I’m hoping to repeat last year’s (2025) success at the Shepherd’s Harvest Fleece Competition. This is Minnesota’s annual sheep and wool festival held Mother’s Day weekend at the Washington County fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, MN. I submitted just one fleece – somewhat indicative of the amount of time I had last spring to skirt wool. The fleece submitted was a 12-month fleece from Janelle, a 63% Finn 37% Babydoll crossbred ewe. Janelle’s fleece won Reserve Grand Champion Best of Show Colored Fleece! Letty Klein was the judge and is widely known and respected. To say I was thrilled is an understatement!
The up-close photo doesn’t do it justice. It captures the crimp but the color was much darker and richer. It was severely skirted and weighed not much more than two pounds. The length was about 3.5 – 4″. The woman who purchased it in the silent auction was tickled pink, too!
















































