The Sheep and Wool Festival is an annual event that draws sheep and fiber enthusiasts from all across the country to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. This year’s festival will take place September 8-10. There are sheep shows, stock dog trials, wool fiber arts classes and more.
Bob Black is the coordinator of the festival, which began in 2002. He says that this show is one of the larger, better attended events of this kind in the Midwest. Black estimates that there will be at least 4,000 attendees who come over the weekend
People will come from all over the country to the festival. “Stock dog trial, for instance, draws handlers from seven different states,” said Black. Last year they had someone come from Anchorage, Alaska to attend one of the classes they offered.
There is more to the festival than dog trials or sheep showing. One of the unique competitions is the Walk and Knit Relay Race. This is where contestants and teams knit as many stitches as fast as possible over a measured course. Sheep to Shawl is a team event that is returning after being gone for 3 years.
