Upcoming Events Calendar
See upcoming BLU events below
December 152024
BLU Board Elections – Dec 15, 2024- Jan 10, 2025President, VP and board members will be selected by ballots sent to members in good standing. See the Candidate Bio post at the bottom of the Home Page.
September 26-28 2024
The North American Hill Sheep ShowBLU is pleased to promote and help sponsor this first time event: a 3 day, UK-style sheep show, with a focus on UK Hill breeds and the three-tier stratified breeding system.
The breeds included in the show are as follows:
-North Country Cheviot
-Border Cheviot
-Scottish Blackface
-Black Welsh Mountain
-Herdwick
-Bluefaced Leicester
-Border Leicester
-Scotch Mule
-Cheviot Mule
-Suffolk
-Texel
There are judges lined up from Northern England, Scotland, and Wales, with main breeders and farming advocates, such as Alan Blackwood from Auldhouseburn, Cammy, from The Sheep Game (350k Youtube followers), and Welsh author Gareth Wyn Jones (over 2M Youtube followers). And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a USBCHA stock dog trial (The Northern Lights SDT), a sheep shearing competition, shepherds crook sales, live music, and sponsor and vendor booths, as well as excellent food. Experts will be giving presentations on topics such as pasture management, livestock guardian dogs, stock selection, showing UK-style, as well as Q&As.
The show is definitely ground breaking for breeders both in the US and the UK.
Here is a link to the show: https://www.nahillsheepshow.com/
The breeds included in the show are as follows:
-North Country Cheviot
-Border Cheviot
-Scottish Blackface
-Black Welsh Mountain
-Herdwick
-Bluefaced Leicester
-Border Leicester
-Scotch Mule
-Cheviot Mule
-Suffolk
-Texel
There are judges lined up from Northern England, Scotland, and Wales, with main breeders and farming advocates, such as Alan Blackwood from Auldhouseburn, Cammy, from The Sheep Game (350k Youtube followers), and Welsh author Gareth Wyn Jones (over 2M Youtube followers). And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a USBCHA stock dog trial (The Northern Lights SDT), a sheep shearing competition, shepherds crook sales, live music, and sponsor and vendor booths, as well as excellent food. Experts will be giving presentations on topics such as pasture management, livestock guardian dogs, stock selection, showing UK-style, as well as Q&As.
The show is definitely ground breaking for breeders both in the US and the UK.
Here is a link to the show: https://www.nahillsheepshow.com/
Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds
2401 12th Avenue North
Escanaba, MI 49829
2401 12th Avenue North
Escanaba, MI 49829
August 16-182024
2024 BLU National Show at Michigan Fiber FestivalWe are hoping to see many BLU members and friends at the Michigan Fiber Festival held on the Allegan County Fairgrounds for the eighth BLU National Show. We are planning to have both white and natural color shows judged separately, and a fleece show. The events planned include a gathering and meal for members and friends, during which we will have our Annual BLU Meeting. We are now accepting class sponsorships (see a list of the classes here) or $50 each. All sponsors will appear on the show banner hanging in the show ring, on the BLU website and will be announced during the show.
Host Hotel information:
Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 1315 Westgate Dr. Kalamazoo, MI 49009, 269-447-1700. Twelve rooms are blocked for “Bluefaced Leicester Union” for arrival on Friday, Aug 18 and departure on Sunday, August 18, six doubles ($179/night) and six kings ($164/night). This hotel is 31 minutes from the Fairgrounds. The cutoff day for this block of rooms is July 17, 2024, so if you plan to stay here, call for your reservation promptly.
Other nearby lodging options – The Fiber Festival is a significant event in the area, so sooner is better than later for making reservations. All prices are estimates – call the property for prices and reservations.
Budget Host Inn – 1580 Lincoln Rd, Allegan, MI 49010, 269-673-6622, $155/night. Closest (10 min) to Fairgrounds, not many rooms.
Best Western Plus – 396 Reno Dr, Wayland, MI 49348, 269-397-1161, $186/night, 30 minutes from the Fairgrounds.
Comfort Inn and Suites – 153 Ampey Rd, Paw Paw, MI 49079, 269-655-0303, $181/ night. 33 minutes from Fairgrounds.
Baymont Inn by Wyndham – 111 Ampey Rd, Paw Paw, MI 49079, 269-657-1111, $209/night. 33 minutes from the Fairgrounds.
Comfort Inn – 622 Allegan St, Plainwell, MI 49080, 269) 685-9891, (Listed as sold out for these dates, but there may be cancellations), 20 minutes from the Fairgrounds
If you have any questions regarding the show please contact BLU President Duckey Chute, 603-306-6328 (NH), email juliachute@gmail.com
Here is a link to the Festival: https://www.michiganfiberfestival.info/
Host Hotel information:
Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 1315 Westgate Dr. Kalamazoo, MI 49009, 269-447-1700. Twelve rooms are blocked for “Bluefaced Leicester Union” for arrival on Friday, Aug 18 and departure on Sunday, August 18, six doubles ($179/night) and six kings ($164/night). This hotel is 31 minutes from the Fairgrounds. The cutoff day for this block of rooms is July 17, 2024, so if you plan to stay here, call for your reservation promptly.
Other nearby lodging options – The Fiber Festival is a significant event in the area, so sooner is better than later for making reservations. All prices are estimates – call the property for prices and reservations.
Budget Host Inn – 1580 Lincoln Rd, Allegan, MI 49010, 269-673-6622, $155/night. Closest (10 min) to Fairgrounds, not many rooms.
Best Western Plus – 396 Reno Dr, Wayland, MI 49348, 269-397-1161, $186/night, 30 minutes from the Fairgrounds.
Comfort Inn and Suites – 153 Ampey Rd, Paw Paw, MI 49079, 269-655-0303, $181/ night. 33 minutes from Fairgrounds.
Baymont Inn by Wyndham – 111 Ampey Rd, Paw Paw, MI 49079, 269-657-1111, $209/night. 33 minutes from the Fairgrounds.
Comfort Inn – 622 Allegan St, Plainwell, MI 49080, 269) 685-9891, (Listed as sold out for these dates, but there may be cancellations), 20 minutes from the Fairgrounds
If you have any questions regarding the show please contact BLU President Duckey Chute, 603-306-6328 (NH), email juliachute@gmail.com
Here is a link to the Festival: https://www.michiganfiberfestival.info/
Allegan Co. Fairgrounds
150 Douglas St, Allegan, MI 49010
150 Douglas St, Allegan, MI 49010
May 2-42025
Sheepdog Demo at Maryland Sheep & Wool Longtime BFL breeder Nancy Starkey is again bringing her sheep and highly trained canine assistants to demonstrate how Border Collies serve as indispensable help in moving and controlling sheep, as well as displaying some excellent examples of the BLFL breed. BLU is proud to sponsor this extremely popular event at one of the biggest wool sheep and fiber shows in the US. There will also be several BFL breeders in the sheep barns providing an opportunity to experience the breed up close and learn more about them. Here is a link to the festival: https://sheepandwool.org/
Howards County Fairgrounds
2210 Fairgrounds Rd.
West Friendship, MD 21794
2210 Fairgrounds Rd.
West Friendship, MD 21794