculture Specialist, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection and Carol Nagel, Senior Farm Loan Officer, Farm Service Agency.

10:00 a.m.

Just the Basics of Feeding Sheep Forage and grain, fiber and protein, do you ever get confused about what your sheep should be eating? Learn what feeds sheep need to be healthy and productive. Get your hands on some common feeds and figure out how much feed to give them each day. Claire Sandrock, Red Shepherd Farm, Viroqua, WI.

Sheep 101, the popular one-day clinic for beginning shepherds, offers practical, handson workshops as well as a variety of educational sessions. Todd Taylor (shown in pen), Shepherd at the UW-Arlington Sheep Unit, walks students through day-to-day lambing time management. Taylor will also discuss health concerns when purchasing stock, ID requirements when selling and transporting sheep and aging ewes. Pre-registration is required. Go to the festival website at www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com.

11:00 a.m.

The Challenges of Direct Marketing Lamb Sheep producers face unique challenges when attempting to direct market whole carcasses or individual cuts of lamb, including getting the customer past the cost of retail cuts compared to other species, as well as the lack of familiarity with cuts of lamb and how to prepare them. To be a successful direct marketer, you first need to understand your product and its potential! We will discuss carcass breakdown, including retail cuts and how much of each to expect and how to value them, marketing strategies, what does value added mean and is direct marketing a good choice for you. Jeff Sindelar, Extension Meat Specialist, University of WisconsinMadison.

Noon

Lunch on your own

1:00 p.m.

ractical Sheep P Management for the Beginner Shepherd So you want to raise sheep, but now how do you get started. This presentation will give you the practical basics to start your sheep flock. Neil Kentner, Mason, MI, will share with you topics from fencing, buildings, equipment, and much more from his vast experiences as a purebred sheep producer. Get practical information, along with day to day tips and tricks that Neil has used in his over 30 years of raising sheep. This entertaining and informative sheep management session for beginners is a must for the first timers to the seasoned shepherds.

2:00 p.m.

Which Breed for Which Uses?

There are over 50 recognized breeds of sheep in the United States, and contrary to the promotional

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This clinic requires preregistration. Register on-line at www.wisconsinsheepand woolfestival.com Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted.

Registration per person is $65 and includes admission to the Festival. Persons registering by the on-line registration deadline of August 15 will be mailed gate passes to the address shown on the registration form.

Registration Deadline - August 15 Late Registrations Miss the registration deadline?

Check with the Festival office at 608 868-2505 or go to Registration in the lobby of the Activity Center.

Daily admission to the Festival is $7 per person or $12 per person for a weekend pass.

Camping?

Camping permits are available through the Jefferson Fair Park office.

Call 920 674-7148 during weekday business hours (7:00 am to 3:30 pm) to reserve a campsite.

For more details see “Camping.”

August 1-11 Wisconsin State Fair

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3:00 p.m.

Hands-on Management Lab Basic flock health management during lambing season, health concerns hen purchasing sheep, aging sheep, ID requirements when selling or transporting animals, and more!

Todd Taylor, Shepherd, Sheep Unit, University of Wisconsin-Madison Arlington Agricultural Research Station. (Please dress appropriately, including gloves and footwear. Lab

The Sheep 101 is a day-long workshop and will be held in the West Exhibit Building (see map).

Go to the south end of the building off the main drive. From the Activity Center, enter through the Fleece Show section of the building.

Wisconsin Wool Works!

Limit: 5 items per coupon.

Farm Store: Please return to Milk Specialties Global / Consumer Group for reimbursement .

Mail to: Milk Specialties Global 7500 Flying Cloud Dr. Suite 500 Eden Prairie MN 55344

materials of the various purebred sheep associations, there is no one breed that excels for performance in all traits.

One of the most important decisions a shepherd can make is the choice of breed or breeds to use. This session will describe some characteristics of the broad groups of breeds (e.g. meat, wool, hair, maternal, terminal sire, commercial, hand-spinning, hobby, etc.) as well as how the specific breeds have compared to each other in scientific studies. Dr. Dave Thomas, Professor of Sheep Management and Genetics, UW-Madison will make the presentation based upon his 36 years of sheep research and observing various breeds in production settings throughout the United States.

Please Note: Beginning at 3:00 p.m., Sheep 101 students will be split into two groups and rotate through both the Hands-on Management Lab and the Sheep Barns & Handling Demon­strations.

Expect each session to last up to one hour and plan to wear appropriate clothing, including gloves and footwear.

3:00 p.m.

