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Quality Wool Workshop

• Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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!

Agenda

10 AM to Noon 

Optimal Fleece begins with Quality Animal Care, Jess Waltemyer - This presentation highlights 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.

NEFX Farmer Certification Training, Shannon Zhang - 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.

Properly Skirting a Fleece, Emmaline Long - Demonstration on setting up table, laying out fleece and skirting technique will be presented.  

Lunch & Exhibits Noon-1 PM Participants will have an opportunity to join us for an artisan lunch. Made from local farm products and by local bakers. Suggested donation $10 payable at the event.

1-4 PM Breakout Sessions Participants may choose from multiple topics per hour during the afternoon session. Topics to include Skirting, Animal Nutrition & Forage Analysis, Wool Processing Demonstration, Scouring, Wool Supply Chain, Pasture Management & Soil Health

Fiber Animal Nutrition with Jess Waltemyer This presentation provides a practical overview of nutrition for fiber-producing animals. We will explore the unique dietary needs that support healthy fiber growth, animal wellbeing, and efficient farm management. Topics include forage quality, energy and protein requirements, mineral balance, seasonal feeding strategies, and common nutritional challenges seen in fiber flocks.

Pasture Management & Soil Health with Lynn Bliven Tips for improving pasture quality through enhancing soil health on your farm. We'll also touch on considerations specific to fleece management on pasture. 

Presenters

Jessica Waltemyer is Cornell's Small Ruminant Extension Specialist on the PRO-LIVESTOCK team.She is focused on eliminating bottlenecks to growth of the industry, including limitations in meat processing capacity, small ruminant veterinary care, and a need for farm succession planning.

Shannon Zhang is the Business Development and Operations Manager with the Northeast Fiber Exchange, a natural fiber buying hub developed by the Hudson Valley Textile Project to support New York State’s interest in sustainable textile creation. By connecting fiber farmers to buyers, we aim to create a more stable supply chain across the Northeast region.

Marcia Weinert is "Undeniably Loopy": Crazy About Wool! She is an award-winning knitwear designer plus instructor in handspinning, felting, knitting and crochet. Certified as a wool classer and handler by the American Sheep Industry Association; she has also trained as a shearer.

Emmaline Long, Fiber Farmer, Orchard View Lincoln Longwools

Lynn Bliven, Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader, Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County

Members of the Southern Tier Fiber Arts Guild

Preregistration requested by March 13^th. You may sign up for the full day or half day if that’s what fits your schedule. https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/Quality_Wool_Allegany_...

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.

Location

Union University Church Community Center
29 N. Main Street
Alfred, NY 14802

Last updated March 2, 2026