Frederick County
Sheep Breeders Association
Purpose:
To promote sheep farms in Maryland, sheep breeders, sheep producers, lamb producers, club lambs, and market lamb producers in Maryland.
To promote high quality fleeces, covered fleeces, wool, roving, handspun yarn, blended yarn, custom handknits, wool blankets, and woolen clothing products in Maryland.
To promote Maryland farm-fresh lamb, custom-processed local, freezer lamb.
To promote grass-fed local Maryland lamb, pasture raised Maryland lamb, and grain-fed Maryland lamb. USDA Inspected lamb. Some sheep and lambs raised on certified organic farms.
To support 4-H sheep projects, 4-H project lambs, and young shepherds' 4-H project activities.
To improve registered sheep breeding stock, and commercial sheep breeding stock, market lambs, the fiber industry, and the wool industry in Maryland.
To provide farm visits, farm tours, farm sitting services.
To be a resource, provide a support base for members, and educate the public.
May Banner Photo: Tynybryn Farm in Mid-Wales. The farm has a flock of Commercial and Purebred Texel Ewes, plus Welsh Halfbreds, and Welsh Mule Sheep.
Website: www.tynybrynfarms.com
Upcoming 2012 Events: Mark Your Calendar - Click on "Events" for more information.
1. Two General Membership Meetings per Year.
2012 Spring Membership Meeting - March 21, 2012 - 7:00 pm, at the Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church, 8158 Yellow Springs Road, Frederick. Susan Schoenian is the speaker -- lambing issues, problems, caring for lambs, open discussion.
The Fall Membership Meeting in October. Timely topics and speakers. Notices sent to the Membership and a notice in the newspaper. Anyone who raises sheep or goats - or is a new shepherd - is welcome to attend and join the Frederick County Sheep Breeders (FCSB).
2. 2012 Sheepman Supply Open House - Saturday, February 11, 2012 - 8:00 am to 2:00 pm - complimentary pancake and sausage breakfast served 8:00 to noon - discounts on sheep, goat and livestock "stuff" and parts. Informative displays and great door prizes. The 2012-2013 Directories will be available.
3. 2012 Frederick County Ag. Week at the FSK Mall (Center Court area) in Frederick, February 20-26, with various Fiber Arts Demonstrations on Saturday, Feb. 25th., 1:00 to 5:00 pm, by Rose Woodsmall (Stonybranch Farm) and her Second Sunday Spinners. See photos in Photo Section of website.
4. 2012 Brunswick Co-Op Open House - Saturday, March 24, 2012 - with shearing demonstration, discount on sheep supplies, vendor displays, and food/drinks sold by the Calico Clovers 4-H Club.
5. 2012 Rose Hill Manor Easter Egg Roll - Saturday, April 7, 2012. FCSB members will provide lambs. goats, bunnies and chicks for the kids to pet. A tent and pens are provided.
6. 2012 Spring Farm Tour - Sunday afternoon, April 15th., 1:00 to 4:00 pm. -- at Shepherds Manor Creamery, New Windsor, MD. Hosts are Michael and Colleen Histon. Amy Miller (Mellow Meadow Farm) is in charge of Farm Tours. Committee is Mary Bare (Cranberry Creek Fibers), and Dawn Richardson (Grindstone Ridge Farm). Click on "Events" for more information about the Spring Farm Tour and Fall Farm Tour.
7. New Activity for 2012. Rose Hill Manor Farm Open House -- Saturday 10 to 4 and Sunday 12 to 4, April 28-29, 2012. FCSB Members will provide a variety of animals -- ewes, lambs, goats, chicks, rabbits.
8. 2012 Food Concession Stand -- Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival (MS&WF), May 5-6, 2012. The FCSB's Food Concession stand in partnership with Feedbag Catering (Terrie & Jeff Ferguson), an established vendor at the MS&WF. Located on the Midway Blvd., the main walkway. Great American Lamb sandwiches - pick up lamb recipes - and talk "sheep". Click on "Events" for more information.
9. FCSB sponsors one of the 10 Youth Skillathon events (Sheep Judging) at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday, May 6th. Martha Polkey (Black Sheep Farm) assists.