Sheep Barns & Handling Demonstration Well-designed barns and handling facilities improve animal health and reduce stress for both the sheep and the shepherd! Luckily, lowcost facilities can be made for sheep production. We’ll review videos of new and converted barns and handling facilities with ideas and designs that can often be readily adapted for any growing flock. We’ll also move sheep through some of the equipment exhibitors’ handling units as they explain the unique aspects of their designs. Claire Sandrock, Red Shepherd Farm, Viroqua, WI. (Please dress appropriately, including gloves and footwear. Lab participants will rotate between this session and the Hands-on Management Lab.)

Open daily 9:00 to 7:00 in the Sheep Barn

Expires Dec 31, 2013

September 6-8

Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival Country Store, booths 707-708 W. See website for hours, www.wisconsinsheepand woolfestival.com

SUMMER 2013

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7

Shetland Shows to Host UK Judges

by Kelly Bartels, MSSBA Show Superintendent MONROE — The Midwest Shetland Sheep Breeders Associ­ ation (MSSBA) is pleased to announce that Maurice & Gillian Wakeling of Pretty Oak Farm, Somerset England will be the judges for the 2013 MSSBA show at Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson WI Sept. 6 - 8.

Maurice and Gillian were fortunate to have acquired knowledge from Stanley Bowie in the early days as trainees.

Today they hold workshops on their farm to encourage and help new SSS members and have firm ideas about how their Shetlands look, as their homebred Shetlands successes include 68 Champions, 48 Reserve Champions, 7 Interbreed Champions and 5 Interbreed Reserve Champions. They have shown at several County shows as well as Royal Bath and West Show.

Maurice has judged shows all over England including the Royal Yorkshire show, Westmoorland, Moreton in the Marsh, Dunster, The Three Counties show, Mid Somerset, North Devon, Mid Devon, Frome, Singleton, Liskard, Heartfordsire County show, Newbury, Royal Bath and West Shows, Sherborne, Castle, Devon County Show, Tenbury Wells, Cranleigh, and the Royal County of Berskshire Show.

Gillian's interest lies in Shetland wool and craft. She has graded wool with Mary Gibbings

Maurice will be conducting a two part hands-on Shetland sheep inspection workshop on Friday. We are hoping that participants will bring sheep to be evaluated and will gain additional knowledge to better evaluate their own flocks. Maurice will also be our judge for the Shetland sheep show on Saturday, Sept. 7th at noon. Gillian has agreed to judge the Shetland Fleece competition on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 9:30 am and the MSSBA homemade competition on Sunday at 1 pm.

Maurice Wakeling, Somerset, England, will be the judge for the Midwest Shetland Sheep Breeders Association sheep show at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, while his wife Gillian will be judging the Shetland Fleece Show. Both shows will take place on Saturday, September 7 at Jefferson Fair Park, Jefferson, WI. for the SSS for a number of years and one of her many proud accomplishments was making a 1 ply Shetland ring shawl five feet square! Some of Maurice and Gillian's other interests are showing dogs, as well as breeding and showing Dartmoor Ponies.

Maurice's bio from the SSS website reads: Maurice Wakeling "I have been member of the society since the early 1980's.

The late Marion Avery and Stanley Bowie both helped to start our flock, with Marion

selling us one of her best ewes.

We try to breed a sheep true to the 1927 standard and one that either of these experts would have been proud to own.

I am now a ram inspector and judge. Judging has given me the opportunity to see many different sheep and their owners. I love talking about shetlands with them and feel that it gives me the chance to return the help and hopefully advice to new members which we were given."

MSSBA is very pleased that

Please contact Kelly Bartels, the 2013 MSSBA Show Chair, for details of the events for this year's festival highlights at okacres@ hotmail.com or call me at 608/5585099. Registration forms for the workshop and various MSSBA competitions can be found online at www.mssba.org, just click 2013 MSSBA Show Information link on the home page to access the forms.

For more complete information on the festival, go to www.wis­ consinsheepandwoolfestival.com.

WE SELL SHEEP EVERY DAY IN ZUMBROTA • Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Friday 8 a.m. to noon

Sheep and Goat auctions on Tuesday at 8 a.m., and a Breeding Sheep & Goat auction on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m.

Central Livestock Association A Company of Genex Cooperative, Inc.

Zumbrota Market Phone 877/732-7305 • www.centrallivestock.com Tom Ostlie 612-532-0966

©2012 CRI

A3242-072

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THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

SUMMER 2013

WLBA Spring Preview Show

Champion Crossbred and Grand Champion Market Lamb shown by Jed Dallas, Shawano, WI

Champion Hampshire and Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb shown by Sara Johnson, Delavan, WI

The 2013 Wisconsin Livestock Breeders Association Spring Preview Show was held at Jefferson Fair Park in Jefferson on June 8. Over two hundred exhibitors competed in three species, including 72 in the Sheep Division, entering 111 breeding sheep and 89 market lambs.

