May 13, 2014 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Get ready for a wild and wooly weekend of shearing, spinning and sheep herding.

The 11th Annual Sheep & Fiber Fest is weaving its colorful way into the Greene County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free and this year so are the classes.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to offer our classes for free, thanks to the support of the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency,” coordinator Lena Galing said. “We have beginner’s knitting and beginner’s crochet and needle felting classes for adults, as well as demonstrations on spinning and carding. Class sizes are limited for personal instruction, so it’s best to go online and register in advance.”

Greene County once was one of the leading wool producers in the nation, and this event helps everyone remember those glory days of the 1860s when the Union Army depended on local wool for its uniforms. Now, after decades of market decline, there is a growing demand for farm-raised lamb and Greene County farmers are ready to serve that need.

Products made of fine wool and other fibers are also in high demand and there are artisans ready to make them.

The Sheep & Fiber Festival is a celebration of these people and the products they produce. And for visitors, it’s a great chance to try something new, from spinning a spindle to trying a delicious sample of home-grown lamb, served up by local chefs.

The juried fiber arts show is on display and vendors are here from throughout the northeast region. Wheels will be spinning and needles flashing – many vendors will be making their products and are there to show customers how it’s done. Yarns of every imaginable color and texture and fiber arts supplies will also be for sale.

The popular “fleece to shawl” timed competition is planned for Saturday. Teams work the wool from carding to spinning to weaving a finished shawl In the end, the finished shawls are judged, awarded, then donated to be sold at auction to festivalgoers.

A breed pavilion allows more than a dozen breeds and types of sheep, alpacas and bunnies to strut their stuff. There will be sheep shearing demonstrations and sheep herding dogs performing their amazing moves both days.

Live music is provided by local musicians and there are fiber-filled fun and games for kids and cooking demonstrations both days.Those interested in learning the best techniques and recipes for preparing lamb will be treated to several lamb cooking demonstrations by renown area chefs.

The festival’s photo contest exhibit has been hanging at the Welcome Center at the I-79 Kirby exit since April. Now it will hang for the weekend at the festival and many of the photos are for sale.

To register for classes and to see the complete schedule of the weekend’s events go to www.sheepandfiber.com.

Sheep & Fiber Fest is sponsored in part by Lippencott Alpacas, the American Lamb Board, Greene County Tourism and Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful.

For more information on the Sheep & Fiber Fest, call Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful at 724-627-8119.