Sponsored by the Sustainable Sheep and Fiber Community of Northern Minnesota (SSFC) and Three Rivers Fibershed
Pre-registration required by February 2, 2020
$20/person, $30/couple, $15 for SSFC members
Pay at the door
This year’s event features presentations by Janet McNally, Tamarack Lamb & Wool, Hinckley, MN. Janet McNally raises sheep near Hinckley Minnesota in a Regenerative Grazing system. Formerly the instructor for the Pine Technical College Lamb and Wool Program, Janet farmed full time for 20 years raising sheep and beef cattle. An experience with wolves in 1999 caused her to make some changes to her grazing program to help the Livestock Guard Dogs to be more effective. It turns out these changes resulted in more grass and less parasites in addition to keeping sheep safe. Find more information about Janet at www.tamaracksheep.com.
Janet will be speaking on three topics, including how to double your pasture carrying capacity, eliminate summer parasite problems, and improve drought resilience of your pasture with just portable fence. She will also discuss livestock guard dogs, their rearing and management and how to problem-solve. The health benefits are one of the reasons people raise grass-fed livestock and Janet will talk about Omega 3’s and the Health Benefits of Lamb.
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. The included lunch is catered by Asian Food Market of Solway, MN.
The SSFC has their annual meeting and nominations for board of directors will be accepted. Please consider joining your board of directors or volunteering to help out in the coming year. The SSFC works with adults, 4H and area children to teach about wool and natural fibers. In addition to the Small Scale Sustainable Sheep Event, volunteers also organize the Farm Fiber Festival in early October. At this festival, fiber vendors can promote and sell their products and share and learn about fiber techniques. These events would not be possible without the help of local volunteers. No experience necessary.
This event also marks the beginning of the membership year and members not already renewed for 2020 will need to pay their dues.
Anyone with fiber or livestock-related business that would like to set up a vendor booth is welcome, only cost is the registration fee but you must sign up in advance and provide a MN ST-19 form. More information at the contacts below.
The Small Scale Sustainable Sheep Farming event brings together people who raise sheep and fiber, or who want to raise them, with those who are interested in fiber products. This event provides information for those interested in raising sheep or fiber sustainably with those interested in purchasing local products. Consumers interested in local products find this event helpful in connecting them with the right producers.
Please Pre-Register by 2/2/2020 for meal planning at sustainablesheep@gmail.com or 218-657-2502. More information can be found at sheepcommunity.com