The breeding classes were judged by Craig Beckmeier, Morrisonville, IL, while the market lambs were judged by Shannon Feuerbach, Keystone, IA. Breeding Stock Show Champion Commercial Ewe R. Champion Commercial Ewe Champion AOB-Meat Ewe R. Champion AOB-Meat Ewe Champion AOB-Meat Ram R. Champion AOB-Meat Ram Champion AOB-Wool Ewe R. Champion AOB-Wool Ewe Champion AOB-Wool Ram R. Champion AOB-Wool Ram Champion Hampshire Ewe R. Champion Hampshire Ewe Champion Hampshire Ram R. Champion Hampshire Ram Best Hampshire Lamb-Ram or Ewe Champion Suffolk Ewe R. Champion Suffolk Ewe Champion Suffolk Ram R. Champion Suffolk Ram Champion Southdown Ewe R. Champion Southdown Ewe Champion Southdown Ram R. Champion Southdown Ram Supreme Champion Ewe Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe Supreme Champion Ram Reserve Supreme Champion Ram

Champion Southdown and Supreme Ewe shown by Jenna Langer, DeForest, WI

Reserve Southdown and Reserve Supreme Ram shown by Casey Lobdell, Darlington, WI

Isaac Kohlman, Sheboygan Falls Bracen Brandt, Rock Springs Jillian Bingen (Oxford), West Bend Carson Lobdell (Dorper), Darlington Auretta Wittkopf (Dorset), Pewaukee Emily Petzel (Shropshire), Centuria Justin Taylor (Lincoln), Arlington Auretta Wittkopf (Border Leicester), Pewaukee Andy Nevens (Targhee), Lodi Auretta Wittkopf (Border Leicester), Pewaukee Jessica Alf, Edgerton Aubrie Seeger, Ogdenberg Dylan Klug, Platteville Hayden Taylor, Arlington Aubrie Seeger, Ogdenberg Bracen Brandt, Rock Springs Aubrie Seeger, Ogdenberg Bracen Brandt, Rock Springs Bracen Brandt, Rock Springs Jenna Langer, DeForest Dathan Smerchek, Rosholt Courtney Lobdell, Darlington Casey Lobdell, Darlington Jenna Langer, Southdown, DeForest Dathan Smerchek, Southdown, Rosholt Courtney Lobdell, Southdown, Darlington Casey Lobdell, Southdown, Darlington

Reserve Southdown and Reserve Supreme Ewe shown by Dathan Smerchek, Rosholt. WI

Champion Southdown and Supreme Ram shown by Courtney Lobdell, Darlington, WI

Market Lamb Show Champion AOB Market Lamb Reserve AOB Market Lamb Champion Hampshire Market Lamb Reserve Hampshire Market Lamb Champion Natural Color Market Lamb R. Champion Natural Color Market Lamb Champion Suffolk Market Lamb R. Champion Suffolk Market Lamb Champion Crossbred Market Lamb R. Champion Crossbred Market Lamb Grand Champion Market Lamb R. Grand Champion Market Lamb

Danielle Robinson (Dorset), Brownsville Katie Burke (Southdown), Blanchardville Sara Johnson, Delavan Brady Meudt, Milton Ainsley Balfanz, Waterford Ainsley Balfanz, Waterford Sara Johnson, Delavan Brady Meudt, Milton Jed Dallas, Shawano Samantha Bohm, Shawano Jed Dallas (Crossbred), Shawano Sara Johnson (Hampshire), Delavan

Showmanship Age 18-19 Age 17 Age 15-16 Age 13-14 Age 12 Age 11 Age 9-10 Age 8 and under

Champion Showman Courtney Lobdell, Darlington Jessica Alf, Edgerton Hannah Taylor, Arlington Auretta Wittkopf, Pewaukee Brady Meudt, Milton Kailen Smerchek, Rosholt Trenna Mae Cherney, Wonewoc Ellie Robinson, Mineral Point

Lead Class Intermediate Lead Class Senior Lead Class

Champion Mariah Richardson, Dousman Jessica Alf, Edgerton

AUCTION Continued from page 1 I’d also like to express my thanks to all past contributors for our many Silent Auction items and to our volunteers without whose help none of this would be possible. We are very appreciative of your support and look forward to your generous donations again this year. For those of you who have not yet donated you can support this event with gift certificates to your business or service, a useful/ unique item to help sustain our

scholarship/education fund and enjoy our tasting event, but most importantly, come and bid!

