Sheep, wool, and dogs

[altivo]

In spite of a developing head cold, went to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival as planned. My friend Susan and I had never been before. The typical two barns full of vendors' booths, of course, selling everything from felting needles to raw wool. At least it wasn't all yarn, though the preponderance of foreign made alpaca products was distinctly noticeable. The alpaca pyramid scheme in the US is collapsing now, and overpriced animals are not selling. Those who bought into the scam late are desperate to find a profitable way to get out of it. Alas, I doubt that flooding the market with alpaca yarn or socks knitted offshore somewhere is going to do the trick.

What we enjoyed most, though, was the herding dogs. They had demonstrations, instinct testing for untrained dogs, and a full sized competition going on. We also saw new born lambs (both of us have seen plenty of them before, but they're always cute) and exotic sheep breeds, including the Barbados which looks like a goat, and the Jacob which often has FOUR horns instead of just two.

Met up with other guild members at noon, exchanged pleasantries and delivered items for the show in October, and we were off, getting home a little after three in the afternoon. I let Tess out into the pasture and collapsed, the cold symptoms having become too much for me.

Now off to bed, as soon as I take some medicine that will hopefully let me breathe and sleep.

Comments

[frith]

I'm taking note of the crumbling alpaca market. 8-) I guess I can stop saying that a top alpaca is worth $50k.

[mondhasen.livejournal.com]

I have this odd little memory of helping with a lambing when I was nine or ten: sitting in a small, rickety shed, one bare bulb, middle of the night, holding a newborn. Elation and tears. Mother was having trouble. All ended well.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Wow - there was not just a housing bubble, but also an alpaca bubble? No wonder the economy collapsed the way it did. c.c

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*feeds you a hot honey and lemon drink and pets your head while you rest* Poor horsey, it's because of your big noses that you suffer so.

[dragon-moon.livejournal.com]

Hope you're feeling better soon. Sounds like you had a good time! Herding dogs are amazing. Lambs are what I miss the most - we raised sheep when I was in school, and they were simply adorable.

The Barbados look pretty neat - I was considering them because of the lack of need for shearing. Jacobs are pretty awesome though. Shetlands were the other breed we were looking into, especially since they might eat the blackberries that are starting to take over. *G*