Lectures & Demonstrations

10:00 – 10:50 am FFA 101 Presented by junior and seniors in the animal science program at Dover High School. Panel discussion – ask questions and learn what it is like to be an FFA member in NH: history, opportunities, and activities.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: Lecture room

11:00 – 11:50 am – The Wonderful World of Crochet with Susan Rogers. If you were ever curious about the wonderful world of crochet, I’ll be sharing a variety of different types of crochet including creative freeform, Tunisian, and Camel stitch.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area

Instructor Bio: I’ve been involved in fiber crafting for over 44 years now. I tired to learn crochet in the 70’s but didn’t really pick it up until 1983 and have been crocheting ever since. Along with crochet I also spin yarn and occasionally dye both yarn and fiber, as well as dabble in other creative projects that catch my fancy. I am very passionate about crochet as well as spinning and really enjoy sharing that passion with others.

11:00 – 11:50 am – Fleece Ready For Mill / Skirting Some Wool with Andrew Earle. Wool/fiber preparation for the wool mill after shearing for processing. Grading, sorting and skirting. Bring some fleece to skirt and look at other fibers.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room

Instructor Bio: Andrew Earle a native Vermonter grew up in farming of all kinds. For the last seven years he has combined his love of farming and machinery operating the 1916 Whitin Carding Machine at Green Mountain Spinnery. Andy is a certified US wool grader and natural fiber enthusiast. He and his family raise Fine Shetland & Finn sheep as well.

12:00 – 12:50 am – Braiding with Wool with Sue Carey. Learn the basics of turning roving into a braided object. This is a fun take-off on traditional rug braiding. Instead of using wool material for a rug, roving is used. The wool is separated into strands, and then braided. After this, the braid is laced together using cotton rug lacing. The demonstration includes hands-on opportunities. Kits and wool will be available for sale after the class so attendees can make a larger project.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area
Minimum age requirement: Adults and age 14+
Website: marblemeadows.com

Instructor Bio: in the beautiful green mountain valley of Wallingford Vermont, Sue Carey and her family have been raising Cotswold Sheep for 30 thirty years. Sue is active in the local Sheep Producers group and is a former Sheep 4-H leader. Sue has been teaching needle felting throughout the Northeast for over 20 years. Her teaching credentials include the New England Fiber Festival, Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts, Gallery at the Vault and the Chaffee Art Center. Through her instructions, Sue has introduced both children and adults to the creative world of felting. For more information on Sue’s crafting go to marblemeadows.com.

12:00 – 12:50 am – Fencing Options for Sheep and Goats and How to Implement Them Successfully with David Kennard

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room
Website: wellscroft.com

Instructor Bio: David Kennard of Wellscroft Fence Systems has helped thousands of farmers design fence systems for the protection of crops and livestock for over 45 years. He has field-tested his fencing products on his own 300-acre farm ,Wellscroft Farm in Chesham, NH, one of the larger working sheep farms in New England. Wellscroft is the largest agricultural fence company in New England, and regularly hosts popular educational workshops such as Lambing Clinics, Fence Clinics and Grazing Workshops. Wellscoft Farm works closely with NRCS and Cooperative Extensions to design IRG and MIG programs for farmers. David and Wellscroft Farm are recipients of Innovative Farmer of the Year, Master Shepherd and NH Farm of Distinction awards.

1:00 – 1:50 pm – Groovy Granny Squares with Susan Rogers. Crocheted granny squares are everywhere these days and I’ll be showing how to make the basic squares and will have a variety of other granny square projects on display.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area

Instructor Bio: I’ve been involved in fiber crafting for over 44 years now. I tired to learn crochet in the 70’s but didn’t really pick it up until 1983 and have been crocheting ever since. Along with crochet I also spin yarn and occasionally dye both yarn and fiber, as well as dabble in other creative projects that catch my fancy. I am very passionate about crochet as well as spinning and really enjoy sharing that passion with others.

1:00 – 1:50 pm – “So you want to get sheep or goats?” with Andy Rice. Discussion of different types of sheep and goats. What are the pros and cons of different breeds.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room
Questions: [email protected]

Instructor Bio: Andy Rice has been involved with animals his whole life. Started out raising tropical fish and as a teenager was employed by a zoo supplier working exotic animals of all sorts. After college and 4 years in the Navy started a home repair business. Doing a lot of work on a 2000 acre estate became the farm manager with horses, beef and dairy cattle. Around 1975 started working with his own flock of sheep and goats. In 1985 he started a commercial sheep shearing business also suppling fencing, farm supplies and handling equipment. He has been farming, mentoring and consulting for many farm operations over 30 years.

2:00 – 2:50 pm – Needle Felted Goldfish with Ruth Boisvert. I will demonstrate making a needle felted goldfish. I use the basic felted ball as my foundation. I then create dorsal fins, lateral fins, and a tail. I then had the cutest little lips and eyes resulting in a goldfish that’s guaranteed to make you smile.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area

Instructor Bio: Ruth has an BFA from the School for American Craftsmen in Rochester, New York. After moving to Maine she continued to study ceramics and fiber art at the Maine College of Art. Ruth’s fiber art and pottery have been marketed in many shows and in Gallery 302 in Bridgton, Maine for years.

