Shepherd's Harvest Festival facts for kids
The Shepherd's Harvest Festival is a big event in Minnesota. It celebrates all things related to sheep and wool! It's the largest festival of its kind in the state.
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The Story of the Festival
The Shepherd's Harvest Festival began in 1997. It is run completely by volunteers. These helpers get support from the Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers Association. The festival happens every year. It usually takes place on Mother's Day weekend. The location is the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. For example, in 2022, the festival was held on May 7th and 8th. Another fun event, Llama Magic, also happens at the fairgrounds on the same weekend.
What You Can See and Do
The festival is a great place to learn about sheep and wool. Many vendors sell interesting items. You can find soft fibers and colorful yarns. There are also spinning wheels and knitting supplies. If you like food, you might try sheep cheese or lamb burgers. Farmers can even find vet supplies and sheep for breeding.
Fun Competitions
The Shepherd's Harvest Festival hosts several exciting competitions. It has the only fleece competition in Minnesota. Fleece is the woolly coat of a sheep. There are also competitions for felting, which is making fabric from wool. You can see beautiful skeins of yarn in the skein competition. Plus, there's a photo competition to capture the best moments.
Learning and Demonstrations
The festival offers many ways to learn. You can take classes about fiber arts. These classes teach you how to work with wool. There are also classes on how to raise sheep. You can watch live demonstrations too. See how sheep are shorn, which means their wool is cut off. Watch skilled dogs herd sheep. Learn how linen is made from plants. There's even a fashion show featuring clothes made from natural fibers. Experts like authors, sheep farmers, knitting designers, and chefs share their knowledge. They help everyone learn more about sheep and wool.
See also
- Fiber Festival
- Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
