Congratulations to Margie Smith (PA) for her first place BFL fleece at the recent Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Margie will receive the $50 award sponsored by the Bluefaced Leicester Union.
Tag: fiber show
Sponsors needed for 2018 National BFL Show
Please put the Seventh National BFL Show on your calendar— June 29th at the Black Sheep Gathering in Albany, OR.
BLU is accepting sponsors*** for the awards for this show. If you would like to sponsor an award, the cost is $50 per award (you may partner with another breeder if needed). Make your check out to Bluefaced Leicester Union, and mail to me at the following address:
Lisa Rodenfels
BLU Sect/Treas
44011 County Rd 23
Coshocton, OH 43812
***Be sure to tell me if you want recognition for the award donation in your name or in the name of your flock. A banner will be in the showring with all sponsors listed.
$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 MS&W website with details on entry, and the entry form.
http://sheepandwool.org/festival/fleece-show-sale/
OFFF Show Report
Several BLU members enjoyed the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival this past weekend in Canby, OR. Linda Campanario had the First Place Yearling Ewe in the White Wool Class,
with Terra Mia Addie. 
Terra Mia Caleb won Reserve Champion ram lamb in the white wool category for his breeder, Kat Bierkens. 
Youth member Rhiannon Curley also exhibited. Both Kat and Karen Szewc of Liongate had vendor booths during the festival.
Liongate
TerraMia
Best in Show!
A Bluefaced Leicester fleece grown and entered by BLU board member Karen Szewc took Best in Show during the recent Josephine county fair in Grants Pass, OR.
People’s Choice Award!
Winning the People’s Choice award in the Black Sheep Gathering fiber arts competition for the third year in a row was BLU board member Karen Szewc’s entry in the Felting:humanoid or critter category.
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.
Using Bluefaced Leicester Fiber: Demonstration at National Show
BFL Blending
As part of the National Bluefaced Leicester Show at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, the Bluefaced Leicester Union will be giving a free demonstration on carding and combing Bluefaced Leicester wool. They will demonstrate the best way to work with beautiful, purly BFL locks and how best to manage the small lock structure through the carding and combing process. Hand cards, combs, and a hackle will be used to show you how to transform your BFL fleece into a preparation ready for spinning or felting. Then you’re welcome to try it yourself. Extra cards and combs will be available. They will also have Bluefaced Leicester fleece for you to try out.
2016 National BFL show proposals wanted
You will also find the proposal form under ABOUT BLU on the main navigational menu on our website. Click on NATIONAL SHOW INFO to find the PDF.
BFL fleeces shown at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Submitted by Margie Smith, BLU member
1st place BFL fleece in 2014 MS&W fleece show
The fleeces shown, are from Marlindale Farm in New Oxford, PA. Margie
and Lynn Smith have been running Marlindale Farm since 1990 having moved
from Emmitsburg, MD to New Oxford in 2004. With support from BFL
breeders (giving us our foundation stock for BFL sheep) as well as our
sheep shearer, Emily Chamelin, and that of fellow Maryland Sheep
Breeders’ members, we started placing rather well in the Fleece Show at
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in 2011. We’ve had the 1st place BFL
title for the past 3 years. We mostly have purebred BFL now, but have
crossbred BFL x BL with stunning results.
The 2nd place fleece in 2015. Marlindale also had the 1st place fleece
Our fleeces sell from $45/ lb to $95/lb. We keep the sheep covered with Rocky Payne’s sheep sheets
which has kept the fleeces wonderfully clean.
A couple of us, in
conjunction with Rocky are try to develop a sheet sheet with a
“turtleneck” to preserve and keep clean the lower neck and shoulders. We
average about 1.5 pounds of “waste” from that area, which is just too
good to lose each year. Ours is a learning experience that is taking us
quite a few tries to get right!!