Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival

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You may never have realized how sheepy Wisconsin is until you head to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, which combines the show-animals-in-the-barn aspect of a county fair with the artisanal, hand-spun, hand-dyed yarns of a knitter's convention. Throw in the stock dog trials — herding breeds steering flocks of sheep expertly around a grassy field — and there's a little bit of Westminster and a little bit of rodeo here too. Honestly, how can you resist? There are also art displays, fiber arts classes, food vendors and more. Full schedule at wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com.

press release: Spend the weekend at the Midwest’s premier sheep and wool festival and celebrate the diversity of sheep, the fiber they produce and the renewable products that they provide. Three days filled with entertainment, shopping and education at one of Wisconsin’s finest fairgrounds, midway between Milwaukee and Madison, just south of I-94.

Schedule of Events

(P) Pre-registration required for these classes and activities.

THURSDAY

NOTE On Thursday the festival is open ONLY to registered Wonders of Wool fiber arts students, vendors and sheep exhibitors.

8:00 – 3:00 Registration Open-Pick-up pre-paid Camping Permits     Lobby – Activity Center

8:00 – 4:00 Jefferson Fair Park Office Open Purchase Camping Permits     Activity Center

8:00 – 6:00 VENDOR SET UP – VENDOR AREAS CLOSED TO PUBLIC!

9:00 – 4:00 Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes (P)

4:00 – 9:00 Shetland (MASS) Sheep Check-in     Sheep Barn

FRIDAY Gates Open: 7:00 a.m. - 7 p.m. Admission charged

7:00 a.m. Stock Exchange Open (See Map)

7:30 Registration Open Pick up pre-paid Camping Permits Lobby –     Activity Center

7:30-9:30 Check-in – Shetland (MASS) Fleece Show     West Exhibit Building

All Day Shetland (MASS) Sheep Exhibitor Check-in     Sheep Barn

8:00 – 4:00 Jefferson Fair Park Office Open-Purchase Camping Permits     Activity Center

8:00 Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial Opens     West Field

Silent Auction (Donations accepted until 9:00 a.m. Sat.)     Activity Center

8:00 – 3:00 Quilt Raffle! Ticket Sales     Lobby – Activity Center

8:00 – 5:00 Open & Shetland Skein Contest Entry Check-in     Activity Center

Design Challenge Entry Check-in     Activity Center

Youth Design Challenge Check-in     Activity Center

9:00 – 4:00 Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes (P)

10:00 Judging – Shetland (MASS) Fleece Show     West Exhibit Building

10:00 Photo Contest – Entries open for viewing     Activity Center

10:00 – Noon Check-in Open Sheep Shows     Sale Arena

10:00 – 6:00 COUNTRY STORE OPEN

1:00 – 5:00 Silent Auction of Shetland (MASS) Fleeces     West Exhibit Building

1:00 – 8:00 Check-in – Junior Sheep Shows     Sale Arena

1:00 Judging - Open Sheep Shows     Sale Arena

2:30 Shetland (MASS) Inspection Evaluation Hands-on Workshop     Sheep Barn

3:00 – 8:00 Open – Junior Fleece Shows Check-in     West Exhibit Building

SATURDAY Gates Open: 7:00 a.m. – 7 p.m. Admission charged

Jefferson Fair Park Office – open 8:00 – 4:00

7:00 a.m. Stock Exchange Open     (See Map)

7:00 – 8:30 Check-in – Junior Sheep Show     Sale Arena

7:00 – 9:00 Fleece Show – Open, Junior Entries – Check-in     West Exhibit Building

7:30 Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial     West Field

7:30 Registration Open Pick up pre-paid Camping Permits     Lobby-Activity Center

8:00 Youth Judging Contest – Sign up     Sale Arena

8:00 – 10:00 Shetland (MASS) Sheep Entries Check-in     Sheep Barn

8:00 Hall of Breeds     Indoor Arena

Newborn Lambs!     Indoor Arena

Photo Contest     Activity Center

8:00 – 9:00 Make It With Wool – Registration & Hospitality     Lobby – Activity Center

8:00 – 2:00 Quilt Raffle! Ticket Sales     Lobby – Activity Center

8:00 – 3:00 Skillathon     East Exhibit Building (south end)

