WOOL FLEECE SHOW AND SALE
FLEECE JUDGING — May 8 - 10:30 - Rabbit/Poultry Building
SILENT AUCTION OF FLEECE — May 8 - 12:30-3:00 - Rabbit/Poultry Building

The wool fleece competition is in Rabbit/Poultry building. There will also be a sanctioned alpaca fleece competition with closed judging taking place on Saturday, but open to the public on Sunday in vendor building D.

View winners of past Fleece Shows.

Mary Wallace has been raising natural colored corriedales and selling their fleeces to handspinners for 22 years. To become a better seller of wool, she read what she could about that fiber and attended wool workshops and grading sessions throughout the country to further develop an "eye" and the feel of different wools. Judging fleeces was a natural extension of that process. Although she does know how to spin wool, has been known to knit a hat if forced, and could warp a loom if she absolutely had to, felting is her fiber passion.

There were 92 entries in the 2009 Fleece Competion.

WHAT IS A FLEECE COMPETITION?

There are a great variety of types of fleece. For judging, they are placed in different groups according to color (white or natural colored) and grade (or fiber diameter); into fine, medium or long wools. There will also be a purebred class for each breed; the fleece is judged according to breed standards.

Many factors are considered when judging a fleece for commercial or handspinning value. Cleanliness is of high importance especially for a handspinning fleece. A little dirt is okay as it easily washes out, but burrs, hay chaff, and manure tags don't, thus greatly lowering the value of the fleece. A clean fleece also contributes to a higher estimated clean weight which adds value simply because there is more usable wool.

Several qualities of the wool are considered. Tensile strength is important because weak fiber or fiber with a break (a weak spot in the fiber often caused by illness or stress to the sheep at some point during the year) may be torn up during the carding process ruining the fleece. Staple length should be appropriate to its class and generally, longer length is more desirable. The crimp of the wool is what gives character and resilience to the yarn it is spun into. The crimp should be consistent throughout the fleece as well as within each lock. Each fleece is also checked for consistency of grade or fiber diameter throughout the fleece.

The "handle" of the wool refers to overall look and feel of the fleece. Luster is often considered here and generally adds value. White wools should be free of all black fiber and the whiter the better. In natural colored wools, usually no one color is better and variegated fleeces are not marked down.

Before showing, fleeces should be "skirted" (belly wool and other undesirable parts removed), then rolled with the tips facing inward.  This allows for careful inspection of the wool.

A silent auction will be held for all fleeces offered for sale by the exhibitors.

• Fleeces to be in place by 9:00 AM, Saturday, May 8.
• Judging begins at 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 8.
• Fleece auction begins after judging.
• Fleeces not sold should be picked up by 12:00 noon Sunday.

 RULES & INSTRUCTIONS:

• Fleece must be from animals owned by the exhibitor.
• Fleeces must be current year's shearing.
• No more than 15 months' growth.
• All fleeces should be free of tags & chaff.
• Fleeces will displayed in clear plastic bags. (Available at Fleet Farm)

The judge reserves the right to

• move fleeces to the appropriate class
• close or combine classes if insufficient entries
• give awards to quality fleeces only
• offer awards of merit to high quality fleeces not receiving a place.

• Pre-registration is due by April 25th.
• Entry fees double after April 25th. Entries may be refused if space is full.
• Bring fleeces to the judging area in Rabbit/Poultry building on Friday, May 7 between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM or on Saturday, May 8 between 8 AM and 9 AM.
• Entry fee: $2.50 per fleece for show only, $3.50 per fleece for show and sale.