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.
Tag: wool show
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.
Haven’t you heard???
The BFL National Show is Saturday, May 7th at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.
Information about the sheep show, fleece & skein competitions, banquet, hotel accommodations, and other planned events on the “About BLU” – national show information drop-down menu above.
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!!
Results of the Fiber Arts Competition at National Show
The winner of the fiber arts competition is this gorgeous shawl, an all original design for the BFL National Show by Christine Kurk. It was created in Potosi Laceweight mill spun yarn.
The 2nd place entry, Robina Koenig’s entry, is called a hooded wrap as it just goes over the shoulders with pockets on each side. There is a tassel on the end of the hood. It is handspun, 3-ply natural colored BFL from her flock.
Third place is also an original design by Christine Kurk. The cables did not show well in the picture. It is done in a Potosi BFL tweed yarn, trimmed with white.
And at 4th place is a shawl in progress, submitted by Kathy Davidson. The BFL wool was carded with silk noil to add subtle color. It is knit from wool from her favorite ram, Potosi Masterton.
5th National BFL Show August 16th in Allegan, MI
The BLU- sponsored dinner will be on SATURDAY evening, August 16th. We are arranging for a room, but will order off the menu for simplicity’s sake. The BLU dinner will be held at the London Grill in Kalamazoo (london-grill.com)
The London Grill is not far from the host hotel, Fairfield Inn Kalamazoo West (special rate of $99 per night if we meet minimum of 10 rooms reserved) 269-353-6400; indicate you are reserving with the Bluefaced Leicester Union group.
As far as presentations are concerned, we have an offer of several presentations from a fiber expert, Christine Kurt, who can expertly expound on any number of fiber topics, be it spinning, weaving, dying, felting, lace-making, color combinations, etc. Perhaps we can use this forum to collect ideas as to what people would be interested in. We envision the presentations taking place either after the show on Saturday or before 2 pm on Sunday, As to non-fiber related presentations, suggestions are welcome.
Sheep Show Judge: Dave Smith from Indiana.
There will be separate black and white shows. The shows will be on Saturday morning. The entry forms can be downloaded from the BLU site, bflsheep.com. The deadline is July 1, with late fees added to entries postmarked after the 15th.
We are actively seeking sponsorships for the sponsored awards classes. List of classes is as follows:
Classes for the 2014 National BFL Show – Michigan Fiber Festival
Whites and black will be shown separately, in two different shows.
Individual and pair classes. Each exhibitor is allowed two entries per class (except in pair classes, where one pair equals one entry)
1. Aged ewes (over 2 years old)
2. Pair of aged ewes
3. Yearling ewes
4. Pair of yearling ewes
5. Ewe lambs
6. Pair of ewe lambs
Champion and reserve ewe *
7. Aged rams
8. Yearling rams
9. Ram lambs
10. Pair of ram lambs
Champion and reserve ram*
Group and special classes: each exhibitor allowed one entry per class.
11. Pen of three lambs / young flock (2 ewe lambs, 1 ram lamb)*
12. Get of sire (any three sheep sired by the same ram)*
13. Flock (2 ewe lambs, 2 yearling ewes, 1 ram)*
14. Best head, ram (white only)*
15. Best head, ewe (white only)*
16. Best fleece*
*sponsored award class (winners will receive an award in addition to a ribbon)
Black Sheep Gathering Report
From Robina Koenig
The Black Sheep Gathering was held in Eugene, OR, last weekend. As usual, we all had a great time in the mild weather. My daughter Callie went with me this year and Jared Lloyd stopped by but didn’t show. I missed Nancy Gilkeson but her granddaughter Brooke was representing the family. This is my ‘sheep friends vacation’ and it was good to see everyone, share thoughts and ideas, enjoy the potluck followed by the Spinner’s Lead, plus the sheep show. Hope all is well with those who were not attending and that they will be back next year.
The Blues had their own show again this year, showing both white and natural coloreds together. The classes were well represented. The judge was David Cook. This year I only showed three ewe lambs and three ram lambs. Bearhill Farms (CA) won Champion Ram with a yearling and Liongate Farm (OR) won Champion Ewe with her yearling. This was a first-time showing at BSG for Karen—well done! Here are the winners of all classes. Congratulations to all who entered. Robina @ Tumble Creek Farm
Yearling Ram
1 Bearhill Farms
2 B Jakubos
Ram Lamb
1 Bearhill Farms
2 Tumble Creek Farm
3 Four Oaks Farm
4 Bearhill Farms
5 Liongate Farm
6 Tumble Creek Farm
Pair of Ram Lambs
1 Bearhill Farms
2 Liongate Farm
3 Tumble Creek Farm
Champion Ram, yearling—Bearhill Farms
Res Champion Ram, lamb—Bearhill Farms
Yearling Ewe
1 Liongate Farm
2 Liongate Farm
3 Four Oaks Farm
4 Four Oaks Farm
Ewe Lamb
1 Tumble Creek Farm
2 Bearhill Farms
3 Four Oaks Farm
4 Tumble Creek Farm
5 Tumble Creek Farm
6 Four Oaks Farm
Pair of Ewe Lambs
1 Tumble Creek Farm
2 Four Oaks Farm
Champion Ewe, yearling—Liongate Farm
Res Champion Ewe, lamb— Liongate Farm
Breeder’s Young Flock
1 Tumble Creek Farm
2 Four Oaks Farm
2014 BFL National Show update!
Hello, Fellow BFL breeders!
Please take note of the following information about the 2014 BFL National Show to be held at the 2014 Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan, Michigan.
Dates: August 15-17, 2014 (sheep must be penned by 6pm Friday; Show is on Saturday; release is Sunday, 5pm)
Venue and location: Michigan Fiber Festival, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan, Michigan. Website:http://www.michiganfiberfestival.info/
Host Hotel : Fairfield Inn Kalamazoo West (special rate of $99 per night if we meet minimum of 10 rooms reserved) 269-353-6400; indicate you are reserving with the Bluefaced Leicester Union group
There will be a dinner for all exhibitors and friends on Saturday. More information to follow.
Anyone interested in sponsoring an award for the show should contact Robina Koenig Home Phone: 541-350-9205 Email: bflsheep@gmail.com
If you are flying in, the closest airport of size is Grand Rapids – Gerald Ford International. Rental cars available as well.
If you are planning to attend, with or without sheep, please let me know – it will help tremendously with our planning of this event.
More information regarding all aspects of the show will be forthcoming as the date draws nearer; please mark your calendars TODAY, however. We hope to see many of you there!
Questions? Email or call Margaret Van Camp, chair of show committee: 810-655-4191, mavaca@usol.com