This one day conference is for new and beginning animal fiber producers who are looking for additional information to better make educated decisions regarding what species and breed of animal to raise and their efforts to produce, use or market their animal's fiber. Producers and potential producers from New York State and throughout the Northeast US are welcome to attend. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what they can do with their animal fiber or its value-added products to increase its market value; whether marketed through direct-to-consumer channels, commodity markets or wholesale.

Conference sessions and panels will cover the following topics:
- Selecting an animal species/breed and understanding their fiber quality
- Fiber types and uses
- Fleece quality with examples of poor, good, and excellent fleeces
- Fiber mills, supply chain, and finished products
- Market channels for the small producer
- Success stories from 4 small fiber producers/businesses

For conference agenda and registration
Opens April 1, 2023. Fee: $30 per person. Advance registration required by May 27, 2023.
Conference is limited to the first 50 participants.

Registration questions contact Tove Ford tff24@cornell.edu
Registration includes free admission to the Central New York Fiber Festival (see below) on Sunday with opportunities to explore almost 100 fantastic fiber booths during our 1 hr. 20 min. lunchbreak. Food venders will be on site for you to purchase food, but you can bring your own, if you so choose. Overnight accommodations

The Central New York Fiber Arts Festival is on June 10 & 11, 2023 at the same location. This festival is a family-friendly festival celebrating the fiber arts: spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, dyeing, and crochet. Demonstrations, lectures, and workshops and activities for children. Wheel corral: visitors can experiment with spinning. Story loom: visitors can contribute to a weaving project. Over 100 booths under cover with yarn, roving, and handmade finished products made with natural fibers. Fiber animals, weaving competition, and fleece sale. 

Additional information regarding the Fiber Arts Festival

New York State Fiber Conference flyer (PDF; 616KB)