The DEMONSTRATION SCHEDULE is subject to change; but, we make every effort to stay as closely to the schedule as possible. Any changes or additions will be posted in the Main Arena during the Festival Weekend
SHEEP HERDING
With the CzechMates – Becky with Czechers and Ena, Val with Han and Tag
Saturday: 10:30 am – 11:30 am 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Sunday: 10:30 am – 11:30 am 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Becky and Val met through of their mutual love of border collies and an interest in training these dogs to do what they were traditionally bred for which is to work sheep. They saw an opportunity to help others see the wonders and joys of developing a working relationship with these fabulous dogs. In their demos they try to represent the commitment that is required to achieve a well-trained border collie but also the fun of competing in sheep dog trials.
SHEEP SHEARING
With Dale Mylin
Saturday: 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Sunday: 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
Dale was raised on a dairy farm in Lancaster County. As a young homeowner he couldn’t find a shearer to shear his sheep, so he took the 2 day Penn State Extension training course. Word got out and soon he was shearing for others for the practice. At one point he was shearing over 500 sheep in a season, these days it’s just a couple hundred a season, mostly small flocks. He has 35 years experience in shearing and raising sheep.
He is married to Marcia (his college sweetheart) for 38 years with 5 children and 11 grandchildren. They presently raise market lambs, running 15 ewes & have 3 purebred Suffolk rams that they hire out for stud service. When not on the farm Dale is teaching and coaching at The Lancaster Country Day School. He is also the Shearer for the Fidget Spinners, a Sheep to Shawl team that competes at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show and Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.
ALL ABOUT ANGORA RABBITS
With Ellen Anderson, Aboundingful Farm
Saturday: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Ellen is a Shepherdess, Spinner & Fiber Artist located in Lebanon County PA. She has been raising Angora rabbits with her daughter for over 20 years. Her rabbit herd currently consists of French & Satin Angora Rabbits, as well as some other short-haired rabbit breeds that she raises for show. During her demonstration, she will show you the different Angora breeds and talk about housing, grooming, care, harvesting the fiber and spinning it. She loves to educate people about Angora rabbits and is always happy to answer questions from those interested in the possibility of owning an Angora rabbit someday.
ALPACAS AND LLAMAS
With Karen Taylor, Snowy Oaks Llamas & Fibers, and Holly Jacobs, Alpacas in the Glen
Saturday 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Karen and Holly have been raising llamas and alpacas, respectively, for over 20 years. They will have some of their alpacas and llamas at the festival and will be talking about the differences between these two camelids. They will also discuss how to care for them and what you need to raise these unique animals on your farm. Karen and Holly will be happy to answer any questions you have about these wonderful animals.
FLEECE PREPARATION
With Holly Jacobs, Alpacas in the Glen
Saturday: 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Do you have a raw fleece and you’d really like to do something wonderful with it? Holly will show how to skirt the fleece to select areas on the fleece for various uses. She will talk about cleaning the fleece and how to prepare it for spinning or other projects. Holly works at Rosehaven Fiber Mill in the Bethel Woods NY area where she preps fleeces of many different fiber animals for the mill processing. Holly has taken many fiber sorting courses and has accredited classes from Suny Cobleskill in fiber sorting.
NALBINDING
With Lynda Holt, Ancient Threads
Nålbinding is an ancient fiber art, predating both crochet and knitting. The oldest fragment found to date is from 6500 BC. Nålbinding involved a technique that is distinct from crochet in that it involves passing the full length of the working thread through each loop, unlike crochet where the work is formed only of loops, never involving the free end. It also differs from knitting in that lengths must be pieced together during the process of nålebinding, rather than a continuous strand of yarn that can easily be pulled through the loops.
Saturday: 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
LEARN ABOUT LOOMS
With The Woodland Weavers and Spinners Guild
Sunday: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Are thoughts of weaving swirling in your head, but you don’t know where to start? Members of the Woodland Weavers and Spinners Guild from Wayne County PA, will walk you through ways to get started. They will show you various types of looms; from a simple cardboard loom to others such as a rigid heddle, inkle, peg looms and more. Come watch how these looms are used, learn and ask questions of these knowledgeable weavers.
FLAX TO FIBER
With Margaret Boritz, Home Textile Tool Museum
Sunday: 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm
Flax fiber is obtained from the stems of the flax plant from which linen is made, but you wouldn’t believe the process this gentle annual goes through before it becomes a beautiful blouse or a stunning table cloth. Margaret will take you on a historic journey of flax fiber and the preparation process, leaving you with a new appreciation of this ancient plant.