Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association, Inc.

It's not too early to volunteer to help at the

105th Annual Connecticut Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival 

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Rain or Shine
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tolland Agricultural Center
Route 30, Vernon/Rockville, CT

GPS - 24 Hyde Avenue, Vernon, CT

 2013 Festival Poster

2013 Festival Flyer

 Submitted by Susan Palmer & Wendy Lowe

Vendors: Our vendor chair is Cathy at dragonslairfarm@yahoo.com

Thanks to our 2013 vendors and thank you also to those that we were not able to accomodate.

We are using email as much as possible to reduce costs and time; if you are a returning vendor and your email has changed recently (or since last festival); contact our vendor chair immediately.

If you are interested in being a vendor in 2014 and are not currently a vendor; send your business name, home location, product description, pictures if you have them and contact information to our vendor chair at dragonslairfarm@yahoo.com; you will be contacted after 1/1/2014 to let you know if there is a space available.

Please note; all vendors are required to have a valid Connecticut Sales and Use Tax Certificate and to provide certificates of liability insurance.



The Connecticut Sheep, Wool and Fiber Festival celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009 and we are off to a great start for our next century.  The festival,  started in 1909 by the CT Sheep Breeders Association, as a program “to promote the keeping of sheep in Connecticut”, has evolved and expanded into a premier sheep and fiber festival by providing exhibits, demonstrations and over 60 vendors from the sheep, wool and fiber arena.  This event is a delightful agricultural and learning experience for the general public as well as shepherds and fiber enthusiasts.  Exhibits and activities include: sheep exhibits, shearing demonstrations; vendors, fleece sale, educational lectures; wool skirting, a sheep dog trial, fleece to shawl contest, kids' corner, knitting instruction, food, vendors, festival logo shirts, music, vendors and fun.

2013 Festival contacts

Contact the appropriate person below for entry forms, rules, or information.

Event Co-chairs

Kevin Woolam (860) 559-3537    email

Cathy Andresen (860) 639-9196   email

Vendors & Volunteers

Cathy Andresen (860) 639-9196   email     2013 vendor locations

Workshops and Seminars

Rick Trojanoski (860) 759-9334  email

Sheep Dog Demonstrations

Due to a shortage of the large number of sheep required for the trial there will not be a trial this year however we will have Sheep Dog Demonstrations.

Fleece Sale: Red Barn: All Day

No entry fees or commissions for CSBA members!!

$5.00 entry fee/fleece for non members (Membership $20.00)

Drop-off Friday by appointment only or Saturday 8 - 9 AM

Anne McIntyre-Lahner (203) 458-3070  email

2013 Fleece Sale Instructions    2013 Fleece Sale Card

2013 Fleece Sale Registration - download, fill out and return via email.  If you have questions or trouble contact Anne.

Fiber Arts Contests

Contact Regina Malsbary (860) 742-5483

The spinning bees will commence at 11:00AM and  the judging of the skeins and garments will follow.  There will be adult and junior divisions for the spinning bees but they will held concurrently unless of course we have enough kids to set aside their own time. Contests are:

A Quick Guide to the 2012 Festival Grounds:      

Elliot Building– Seminars, NO ANIMALS ALLOWED

Gold Building– Vendors, NO ANIMALS ALLOWED

Green Barn– Vendors & Livestock

Greenhouse- The Creative Living Community of CT Greenhouse will be selling herbs, microgreens and greeting cards made by an adult with autism.  Tours throughout the day through the greenhouse.  Brochure

Pavilion– Food Vendors

Red Barn– Vendors, Seminars & Livestock

White Barn– Vendors, Seminars 

Shopping All buildings except Elliot: Familiar vendors and a few new ones, many of them CT Farm businesses, will be selling fiber & yarn, crafts, livestock supplies, soap, jewelry, spinning and weaving supplies and a variety of other items. Be prepared to shop and bring cash as not all vendors can accept credit cards.

Gold Building-All Day

CSBA Headquarters where you'll find:

Festival T Shirts - While Supplies Last - proceeds benefit our                         association ($15)

CSBA Lapel Pins - Logo lapel pins, perfect for your hat or lapel ($3)

CSBA Farm Signs – Vinyl coated aluminum signs with logo ($25)

The Connecticut Blanket & Door Prize- Beautiful, cozy blankets, custom woven with wool from Connecticut Farms, will be for sale. Entry forms for the blanket door prize available at the CSBA table. One entry per family.  Drawing 3 PM

Various vendors are also in this building.