This will be record setting, fun, entertaining event! Our goal is $10,000.

For more information on the Shepherds’ and Silent Auctions, go to the festival website at www. wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival. com or contact Tim Miller, 608 751-2963 or email tailwindfarm@ gmail.com.

Wisconsin Sheep Breeder Co-op Scholarship Recipients 2001

2002

2003

2004

Paula Ace Jennifer Johnson Laura Troxel Steven Anderson Lynn Klug Blank Kathleen Connors Megan Bishop Susan Orth David Dittbrenner Alecia Treml William Glewen Emily Steck

2005

2006

2007

2008

Erin Glunz Josh Brubacher Dakota Bockenhauer Kimber Seibel Katherine Kuykendall John Alf Alison Glunz Sara Hammer Jill Miller Jordan Alf

2009

2010

2011

2012

John Jones Kally Bockenhauer Tom Schambow Erin Roembke Amanda Veum Kristen Kohlman Alyssa Baumer Laura Monson Abby Sattler Lauren Metcalf Rachel Schambow

SUMMER 2013

THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

9

61st Annual Spooner Sheep Day Flock Expansion Pushed with New Lending Program DENVER - A new opportunity for sheep producers looking to expand their flocks is now available through the National Livestock Producers Association's (NLPA) Sheep and Goat Fund Committee. The Sheep and Goat Fund was established to assist the U.S. sheep and goat industries by strengthening and enhancing the production of marketing of sheep and goats and their products. The purpose of the fund has been to assist in financing projects beyond the farm gate; however, this is the first time the fund has had the ability to make term loans to sheep producers for the purpose of flock expansion.

Up to $2 million of the Sheep and Goat Fund has been identified for qualified applicants to be used specifically for the purchase of breeding animals (ewes and rams).

This new loan program is the result of a joint effort between NLPA and the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) in the spirit of ASI's Let's Grow initiative.

“One of the hurdles that new and current sheep producers en­ counter when looking to purchase breeding stock is adequate financing options,” explained Scott Stuart, NLPA president.

“To address this problem, leaders of the Sheep and Goat Fund Committee, in concert with ASI, developed a specific loan program to help provide credit for flock expansion. We are excited to assist ASI in its Let's Grow initiative by providing a valuable opportunity for producers looking to expand their flocks.”

A few of the conditions of the

lending program include: • a minimum loan amount of $35,000 with the maximum loan amount based on credit worthiness of the borrower; • a five-year maturity date; • proceeds may only be used for the purchase of breeding animals and may not be used for other operating expenses; and • prospective borrowers must demonstrate their ability to successfully produce sheep in a production setting, which may include the establishment of a mentor relationship, parti­ cipation in educational program­ ming for sheep and finan­ cial management and the development of a marketing plan for the enterprise.

ASI will be working with NLPA in identifying potential loan applicants and provide the necessary educational resources to borrowers to help them become successful producers.

“We encourage all new and current sheep producers, especially those with a proven mentor relationship with an established producer or those looking for assistance involving a transition between generations of sheep producers, to consider this program as a means to increase their flocks,” said Peter Orwick, ASI executive director.

More information about the program, including the applica­ tion and an informative slideshow presentation, is available be at www.SheepandGoatFund.com or by contacting Scharee Atchison at 800-237-7193, ext. 10 or email at NLPA@NLPA.org.

Sheep producers from across Wisconsin and the Midwest are invited to attend the 61st Annual Spooner Sheep Day to be held at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station on Saturday, August17, 2013. Registration begins at the station headquarters at 9:00 a.m. and the program is expected to conclude around 2:30 p.m. In addition to the program, a lamb lunch will be served at noon at a cost of $8.00 per adult, $5.00 for children ages 5 to 11 and free to kids under 5 years of age. Advanced reservations are not required for the meal.

Attendance at the Spooner Sheep Day educational program is free.

This year’s program will feature an all-Wisconsin group of speakers making presentations on current research from the UW-Madison sheep program and introducing a new breed of sheep, the Awassi, to Wisconsin and the United States. Tom Murphy, a graduate student in

Animal Sciences, will present some exciting new information on a commercial genetic test for susceptibility to Ovine Progressive Pneumonia and the results of the value of this test in one of our research flocks.

Emily Olund, an Animal Sciences undergraduate student and the Spooner summer sheep intern from Rice Lake, will present results from her projects with dairy sheep. Her study on milking dairy ewes only once per day during the last half of lactation will be of special interest to dairy sheep producers trying to reduce their labor input. Yves Berger, recently retired Spooner Sheep Researcher, will present a successful modification to the artificial lamb rearing program at the Spooner Station that he brought back from a recent trip to Europe. In addition, some additional short presentations of other current research projects will be presented.

