Please join us for a day of workshops and hands-on activities for shepherds, shearers, fiber artists, and interested community members -- learn how to produce quality fleece, process wool at-home, access markets for your wool, help your local shepherds, and strengthen our regional wool supply chain! Hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County in collaboration with Allegany Fresh Transport, Northeast Fiber Exchange (NEFX), Southern Tier Fiber Arts Guild, and Crooked Lane Farm. The workshop will be held at the Union University Church Community Center in Alfred, NY on Saturday, March 21st from 10 AM to 4 PM. 

Our morning session will include a presentation highlighting the connection between day to day animal care and the production of high quality fleece in sheep. We will explore how nutrition, health management, housing, handling, and stress reduction directly influence fiber growth, strength, and overall fleece character. This will be followed by NEFX Farmer Certification Training, completing this training will allow your farm to sell to the Northeast Fiber Exchange, a natural fiber buying hub supporting the Northeast's textile supply chain.
 
Participants will have an opportunity to join us for an artisan lunch, made from local farm products and by local bakers, while mingling with fiber arts exhibitors. There is no fee for workshops, however suggested donation for lunch is $10 payable at the event. 
 
The afternoon will have 3 sessions, each an hour in length. Topics to choose from will include Skirting, Animal Nutrition & Forage Analysis, Wool Processing Demonstration, Scouring, Wool Supply Chain, Pasture Management & Soil Health. Participants are invited to bring 1-2 fleeces from 2025 or 2026 shearing to skirt during the workshop.

Preregistration requested by March 13th. You may sign up for the full day or half day if that's what fits your schedule. For more details or to register online: https://allegany.cce.cornell.edu, or contact Lynn Bliven at 585-268-7644 ext. 18.

The Quality Wool Workshop is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York's land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. For more information, call 585-268-7644 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/allegany. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Event Flyer (PDF; 228KB)