News


  • 2017 YCP winner Charles Boyle

    In April 2017, youth farmer Charles O’Boyle wrote and submitted an essay for the Youth Conservationist Program. This program awards Heritage Breeds Yearling Ewe Lambs to 4-H members throughout the country. The 4-H members selected to receive a yearling ewe lamb, write essays on what the heritage breeds mean and how they can help preserve…


  • LAMBS LAMBS LAMBS!

    Farms all over the US are reporting lambs on the ground. Lambing will continue through the spring months. The Chapins of Smiling Sheep in New Hampshire welcome this brand new lamb from a Pitchfork ewe and a TerraMia ram. Look for this youngster in the showring, handled by Ellora this year! Kathy Koning-Mcclure of Frivolous…


  • 2018 Youth Conservation Program

    BLU supports this program, and has secured a donation of a registered BFL ewe for this year’s event. Youth interested in applying for the 2018 Youth Conservationist Program    * Must be between 9 and 18 years old.   *Submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2018 that includes:   *An essay which introduces you and your experience with animals. Your essay should explain your interest in sheep and  answer the question: “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep.” If for any reason the animal will not  be kept at your own home, please explain in detail where it will reside and what exactly your responsibilities will be.   *The applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a particular breed or for any of the breeds available.   *Each applicant must include a letter of recommendation from their 4?H advisor, FFA advisor, veterinarian, teacher or  clergy.   *The total application/essay should be no more than 2 pages in length.   *The application must include address, phone and if available, email address. Interested young people should contact  Elaine for an updated list of breeds available, then submit their letter of application/essay to: Elaine Ashcraft, 46118 CR  58 Coshocton, OH 43812   ALL ESSAYS MUST BE MAILED. EMAILED ESSAYS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!   *Requirements if selected:   *Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday,  May 6, 2018.   *Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2018 at: 1) a county fair or local sheep show and 2) the State Fair in the state  where the recipient lives.   *Must breed the ewe to a registered ram (of her breed) in the fall of 2018, should consult the donor breeder for their  recommendations.   *Must either use the ewe’s fleece to personally make a wool item or sell the fleece to a spinner, felter or weaver.   *Must submit an article, the following Feb/Mar to their local newspaper covering their year and including information  concerning the next year’s YCP program.   *Must submit a scrapbook to the Donor Breeder by April 30, 2018 and provide a scrapbook to be used at the Maryland  Festival which is then given back to the youth.   Any questions please contact Elaine Ashcraft 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, Ohio 43812   By phone at (740) 622?1573 or by email at tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com  (please note the underscore between “tankewe”  and “cr58”)  Donors select the recipients from the essays submitted by the youth. 


  • Oregon lambs

    Photo courtesy of TerraMia Farms


  • $50 fleece award available

    This year, BLU will sponsor a $50 cash award to the first place BFL fleece at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Details will be in the MS&W festival catalog and entry form. So if you have been considering entering a fleece in the contest, this is the year to do it! Here is the…


  • 2018 BFL lambs arriving

    Kat Bierkens of Terra Mia Farm shares her first lamb of 2018 “brag” with us. Her ewe, Clarice, had a nice, big healthy ram lamb today.


  • Election results

    Congratulations to incoming BLU board members Katie Sullivan and Shellie Ross, and to Vice-President elect Meredith Myers-Null. A heartfelt thank you to outgoing board members Joan Chapin, Carol Densmore, and Heather Landin. The BLU board will meet next in January.


  • BFLs are People Pleasers

    Photo courtesy of Katie Sullivan


  • 2017 Election: Candidate Statements

    Ballots will be mailed out by the 1st of November, and are due back to the election chairperson by December 1st. Ballots will be mailed to all active members as of October 1st. Here are the candidates: Candidate for VP Meredith Myers-Null – BlueLand Farm – Mt Airy, MD I am excited for the opportunity…


  • 2017 Reserve Champion fleece at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

    The 2017 champion BFL fleece and Reserve Champion Overall fleece in the HUGE Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival fleece competition. Grown and exhibited by BLU member Margie Smith of PA.