Frederick County
Sheep Breeders Association
Purpose:
To promote 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.
February Banner Photo: Hidden Valley Farm, Wisconsin. We began raising registered Coopworth sheep in 1992. The breed has proven to be a good choice for us, as we focus on both wool and meat. We have the best of both worlds as a result. Our flock has grown to over 150 ewes.
The Coopworth is an easy care, productive breed, doing well on pasture. The breed was developed in New Zealand during the 1950’s and 60’s, by crossing Romney ewes with Border Leicester rams.
The banner photo shows our method of winter feeding. We maintian the flock on pasture and Paul feeds large square bales each morning (person on tractor). All the sheep wear jackets (covers) to protect the wool from debris. Sheep do better outdoors even in the extreme conditions we have in northeast Wisconsin. The hay is a grass legume mix. Most of our baled hay is purchased, as the pastures are used for grazing. Use a rotational grazing system, moving the flock every 2-3 days. Lambing takes place in the barn in April, because the weather does not cooperate enough to pasture lamb that early. Everyone is back on pasture by the second week in May. We have Coopworth breeding stock available.
In addition to raising sheep, we operate the Hidden Valley Woolen Mill. Our custom carding services includes roving and quilt/felting batts. We use vintage Davis and Furber carding machinery. Wool is processed and we have created colorways which we offer for sale at approximately 10 Wool Festivals yearly. We travel east as far as Ohio and west to South Dakota with a variety of stops in-between. We believe that producing quality fiber, meat and breeding stock in an environmentally sustainable fashion is a recipe for success.
Contact Carol & Paul Wagner at: 1-920-758-2803.
E-mail: hvfarmwoolenmill@lakefield.net
Website: www.HiddenValleyFarmWoolenMill.com
Upcoming 2012 Events: Mark Your Calendar - Click on "Events" for more information.
1. Two General Membership Meetings per Year.
2012 Spring Membership Meeting - February, 2012. 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 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, late February, 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 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.
6. 2012 Spring and Fall Farm Tours. Spring Farm Tour on a Sunday afternoon in May, 2012, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. 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 Farm Tours.
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.
7. FCSB sponsors one of the 10 Youth Skillathon events (Sheep Judging) at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday, May 6th. Tammy Keeney (Wooly Booger Farm) assists.
8. 2012 Frederick Farmer's Co-Op Open House - Saturday in June, 2012, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Discount on feed. Complimentary hotdogs and drinks. FCSB members will bring some "critters".
9. 2012 Annual Summer Picnic at Blue Gate Farm, Ijamsville, MD - Sunday, June 10, 2012. Elaine Murray (Harley Farm), and Mary Ann Peterson (Pleasant Grove Farm) are in charge of the summer picnic. Click on "Events" for more information.
10. 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.
11. 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 in the Fair catalog. Premier Exhibitor Award open to Frederick County Residents - or Frederick County Sheep Breeder Members.
12. Helps co-sponsor the 4-H Decorated Lamb Contest and Shepherd's Lead Contest at the Great Frederick Fair.
13. 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, and the Rural Ads 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 out of state.
Contact Members: Members have all sizes of flocks, knowledge, and experience -- from a few sheep to about 120 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, and marketing techniques from others -- and for all members to share their knowledge and experiences.
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.