Larry Meisegeier from Bruce, WI imported frozen semen from Awassi rams last year and now has the first lambs of Awassi breeding in the United States on his farm.

He will talk about his experiences regarding this importation. The Awassi is a very common fattailed sheep of the Middle East, and strains have been selected for very high milk production.

Spooner Sheep Day is the longest-running agricultural field day of the many held each year by the University of WisconsinMadison, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Other sponsors include the Agricultural Research Stations and Cooperative Exten­ sion, University of WisconsinExtension. For more information, contact Lorraine Toman at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station (715-635-3735, lltoman@ wisc.edu) or Dr. Dave Thomas (dlthomas@wisc.edu, 608-2634306).

Indiana Passes First Sheep and Wool Checkoff Indiana sheep producers voted in favor of forming the Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Council, which will begin July 1.

Ballots were mailed to nearly 400 commercial registered producers, and about 200 ballots were returned and deemed valid

by the May 24 deadline. Voting results show the majority of sheep producers are in favor of establishing a council to be composed of nine members who will oversee the market development program.

Goals of the council include promoting consumer

awareness, sales of sheep products, supporting sheep and wool research and encouraging both consumer and producer education. Funding will come from a 0.5 percent checkoff of the net market price for all sheep and wool produced in Indiana.

Wisconsin Working Stock Dog Association 28th Annual Sheepdog Trials Aug 30th - Sep 2nd Badlands Recreation Area Hudson WI

What’s A Kid To Do? Wooly U (Pre-registration required) Saturday Skillathon.......................................... Saturday 8:00 – 11:00, & 1:00 – 3:00;

Sunday 8:00 - Noon Ma & Pa ........................................... Saturday 10:00 – 4:00;

Sunday 10:00 – 3:00

Indoor Arena

for more details - http://www.wwsda.org

Antique Tractors............................... Friday-Saturday-Sunday Lead Class Competition.................... Saturday, 6:00 pm.

Entries due August 15 Photo Contest.................................... Friday – Saturday – Sunday

Entries due August 15

Pipestone Veterinary Supply

Poster Contest................................... Enter at Festival by Noon Saturday Junior Breeding & Market Lamb Shows...................... Sunday - Entries due August 15 ASBA Regional Jr. Southdown Show........................... Sunday - Entries due August 15 Junior Fleece Show........................... Saturday after Open Show

Entries accepted by 9:30 am.

Showmanship.................................... Sunday - Market Lamb – 9:30 am;

Junior Breeding/MSSBA – 9:30 am

We are the answer people!

Make It With Wool............................ Saturday – Entries due August 15 Lambing Barn................................... Saturday & Sunday – Indoor Arena Hall of Breeds................................... Saturday & Sunday – Indoor Arena Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial..... Friday – Saturday – Sunday Youth Judging Contest...................... Sunday – 7:45 am – Beef Barn Please see catalog or website for details on all the above activities www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com

To Order Call: 800-658-2523 Fax: 507-825-3140 Ask-A-Vet: gkennedy@pipevet.com Website: www.pipevet.com

10

THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

SUMMER 2013

Used Equipment Auction Popular Destination at Jefferson An annual event since the start of the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, the Used Equipment Auction offers a great opportunity for sheep producers and fiber enthusiasts alike to buy and sell all types of equipment, including carders, feeders, scales, seeders, electric fencers, trimming stands, spinning wheels, water tanks; even small farm implements.

Items to be consigned to the auction should be delivered to the Warm-up Arena at the Jefferson fairgrounds no later than 1:00 p.m. the day of the sale. The auction is under the direction of Lynnette Taylor and will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, with Bob Johnson, Badger State Auction & Real Estate as the auctioneer.

All items must be tagged with a seller’s number and listed on a consignment form. Seller’s numbers will be assigned by the sale clerk. Consignors will have 15% of the gross receipts on all items sold through the auction taken as a commission by the Wisconsin Sheep Breed­ ers Cooperative (WSBC). A

consignment form may be down­ loaded from the Festival website, completed and returned by mail, fax or emailed to the WSBC office prior to sale day at 7811 Consolidated School Road, Edgerton, WI 53534; faxed to 608 868-6200 or emailed to wisbc@ centurytel.net. Consignment forms will also be available the day of the sale at the Warm-up Arena. The festival website is www.wisconsin sheepandwoolfestival.com.