10. Special Event. May 18-20, 2012 -- 150th. Anniversary of The Great Frederick Fair. The FCSB will provide breeds of sheep common in the area in the mid 1800's -- a few blade shearing demonstrations -- and a "Sheep to Shawl" demonstration.
11. 2012 Frederick Farmer's Co-Op Open House - Saturday, June 9, 2012, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Discount on feed. Complimentary hotdogs and drinks. FCSB members bring various lamb and kid goat "critters".
12. 2012 Annual Summer Picnic - Sunday, June 10, 2012 - 3:00 to 7:00 pm - at Stillpoint Farm, Dollyhyde Road, southeast of Libertytown. Hosts are Carol McConaughy and Tom Barse. Picnic committee: Elaine Murray (Harley Farm), and Mary Ann Peterson (Pleasant Grove Farm) are in charge of the summer picnic. Click on "Events" for more information.
13. New Event. 4-H Lamb Camp - Friday and Saturday, June 29-30, 2012, held at the Frederick County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by The Maryland Sheep Breeders Association and the FCSB. This is a serious, intense lamb camp. Cost: $225.00 per person. Must bring one or two lambs, trimming stand. Register on-line directly with Massey Show Lamb Camps. Website: www.MasseyShowLamb.com
14. 2012 Great Frederick Fair - FCSB sponsors following 4-H and Open Class events: 4-H Fitting & Showing; 4-H Champion Ram and Champion Ewe in each of the 8 breed categories; 4-H Supreme Champion Bred & Owned Ram; and 4-H Supreme Champion Bred & Owned Ewe.
15. FCSB provides the two Open Class Premier Exhibitor Banners (one for a Wool Breeds Flock of 5, and one for a Meat Breeds Flock of 5) at the Great Frederick Fair. Details are in the 2012 Great Frederick Fair catalog. This is a change in the judging process for 2012. The Premier Exhibitor Award is open to Frederick County Residents -- or Frederick County Sheep Breeder Members.
16. Helps co-sponsor the 4-H Decorated Lamb Contest and Shepherd's Lead Contest at the Great Frederick Fair.
17. 2012 Fall Farm Tour will be a Sunday afternoon in October, 1:00 to 4:00 pm -- at a farm in the area. Click on "Events" for more information.
18. Annual Dinner and Social at the Cozy Inn, in Thurmont, Thursday, November 1, 2012. Evening begins with the Meet & Greet Social at 5:30 pm; Buffet Dinner at 6:15 pm; followed by the Program, with John Nicodemus as the MC; the Shepherd of the Year Award is presented by Emily Chamelin, FCSB Vice President; plus a featured Entertainer; and wrapping up the evening with the Door Prizes. Great fellowship and food. Click on "Events" for more information.
Shearing School Assistance: The FCSB provides Beginning and Advanced Shearing School scholarships (FCSB fund will pay the registration cost) through the Pete Creamer Memorial Shearing Scholarship Fund, established by Sylvia Creamer. Contact Ellen Nicodemus, FCSB, to apply.
To Join: Click on "Join" and contact Dawn Richardson, Treasurer. Membership includes listing your farm, your products, your photos, and your website on the FCSB website. Website is linked to a other websites, such as the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival website, the Sheep & Goat Update, the United Suffolk Sheep Association website, the Maryland Agriculture.info website, and the Rural Ads.com website.
Membership is open to everyone! You don't have to live in Frederick County. Now have members from 5 Maryland counties, and a few members from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Contact Members: Members have all sizes of flocks, knowledge, and experience -- from a few sheep to about 150 ewes, from just beginning to members with 25+ years experience. Membership provides a way for a new shepherd to learn health care, the lambing process, ewe management, pasture development, feed rations, minerals and nutrition, producing high quality fleeces, and marketing techniques from others -- and for all members to share their knowledge and experiences with others.
Yahoo Chat Group: Fellow shepherds who raise sheep, lambs and goats. If interested in the FCSB Chat Group, contact Robert Smyth (Sweetwater Farm) -- click on the "Members" page, scroll down to Sweetwater Farm, and Robert Smyth's e-mail and phone number are listed.
"Links" Section: Extensive Listings. Check it out. Welcome your input for additional resources. Send us an e-mail.
Enjoy the Website. Review upcoming and past Events; Photos of Members farms.