2012 Outdoor Events Listed by Location

Food Vendors - New this year! Fair Food Concessions and the Urban Gourmet offering Burgers, Dogs, Fries, Fried Dough, Sausage Grinder, Lamb Dishes, Veggie Fare and Breakfast

Music – Fiddleheads will be performing Bluegrass music live around the grounds at various times.

Kids Korner - A place for children to explore many fiber activities and just have fun playing games. Sponsored by Windham Woolies and Bantams & Bunnies 4-H clubs.

2013 CT Sheep wool and Fiber Festival Free Educational Seminars

Outside

All Day:  Lace-making with the Bobbin Lace Group

All Day: SCA Group, Medieval Costumed Interpreters will be demonstrating a variety of fiber arts.

Elliot Building

Ask the State Veterinarian                                    Dr. Mary Jane Lis 

Here is your opportunity to discuss regulations and policy issues with Connecticut’s state veterinarian.

2:00 PM Wool Quality Workshop                Bill Cournoyer & Jo Judd

Learn how to produce good quality wool you can sell, use yourself, or participate in the Connecticut Blanket project or a fleece sale. Please bring your fleeces for evaluation. Learn to evaluate, skirt, roll up, and pack fleece. Attendance is required for participation in the Connecticut Blanket project.



11am and 1pm Cooking with Lamb - Alexia Jamision

White Barn

All Day - Learn various crochet techniques with members of the Happily Hooked on Crochet Guild

Weaving on a Peg Loom - Dennie Burak

Lace Knitting - Anne McIntyre-Lahner

Spinning Demo - Kathy Santo Christo

Intro to Needle Felting - Heather Birdsey

Sock Knitting Machine Demo - Sandee Plocharczyk

Tape Loom Weaving - Reggie Britton

Red Barn

Sheep Shearing - Lara Sullivan will be shearing sheep from the UCONN flock.

Skirting Demonstration - Skirting is "the practice of separating all inferior portions from the bulk of the fleece at shearing."  Come and join in for "hands on" learning.

Angora Rabbit care - presented by long time breeder Chris Morgan from Woolybuns

Sheep 101 - Dr. Jean DeNapoli

Intro to Alpacas - New England Alpacas

Selecting a Hand Spinning Fleece - Anne McIntyre-Lahner

Washing and Preparing a Fleece for Spinning - Pam Blasco

UCONN Cooperative System

The Connecticut Cooperative Extension System is a statewide, informal education system within the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Cooperative Extension educational programs and problem-solving assistance are based on the research of land-grant universities such as the University of Connecticut.

Cooperative Extension programs are delivered throughout Connecticut in one-on-one sessions, workshops, short courses, and demonstrations, and via satellite teleconference, print publications, videotapes, radio, newspaper, periodicals and the Internet. Educational programs and materials cover a wide range of subjects, with emphasis on animal health and agriculture, family, community, 4-H Youth development, food, nutrition, food safety, natural resources, land use, environment, plant agriculture, horticulture, and gardening.

Connecticut Cooperative Extension employees are located at the main campus in Storrs and in eight county Extension Centers. These eight centers are located in Fairfield County, Hartford County, Litchfield County, Middlesex County, New Haven County, New London County, Tolland County, and Windham County.

Extension Email           Extension Website

DIRECTIONS

GPS Address : 24 Hyde Avenue, Vernon, CT

The Tolland Agricultural Center is only a few minutes off of I-84 on Route 30 in Vernon/Rockville, CT.

FROM HARTFORD: Take I-84 East to Exit 67. At the bottom of the ramp turn left on to Rte. 31. Go a short distance to the junction with Rte 30. Turn right on to Rte 30 East and TAC will be 1/8 mile on your right.

FROM BOSTON: Take I-84 West to Exit 67. At the bottom of the ramp turn right on to Rte. 31. Go a short distance to the junction with Rte. 30. Turn right on to Rte 30 East and TAC will be 1/8 mile on your right.

On site parking fee of $5.00 per car.

No Dogs Allowed On Grounds except permitted service dogs for the disabled & Trial Dogs in designated area only.