Terms of the sale are as follows:

• Sale will be held indoors – rain or shine.

• Commissions on sales go to support WSBC activities.

• Consignors may elect to donate the entire proceeds from the sale of their items to the WSBC. • All sales are final.

• Items remaining on the Festival grounds after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 8 become the property of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Co-op.

• All buyers must have a bidder’s number.

• No pharmaceuticals, vaccines, dewormers, insecticides, paints, herbicides or other chemicals of any types accepted as con­ signments.

• All items sold as-is – no warranties, express or implied, provided by the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Co-op, Badger State Auction & Real Estate or the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, LLC. • Items bid back by a consignor will be charged commission on the bid-out price.

• The Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, LLC, Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Co-op, and Badger State Auction & Real Estate are not responsible for loss or damage to items consigned or purchased. All purchases become the responsibility of the buyer at the point of sale. Sale manager Lynnette Taylor may be contacted at 608 846-9536 or email taylorsheep@yahoo. com. Admission to the Festival is $7 per day, $12 for a weekend pass. Kids eight and under and parking are free.

EXCHANGE Continued from page 1 Main Gate drive. The building offers covered load out in case of inclement weather.

Bingen emphasized that sales will be strictly between seller and buyer. There are no commission fees or other charges and the perpen fee of $25 is the only cost to a seller for participating. Transfer of registration papers is the

responsibility of the seller. Since the Stock Exchange is a memberfocused service, sellers must be current members of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Co-op. Pen fees do not include admission to the festival.

Pens in the Stock Exchange may be reserved online by going to the Wisconsin Sheep

& Wool Festival website (www. wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival. com) and clicking on Auctions & Sales. Then go to Stock Exchange and click on Reserve Pens Now. Complete information is also available in the festival catalog.

Anyone with questions may contact Steve Bingen at sbingen@ charter.net or 262 629-4221.

Gene Discovery Leads to New OPP Test A new test is available to help sheep producers identify animals at high risk for ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP), thanks to U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.

Scientists at the research center in Clay Center, Neb., found that the gene TMEM154 affects susceptibility to OPP virus infection in sheep. Working with researchers at other ARS laboratories and a commercial company, they developed a commercially available genetic test.

Producers can use the test to detect sheep that are genetically less susceptible to the OPP virus, decrease the risk of animals becoming infected and select breeding stock with low-risk genetic factors, thereby reducing the prevalence of the virus in flocks.

To read more about this research in the May/June 2013 issue of Agricultural Research magazine, go to www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/ archive/may13/sheep0513.htm.

On April 24, 2013, Dr. David Thomas, Professor of Animal Sciences, received the Robert G. F. and Hazel T. Spitze Land Grant Faculty Award for Excellence. The Robert G. F. and Hazel T. Spitze Land Grant Faculty Award recognizes and encourages faculty who exemplify the Land Grant philosophy through combined excellence in research, teaching, and outreach. The purpose of the award is to reward comprehensive scholarly performance over a sustained period of time.

Such performance includes all areas of academic responsibilities unique to the Land Grant mission, including teaching and advising, research and publication, outreach/extension and public service, along with participation in professional organizations and faculty governance.

In acknowledging the award Department of Animal Sciences Chair Dan Schaefer remarked that “The career-long achievements of Dr. Thomas have made him a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.” Dr. Thomas is shown receiving the award from Dr. Kathryn Vandenbosch, Dean of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Wisconsin Exhibitors Support All American Wisconsin was well represented at the 20th All American Junior Show held over the Fourth of July weekend at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. A family event and one of the largest all junior breeding sheep shows in the nation, the All American has classes for fifteen breeds, a wool show, junior judging contest, lamb camp, promotional contests, skillathon, team showmanship competition and a scholarship program for older exhibitors.

SIXTH ANNUAL

Badger Production Sale FEATURING THE UW-MADISON SHEEP PROGRAM Sunday, September 22, 2013 Public Events Facility, Arlington Ag Research Station, Arlington, WI

Viewing begins - 10:00 a.m.

Educational Session by Dr. Dave Thomas - 11:00 a.m.

Sale - 1:00 p.m.

2012 National Champion and NSIP National Champion Polypay Ewe

Striving to produce high quality, sound, and high performing sheep that will work in any facet of the sheep industry!

