Baa Baa Black Sheep, Have You Any Wool?

4-H Fleeces on Display

The Puyallup Fair is still going strong through this weekend.  I've been busy with various 4-H volunteer duties, and so I have to brag just a little bit - my niece Ciara's yearling Romney ewe (that's a female sheep who is a year old), Esmeralda (also known as 'Ezzie") won her fleece class!  Fleeces are shown according to the type of sheep it comes from (varies by breed) and the typical diameter of the wool from that breed.  Ezzie's wool, being from a natural colored Romney sheep, is considered 'coarse'.  That does not mean scratchy!  Romney wool is wonderfully soft and very desirable to hand spinners.   This was Ezzie's first shearing so we were very excited.  Her wool is likely to improve somewhat with age, so Ciara is looking forward to the fleeces yet to come!

Ezzie was also selected for the top Romney ewe, and she and Ciara did very well overall.  Ezzie was kept company by Ciara's aged Romney ewe (she is truly aged at 9 years old - but looks very youthful for her age), Harriett.  Harriett loves going to the Fair and makes sure that she gets as much attention as possible from fairgoers.  Here is Ciara and Ezzie (Ciara is kneeling) in the show ring.  Ciara and her sheep are now enjoying a well-earned rest at home and planning for next year's fairs.

There are still many fiber and sewing related things to see at the Puyallup Fair! 

--Pavilion Building
- Open Class Quilts, Garments, Knitting, Crochet, Needlework and more upstairs (there are escalators and an elevator in the building)
-4-H clothing and textile exhibits downstairs
- 4-H Fashion Revue - the original Project Runway!  See 4-H'ers model garments that they have made themselves.  Show is Saturday at 3pm on the Education Stage
- Washington State 4-H Fashion Revue Championships.  See the 'best of the best' from around the state as they compete for the state championshp and a new sewing machine! Sunday at 5pm on the Education Stage.

--Under the Grandstands/Expo Hall
- Quality Sewing's Viking booth.  See the new Diamond!
-The Artists in Action store.  I should warn you - there is some absolutely incredible yarn, roving, needlefelting and more in that store. 

--Outside Artists in Action under the Grandstands (South side)
- Sheep to Shawl contest winners.  The teams of entrants in this competition had a limited time and number of team members to spin and weave their entries.  Amazing!

--Showplex
- Quality Sewing's Pfaff and Brother booth.  Lots of amazing new machines, particularly the new Brother Quattro.  If you haven't seen it yet, it is definitely worth a look.

--Livestock Buildings
- FFA Exhibits and Animals of the World.  Various breeds and species of wool/fleece producing animals.

Comments

[Anna-Beth]

Congratulations to Ciara and Ezzie!
I am so sad to have to miss the fair this year - I have no free days to go do the Puyallup. But it's nice to get these little updates. THanks Katrina! Have fun at the fair, eat a KrustyPup and an Elephant Ear for me!