8:00 – 3:00 Open & Shetland Skein Contest Entry Check-in     Activity Center

Design Challenge Entry Check-in     Activity Center

Youth Design Challenge Check-in     Activity Center

9:00 – 6:00 COUNTRY STORE OPEN

9:00 Art Under Foot Hooked Rug Exhibit Open     Activity Center

Wonderful Wisconsin Wool     Activity Center

Silent Auction & Shepherd’s Auctions – Deadline for donations!     Activity Center

Antique Shearing Equipment Display     Indoor Arena

9:00 – 11:00 Judging - Make It With Wool     Activity Center

9:00 – Noon Entry Check-in – Poster Contest     Sale Arena

9:00 – 3:00 Silent Auction – Bidding     Activity Center

9:00 – 4:00 Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes (P)

9:30 Judging – Junior Sheep Shows     Sale Arena

9:30 Judging – Open, Junior Fleece Shows     West Exhibit Building

10:00 Profit Workshop – Continuing education for producers East Exhibit Building

10:00 Bidding Opens! Shepherd’s Auction NEW LOCATION     Sale Arena

10:00 – 5:00 Private Treaty Sales – Shetland (MASS) Fleeces     West Exhibit Building

10:00, Noon & 2:00 Shearing Demonstrations     Indoor Arena

Noon Make It With Wool Luncheon (reservation only)     Activity Center

Noon Consignments Close – Used Equipment Auction     Warm-up Arena

12:30 Judging – Shetland (MASS) Show     Sheep Barn

2:00 Used Equipment Auction     Warm-up Arena

Make It With Wool - Awards & Best of Wisconsin Style Show     Activity Center

Drawing for the MIWW Quilt Raffle     Activity Center

4:30 Walk & Knit-Walk & Crochet! Challenge Relay     Walk & Knit Way (See map)

5:00 Results Posted – Poster Contest     Sale Arena

6:00 – 7:00 Silent Auction of Open, Junior Fleeces     West Exhibit Building

5:45 – 6:00 Check-in – Lead Line & Costume Class     Sale Arena

6:00 Lead Line & Costume Class Competition     Sale Arena

SUNDAY Gates Open 7:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission charged

Jefferson Fair Park Office open 8:00 – 4:00

7:00 – 9:00 Check-in-Weigh-in - Open Market Lamb Show     Sale Arena

7:00 a.m. Stock Exchange Open (See Map)

7:30 Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial     West Field

7:30 Registration Open - Pick up pre-paid Camping Permits     Lobby – Activity Center

8:00 – 3:00 Photo Contest     Activity Center

8:00 – 9:30 Weigh-in - Carcass Competition – Pen of 3     Indoor Arena

8:00 – Noon Skillathon     East Exhibit Building (south end)

8:30 – 3:00 Fleece Sale - Private Treaty - Open, Junior Fleeces     West Exhibit Building

8:00 – 3:30 Hall of Breeds     Indoor Arena

Newborn Lambs!     Indoor Arena

8:30 – 3:30 Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes (P)?

9:00 Judging - Open & Shetland (MASS) Skein Competition     Activity Center

Judging - Design Challenge     Activity Center Art Under Foot Hooked Rug Exhibit     Activity Center

Quilt Display     Activity Center

Antique Shearing Equipment Display     Indoor Arena

9:30 – 3:30 COUNTRY STORE OPEN

10:00 Judging – Market Lambs: Showmanship, Show, WCLA Meeting/Awards

Sale Arena

Judging – Pen of 3 Carcass Competition     Indoor Arena

10:30 Producer Education – The Lamb Market – A Reality Check     Indoor Arena

10:00 – 3:00 Fiber Arts Demonstrations     Wonders of Wool Building 1

10:00 & Noon Shearing Demonstrations     Indoor Arena

1:00 Pen of 3 Carcass Competition – Live Placings Announced     Activity Center

3:00 Pick-up Photo Contest Entries!     Activity Center

3:00 Pick-up Poster Contest Entries!     Sale Arena

3:00 – 3:30 Pick-up Adult & Youth Design Challenge entries     Activity Center

3:30 Festival Closes – Thanks for coming and have a safe trip home!