Featured Breeds: Hampshire, Polypay, Rambouillet, Targhee Selling approx. 60-70 Ewe Lambs & 8-10 Rams NSIP performance data will be available on all sale animals Sale organized by UW-Madison Animal Science students Questions? Like to be added to our mailing list? Contact: Todd Taylor toddtaylor@wiscmail.wisc.edu 608-846-5858

www.badgerproductionsale.com

Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe Session one, 2011 Wisconsin State Fair Like us on Facebook: UW Sheep Program

SUMMER 2013

THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

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“Wooly U” A New Learning Experience for Kids Now kids from 8 to 16 coming to Jefferson can try their hand at the fiber arts, visit the newborn lambs display, watch sheep shearing and get a lesson in Wisconsin’s rural history before the days of dishwashers and texting. It’s all part of Wooly U, the latest effort by Jo Winkler-Bley of Cottage Grove to broaden the educational experience for kids while at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival. Since 2007, Winkler-Bley and her friends have brought the fiber arts to life for kids of all ages through the “Wool Ewe Teach Me?” classes.

Wooly U provides a full-day Wooly U marks the seventh experience and includes a tour year that Jo Winkler-Bley and of popular festival activities, her volunteers have brought as well as classes for knitting, fiber arts education to kids at dyeing yarn, felting and the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool weaving on a triangular loom. Festival. Wooly U provides a Participants will each get their day-long learning experience own Wooly U “diploma,” T-shirt and pre-registration is and a course handbook. required.

Wooly U will be held on Saturday, September 7. Participation is limited and Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival. com by first clicking on Youth Activities and then Wooly U.

The 15th Wisconsin Livestock Breeders Association Show Camp attracted 51 young livestock exhibitors from across the state for two days of exhibitor training at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds June 15-16. The Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Co-op, a Silver Level sponsor, helps support the annual event using funds generated by the Shepherd's Auction at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival.

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Total cost for 9 doses during the year is only 98¢— including all garlic, shipping and handling. Allows 1 dose every 3 weeks for 6 months.

Orders taken on the phone or internet: 1-800-424-7990.

Garlic Barrier comes in 2 sizes, gallons and quarts. Do not order the quart size for deworming, only the gallon size is pure garlic juice, quarts are only 10% garlic juice.

Garlic Barrier also keeps ticks and fleas off your cows and horses when they are in the pasture. Use a garden spray and spray legs and body - no deadly ticks or worrisome fleas get onto the animals. Cheap and effective for up to 3 weeks per spraying.

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THE WISCONSIN SHEPHERD

SUMMER 2013

Calendar of Events

July 31st—WLBA Summer Spectacular Show Entry Deadline.

Entry forms can be found at www.wisconsinlivestockbreeders.com.

August 1-11—Wisconsin State Fair, www.wistatefair.com August 7—Water Supply Systems, Todd Rietmann Farm, N4860 Owen Park Road, Merrimac, WI. Contact: George Koepp, UWExtension, Columbia County, 608 742-9683, george.koepp@ces. uwex.edu for times and registration.

August 15—Entry Deadline—Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com August 17—61st Annual Spooner Sheep Day, Spooner Agricultural Research Station, Spooner, WI. Contact: Lorraine Toman, 715 6353735 email: ltoman@facstaff.wisc.edu August 17—WLBA Summer Spectacular Show, Marathon Fair Park, Wausau, WI. Information: www.wisconsinlivestockbreeders.com August 28-September 2—Central Wisconsin State Fair, Marshfield, WI www.centralwisconsinstatefair.com September 6-8—2013 Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, Jefferson Fair Park, Jefferson, WI. www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com September 7—2013 Make It With Wool Competition, Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, Jefferson Fair Park, Jefferson, WI. Entry deadline, August 15. For information: Wynn Wittkopf 262 3676192 jwwittkopf@core.com. Entry form/info online at www. wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com September 8—Annual Meeting – Wisconsin Club Lamb Association, Following Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival Market Lamb Show. www.wisconsinclublambassociation.com or www. wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com September 18—Pasture Walk, Bill & Laura Paine Farm, N893 Kranz Road, Columbus, WI. Contact: George Koepp, UW-Extension, Columbia County, 608 742-9683, george.koepp@ces.uwex.edu for times and registration.

September 20—Copy/Ad Deadline – Wisconsin Shepherd Fall Issue.

Ad Contact: Kelli Gunderson robkelgundy@yahoo.com 815 821-5905 Copy Contact: Bob Black rbblack@powercom.net 920 623-3536 September 21—Indianhead Sheep Breeders Association Fall Shearing School, Duane Klindworth Farm, Augusta, WI. For information: 715 286-4157 drklindworth@aol.com September 22—6th Badger Production Sale, Public Events Facility, Arlington Agricultural Research Station, Arlington, WI. Contact: Todd Taylor, 608 332-4914 or 608 846-5858, toddtaylor@wiscmail. wisc.edu November 7-9—Dairy Sheep Association of North America 2013 Symposium, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Contact: Eric Bzikot, ee.bizkot@everus.ca www.dsana.org

PLAN NOW!

