Crowds Love Sheep-To-Shawl Contest

Crowds Love Sheep-To-Shawl Contest AG WORLD If you’re looking for a popular event to add to a farm show or fair Tom Knisely suggests you consider a Sheep-to-Shawl contest Within 2 1/2 hrs teams shear a sheep card and spin the wool and weave the yarn into a 78 by 22-in shawl 4-H youngsters have a version of their own transforming a shorn fleece to a shawl in 3 hrs As they plan their 37th event for next January’s 100th anniversary of the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Knisely and co-coordinator Joann Evans note that with local TV coverage the contest is more popular than ever “It’s stronger today than it was 20 years ago ” says Knisely who teaches spinning and weaving and once competed in the event People take off work on a Wednesday to watch anywhere from seven to 10 teams compete One person shears the sheep then helps card and prepare the wool for 3 spinners who pass the finished thread off to a weaver Three judges offer several awards based on accumulated points for speed spinning uniformity and the weave’s difficulty evenness and accurate size Another judge ranks the quality of the shearer’s work Shawls are auctioned off for average bids of $300 to $1 000 although a few bring as much as $4 000 The teams use the money raised to defray costs and/or donate to favorite charities The weavers take the event very seriously and meet regularly to practice as a team Instead of purchasing yarn to set up the warp ahead of time on the looms many dye and hand spin that yarn too to add color to their finished shawls “Some of the patterns are very complicated ” Knisely says The youth 4-H contest added 8 years ago has also become a very popular attraction at the farm show With Knisely providing a running commentary and answering questions from the crowd it’s a good way to educate as well as entertain For information about regulations for a Sheep-to-Shawl contest check out the Pennsylvania State Farm Show website www farmshow state pa us Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Tom Knisely coordinator The Mannings P O Box 687 East Berlin Penn 17316 ph 717 624-2223; www the-mannings com

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