Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival

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courtesy Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival

A border collie herds a sheep.

The Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival hosts stock dog trials.

There is no pandering to general interests at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival; it's all about the sheep. Two buildings house all things fiber arts (spinning, weaving, knitting) with lots of artisanal yarn for sale, including skeins of yarn made solely from the fleece of one sheep. Other barns showcase various breeds of sheep, some bred for dairy, some for meat, and some for their fleece. Don't miss the stock dog trials, as working herding dogs strut their stuff with herds of sheep. Full schedule below; find more info and class registration at wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com.

media 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.

Come to Jefferson prepared to shop! The Country Store will feature over 130 exhibitors from across the country, offering everything from baskets to drop spindles; yarn to jewelry; rug looms to roving. 

Come for the education! One hundred fiber arts classes for all experience levels taught by nationally recognized instructors. Watch shearing demonstrations, see the newborn lambs, and check out the Hall of Breeds.

Come for the sheep. Over six hundred sheep representing over 40 breeds. Sheep shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including the National Bluefaced Leicester show. 

Come for the entertainment. Watch Border collies in action during three days of stock dog trials. Or cheer on your favorite knitters in the Walk & Knit competition.

Gates open at 7:00 a.m. each day. Admission is $10 per person, $20 for a weekend pass. Kids eight and under free. Parking free. Information on all activities and hours at www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com .

Schedule:

FRIDAY Gates Open:   7:00 am - Admission charged

7:00 a.m. Stock Exchange Open  Indoor Arena

7:30 Registration Open  Activity Center

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

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

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

8:00 – 4:00 Sheep 101 – Shepherd’s Clinic (P) East Exhibit Building

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; Design Challenge Entry Check-in;  Youth Design Challenge Check-in (all at Activity Center)

9:00 – Noon Check-in - Open Meat, Wool, Bluefaced Leicester Natl. Shows  MAP (Sale Arena)

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

9:00 – 6:00 COUNTRY STORE OPEN

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

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

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

1:00 – 8:00 Check-in – Junior Meat, Wool Breeds & Bluefaced Leicester Natl. Shows MAP (Sale Arena)

2:00 Judging – Open Meat, Wool, Bluefaced Leicester Natl. Shows MAP (Sale Arena)

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

3:00 – 8:00  Check-in - Open, Junior & Bluefaced Leicester National Fleece Shows West Exhibit Building

SATURDAY    Gates Open: 7:00 am – Admission charged

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

7:00 am Stock Exchange Open Indoor Arena

7:00 – 8:30 Check-in – Junior Meat, Wool Breeds & Bluefaced Leicester Natl. Shows MAP (Sale Arena)

7:00 – 9:00 Check-in – Open, Junior & Bluefaced Leicester Natl. Fleece Shows  West Exhibit Building

7:30 Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial   West Field

Registration Open Lobby-Activity Center

8:00 Youth Judging Contest – Sign up  MAP (Sale Arena)               

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

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; Design Challenge Entry Check-in; Youth Design Challenge Check-in (all at 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 MAP (Sale Arena)

9:00 – 3:00 Silent Auction – Bid early, bid often! Activity Center

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

9:00 – 4:00 Profit Workshop (open to all sheep producers) East Exhibit Building

9:30 Judging – Junior Meat, Wool & Bluefaced Leicester Natl. Show MAP (Sale Arena)

9:30 Judging – Open, Junior & Bluefaced Leicester Natl. Fleece Shows West Exhibit Building                          

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

10:00 - Noon Shepherd’s Auction – Check it out! MAP (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) ShowSheep Barn

2:00 Used Equipment Auction  Warm-up Arena

Make It With Wool - Awards & Best of Wisconsin Style Show; 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 MAP (Sale Arena)

5:00 – 5:45 Check-in – Lead Line & Costume Class  MAP (Sale Arena)

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

6:00 Lead Line & Costume Class Competition  MAP (Sale Arena)

SUNDAY Gates Open 7:00 a.m. – Admission charged Jefferson Fair Park Office open 8:00 – 4:00

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

7:00 Stock Exchange Open  Indoor Arena

7:30 Crook & Whistle Stock Dog Trial  West Field

7:30 – 4:00 Registration Open 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 and Newborn Lambs! Indoor Arena

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

9:00 Judging - Open & Shetland (MASS) Skein Competition;Judging - Design Challenge; Art Under Foot Hooked Rug Exhibit; Quilt Display (all at Activity Center)

Antique Shearing Equipment Display Indoor Arena

9:00 – 3:00 COUNTRY STORE OPEN 

10:00 Judging – Market Lambs: Showmanship, Show, WCLA Meeting/Awards MAP (Sale Arena)     

Evaluation – Pen of 3 Carcass Competition Lambs 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 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!