2013 USED EQUIPMENT AUCTION Saturday, September 7 • 2:00 p.m.

Jefferson Park, Jefferson, WI Consigning is easy!

Go to www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com and download a consignment form or consign the day of the sale.

HIDDEN VALLEY FARM & WOOLEN MILL Clothing, jewelry, Christmas cards, stationery, stuffed animals, books, figurines and calendars for the sheep enthusiast.

Ewesful Gifts

7868 State Road 73 Columbus, WI 53925 Order Toll Free 877 393-7385 or 920 623-3536 www.ewesfulgifts.com - free catalog

Registered C.S.S.N.A.

• Custom Carding • Roving & batts for spinning • Quilting batts & reconditioning • Hand-tied quilts • Registered Coopworth Sheep

Paul & Carol Wagner 14804 Newton Rd., Valders, WI 54245

920-758-2803

• Registered Suffolk Ram and Ewe lambs for sale—all RR. • 9 lambs with loineyes of 4 inches or better.

• The slick-shorn rams pictured above are 10 of the 30 oldest rams.

• Objective data on ALL lambs. No hearsay or single lamb data.

National Sheep Improvement Program has 5 Mint Gold rams in the top 9 rams in a data base of thousands of sheep.

• Typical customer reports are that ram offspring won rate of gain and carcass contest.

• Ohio State Fair—17 pens of 4 lambs each. MGR ram 223 produced top judged pen and top carcass pen.

• See 10 of our lambs at Center of the National Sale, Spencer, IA, on July 27th.

• All rams are guaranteed breeders with backup rams always available.

• Sisters to the above rams will be for sale. Contact us early if interested.

See our website, www.mintgoldranch.com, for data and pics.

MINT GOLD RANCH

Dale & Judy Dobberpuhl 5807 County Road X, De Pere, WI 54115 920-864-7732 www.mintgoldranch.com • mintgoldranch@gmail.com

History Comes to Life with Ma & Pa Tom Kleist and Sandy Fisher find the right mix of humor and history in the programs they take to schools, community groups and service organizations. They call their presentation “Adventures with Ma and Pa” and they bring history alive in classrooms, churches and farm sheds across southeast Wisconsin as they teach about everyday life in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Fisher says that she and Kleist represent a generation that still has a connection to life before modems; remembering out­ houses, pitchforks and hand pumps – the things of early-day life that bear little resemblance to modern households or farms today.

Erdman Texel Sheep Texels – to put the MEAT back in your sheep!

OPP Negative • Scrapie Certified

RON ERDMAN

4362 So. Lake Fern Rd., Polo, IL 61064 815-564-7149 www.erdmantexel.com

Kleist is a former fourth grade history teacher, a collector of historic memorabilia and an auc­ tioneer, who also raises a few goats on his farm near Elkhorn. Fisher, who lives in Waukesha, is an accredited education coordinator and is retired from Old World Wisconsin. She’s

currently a guide at the Waukesha County Museum. Both found their niche in “Ma & Pa” and have visited up to thirty schools a year with their blend of history and humor.

In addition, they mix their comedy with historical props – tools and implements from another era – often asking their audiences to guess what the uses of each might have been.

Both Fisher and Kleist are intent on sharing their stories and historical perspective with audiences young and old. “If we don’t share it, it’s going to be lost…” The 1870s will come alive in the Indoor Arena from 10:00 to 4:00 on Saturday and from 10:00 to 3:00 on Sunday.

Jones Shearing

Experienced and dependable Shearing sheep, goats, alpacas, and llamas.

Covering Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and Eastern Iowa jonesshearing@gmail.com 715-424-1023 www.facebook.com search: jonesshearing

For Your Advertising Needs, for Subscription Rates or to Receive a 4-week Complimentary Paper Contact:

The Country Today PO Box 570 Eau Claire WI 54702 715-833-9276 • 800-236-4004 joann.utphall@ecpc.com sue.bauer@ecpc.com www.thecountrytoday.com

The Business Directory Published by The Wisconsin Shepherd

3696 Country Aire Drive Cedarburg, WI 53012 262-377-1491 • Dick 262-375-0814 • Mark rsrmke@att.net 4 Miles East of Jackson on SE Corner of Hwy. 60 and Country Aire Drive (Hwy. M)

“Ewe” too can join The Business Directory Members pay $110 for 4 issues or $40/issue; non-members $140 for 4 issues or $50/issue. Call Kelli at 815-821-5905.