by Sarabeth Parido Ten days. Dozens of destinations. Countless skeins of yarn, bags of fiber, new friendships, and miles traveled. That is the story of the 5th Annual Bluegrass Yarn and Fiber Crawl. From July 24 through August 2, fiber enthusiasts from near and far set out across the Bluegrass region to explore the people and places that make Kentucky’s fiber community so special. What began as an invitation to visit local fiber businesses has grown into a much larger celebra

It's time to start planning your summer fiber adventure! The Bluegrass Yarn & Fiber Crawl returns July 24 through August 2.

After a terrific event in 2025, the South-Central Katahdin Association is returning to Munfordville, Kentucky in 2026 for a field day and elite sheep sale on September 18th and 19th. The SCKA has once again partnered with the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association for a weekend packed with speakers, vendors, food, and fellowship. This year the board of directors has also voted to hold the annual business meeting during the field day. Again, the SCKA will host an elite

Masterson Station Park was overflowing with wool, laughter, full shopping bags, and the unmistakable energy that only festival weekend can bring! The 16th Annual Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival was a tremendous success. Despite a little Kentucky weather keeping us on our toes — with rain showers moving through on Saturday and summer heat arriving on Sunday — thousands of fiber enthusiasts, shepherds, artisans, families, and friends gathered for an unforgettable weekend cele

by Jay Parsons, Tyler Cozzens January 21, 2026 Five years of data show lamb feeding margins have been difficult to sustain since 2020, with high feed costs and market volatility driving frequent losses. Seasonal timing and lower input costs remain critical for improving profitability. Photo: Real Ag Stock This article was first published as part of the Cornhusker Economics series by the Department of Agricultural Economics on Jan. 21, 2026. We are reposting it courtesy of C

by Sarabeth Parido Work has already begun behind the scenes for the next Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival. The Festival Committee meets year-round to dream, plan, organize, and fine-tune all the details that make our weekend together feel seamless and welcoming. From coordinating vendors and workshops to organizing the fleece show and sale, contests, and community programming, there’s a lot that happens long before the gates open in May. As we begin shaping the 2026 festival

by Sarabeth Parido Looking for meaningful, handmade, locally produced gifts this Christmas? Skip the big-box stores and discover the heart and soul of local fiber arts with the Kentucky Fiber Trail — a year-round guide to some of the best fiber farms, yarn shops, and artisan studios across the Commonwealth. The holidays are the perfect time to explore the trail and support Kentucky makers who pour their creativity, skill, and tradition into every skein, fleece, and finished

By Sarabeth Parido Workshops are at the heart of the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival — a place where creativity meets community and where fiber enthusiasts of all levels come together to learn, share, and grow. The 2025 Festival was no exception, offering an inspiring lineup of classes that celebrated the skill, artistry, and joy of working with natural fibers. This year, attendees had the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics — from beginner-friendly spinning and

By Sarabeth Parido We’re thrilled to announce that applications are now open for vendors and workshop instructors for the 2026 Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival, happening the third weekend of May 2026 at Masterson Station Park in Lexington, KY. This two-day celebration of fiber arts brings together shepherds, makers, fiber artists, and enthusiasts from across the region for a weekend of shopping, learning, and community. Vendor Applications Our vendor marketplace is a juried e

Exploring the Synergy Between Solar and a Growing Sheep Industry By Camren Maierle Introduction As the world grapples with the twin challenges of Increasing energy demand and food security, innovative solutions that bridge the gap between renewable energy and sustainable agriculture are gaining traction. Among these solutions, agrivoltaics—the practice of combining solar energy generation with agricultural production—stands out for its remarkable potential. Within this fiel

Shared with permission- photo by Dezirae Edwards By Sarabeth Parido The 2025 Bluegrass Yarn and Fiber Crawl has officially wrapped up, and we are still riding the wave of inspiration, connection, and creativity it sparked across Kentucky. Over the course of ten days, fiber lovers hit the road to explore local yarn shops, fiber farms, and artisan studios across the region. What they found was far more than just beautiful yarn they discovered a warm, welcoming community, new fr

By Sarabeth Parido Spring is in full swing, and so is our excitement for the 15th Annual Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival, happening May 17–18, 2025 at Masterson Station Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Whether you're a longtime fiber enthusiast or simply curious about the world of fiber, art and all things wooly— this event promises a weekend packed with inspiration, learning, and community. You'll find over 60 vendors offering hand-dyed yarns, fleeces, spinning supplies, finis

The 2025 Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival Returns May 17–18 The countdown is on! The 2025 Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival is just around the corner, taking place next month—May 17–18—at Masterson Station Park in Lexington. As we prepare to celebrate our 15th year, we’re excited to continue building on the traditions that have made this event so special! For those who are new to the festival, the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival was created to showcase the state’s rich far

by Sarabeth Parido Entering a fleece competition is a great way to showcase the beauty and quality of the wool you produce. Each year, the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival hosts a variety of competitions, including those for wool, alpaca, and mohair fleeces. If you’ve ever considered entering but weren’t sure where to start, this guide will walk you through the process. Why Enter a Fleece Competition? Competing in a fleece competition is an opportunity to: Gain recognition f

by Sarabeth Parido Shearing season is here once again! Shepherds are gathering up bags of wool, and hand spinners are on the lookout for their next great fleece. But what makes a fleece stand out? And how can you, as a shepherd, make sure your wool is top-notch for spinners? While there are some buyers who want the fleece as fresh off your animals as possible, you may need to prep your fiber a bit to get the most value for your wool. Whether you're into fiber arts or raising

Sheep industry adds more than $7 million to Kentucky revenue Frankfort (Feb. 3, 2025) Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell celebrated Kentucky’s sheep and lamb producers today when he signed a proclamation commemorating February as Lamb Month in Kentucky. “The last several years many Kentucky farmers have chosen to add sheep to diversify their livestock options,” Commissioner Shell said. “Packed with protein, lamb is the perfect lean meat for the dinner table. But it pr

by Sarabeth Parido Are you ready to unleash your creativity and dive into the world of fiber arts? The 2025 Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival offers a fantastic lineup of workshops designed to inspire and educate both beginners and seasoned crafters alike. Whether you're interested in knitting, spinning, weaving, or felting, our expert instructors are here to guide you every step of the way. Here’s what you can look forward to: A Wide Array of Workshops for All Skill Levels F

By Donald G. Ely Department of Animal and Food Sciences University of Kentucky Creep feeding is a technique of providing feed to nursing lambs to supplement the milk they consume. Creep-fed lambs grow faster than noncreep-feds and are more aggressive in nursing ewes. This aggression stimulates greater ewe milk production which, in turn, increases creep feed intake because these lambs will be bigger at a given ages. Typically, the creep diet is a grain-protein supplement m

by Emily Spencer Introduction If you want to sell your products in a grocery store or other retail outlet, you will need to talk to the buyer to convince them that your product is worth carrying. When you are thinking about transitioning from direct-to-consumer (DTC) markets, like the farmers market or your community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares, to retail outlets, there are many things you need to consider. In DTC markets, you are accountable to your business and your