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15th Annual Door County Shepherds’ Market

Sheep ready for the 15th Annual Door County Shepherds’ Market, May 16 – 17. Photo by Gloria Dougherty.

The public is invited to enjoy the 15th Annual Door County Shepherds’ Market, scheduled for Saturday, May 16 from 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday, May 17 from 10 am – 3 pm. The event is sponsored by the Door County Sheep and Goat Raisers, with additional support from the Arachne Spinners Guild of Door County. Whitefish Bay Farm, located at 3831 Clark Lake Road (County WD) in Sturgeon Bay, is once again hosting the market.

Continuing the tradition of being northeast Wisconsin’s oldest fiber fair, the 2009 Shepherds’ Market has an expanded selection of quality fibers, yarns, and handmade finished products. Fiber artist, Penny Angerer will be demonstrating hand spindle spinning throughout both days. There will be spinning taking place on a variety of spinning wheels. Two spectacular fiber related items will be raffled – a handwoven basket filled with handspun yarn created by members of the Arachne Spinners Guild or two handfelted and embellished pillows created by members of the Door County Sheep and Goat Raisers.

The United Nations has declared 2009 the “Year of Natural Fibers” – a year-long initiative focused on raising global awareness about natural fibers with specific emphasis on increasing market demand to help ensure the long-term sustainability for farmers who rely heavily on fiber production. To help with this initiative, the Arachne Spinners Guild of Door County is participating in “Keep the Fleece,” a project to raise money for Heifer International. Members of the Arachne Spinners Guild will be knitting on a scarf at the Door County Shepherds’ Market and will be seeking donations for this cause. All funds raised will be sent to “Keep the Fleece” and will be donated to Heifer International for the purchase of sheep to increase to world’s natural fiber production. The scarf will be sent to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival, where the world’s longest scarf will be assembled. After the festival in October, the longest scarf will be disassembled and each component scarf will be donated to a needy person.

The Shepherds’ Market is held in the granary barn and the Whitefish Bay Farm flock of white and naturally colored Corriedale sheep and lambs will be grazing pastures near the barn, weather permitting. For more information, visit http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/market.htm or call 920.743.1560.