2:00 – 2:50 pm – The Language of Sheep and Wool with Sue Carey. Many times new endeavors come with their own terminology. If you don’t know the difference between slivers and scouring, this talk should be of interest. We will cover and discuss terms that are used by shepherds and wool crafters.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room
Website: marblemeadows.com

Instructor Bio: in the beautiful green mountain valley of Wallingford Vermont, Sue Carey and her family have been raising Cotswold Sheep for 30 thirty years. Sue is active in the local Sheep Producers group and is a former Sheep 4-H leader and is involved with the Rutland Area Shepherds. Sue has been teaching needle felting throughout the Northeast for over 25 years. Her teaching credentials include the New England Fiber Festival, Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts, Gallery at the Vault and the Chaffee Art Center. Through her instructions, Sue has introduced both children and adults to the creative world of felting. For more information on Sue’s crafting go to marblemeadows.com.

3:00 – 4:50 pm – Beaming of the Warp with the Use of a Trapeze with Amanda Posner. The use of a Swedish Trapeze while beaming the warp is helpful in signal handily achieving an even and orderly tension reducing issues around tangled warp thread in the warping process, this is the last stage of front to back warping.

Class Cost: Free
Class location: classroom demo area

Instructor Bio: Amanda Posner lives and has her studio in cornish flat NH, she developed a life long love of weaving in the 80’s she teaches introduction to weaving on 4 harness looms at Scratch supply Co. in Lebanon NH the class is for beginners with no experience or for those interested in moving up to a multiple harness loom from ridge heddle looms and designed for those interested in learning the process of designing and warping a loom start to finish.

3:00 – 3:50 pm – International back to back wool challenge with Odediah Skolnick. An international contest that takes place in one day. A fun event where a team can educate the public on using local wool, bring two fiber communities together, and do a good deed for a local cancer assist organization, contributing uniquely to international spinning and knitting, New Hampshire sheep, and local cancer organizations. Last year, our team raised $1200 for Amy’s Treat and we were pretty excited about it. To encourage other spinners to gather a team together and highlight spinning as a tool, to bring fiber communities together in a public forum using a combined effort to benefit every aspect of a heritage craft in active contribution.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room

Instructor Bio: Odediah is constantly creating open spaces for a free exchange of spinning techniques where other fiber spinners can develop opportunity and freedom in their handspinning.

4:00 – 4:50 pm – The use of handling equipment – how to make life easier with Andy Rice

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: at booth
Questions: [email protected]

Instructor Bio: Andy Rice has been involved with animals his whole life. Started out raising tropical fish and as a teenager was employed by a zoo supplier working exotic animals of all sorts. After college and 4 years in the Navy started a home repair business. Doing a lot of work on a 2000 acre estate became the farm manager with horses, beef and dairy cattle. Around 1975 started working with his own flock of sheep and goats. In 1985 he started a commercial sheep shearing business also suppling fencing, farm supplies and handling equipment. He has been farming, mentoring and consulting for many farm operations over 30 years.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE & DESCRIPTIONS

10:00 – 10:50 am – Spinning Cotton with Susan Parker. Making cotton yarn is very different from wool. See how it can be spun with a tahkli support spindle and a specialized wheel called a charkha, learn about natural colors of cotton, and hear about the effects of finishing cotton hand spun yarn.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area

Instructor Bio: Susan Parker has been spinning for over 20 years, twirling spindles and treadling wheels. She has worked with a wide variety of fibers and learned to work with cotton in 2014. She also knits, weaves, crochets, and occasionally dyes.

10:00 – 10:50 am – How to Buy Livestock with Andy Rice. A discussion of what to look for on Goats and sheep when purchasing new stock.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room
Questions: [email protected]

Instructor Bio: Andy Rice has been involved with animals his whole life. Started out raising tropical fish and as a teenager was employed by a zoo supplier working exotic animals of all sorts. After college and 4 years in the Navy started a home repair business. Doing a lot of work on a 2000 acre estate became the farm manager with horses, beef and dairy cattle. Around 1975 started working with his own flock of sheep and goats. In 1985 he started a commercial sheep shearing business also suppling fencing, farm supplies and handling equipment. He has been farming, mentoring and consulting for many farm operations over 30 years.

11:00 – 11:50 am – Products from the Mill with Bel Vassar: A discussion of the formats your fiber can be processed to in a mill. We will cover Roving, Combed Top, Pin Drafted Roving, Yarn and its weights and plies. A description of milling machines and what they do as compared to hand processing. Discussion of woolen vs. worsted yarns, with time for a question and answer session.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room

Instructor Bio: Bel Vassar is a fiber enthusiast who owns and runs Pict Wool with her husband Paul. Her interest in fiber arts led to opening the mill and now she processes wool and fiber for regional farms daily. She enjoys hand spinning, knitting and dyeing.

12:00 – 12:50 pm – Medieval Distaff Spinning with Tameson O’Brien. Watch how spinning was done in medieval europe with a medieval distaff. Listen to and see the difference between a medieval spindle and a drop spindle and what a dressed distaff looks like.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area

1:00 – 1:50 pm – How To Choose And Then Skirt A Fleece with Nadine Chounet. Tips to help you choose a worthwhile fleece to buy. Things to look for in a fleece. Once you get home, skirting for the intended purpose of that fleece.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: outside of fleece barn

Instructor Bio: I own ‘Painted Knoll Farm’ and raised registered Shetland sheep for over 30 years. I continually worked to improve the breed from easy to handle healthy sheep to gorgeous and clean fleeces that Shetlands are known for producing. Over the years I have given lessons and talks and demos as it is something that I have always enjoyed.

1:00 – 1:50 pm – A Step By Step Photo Sequence of Lambing in a Barn in the Winter / Spring Time with David Kennard

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture room
Website: wellscroft.com

Instructor Bio: David Kennard of Wellscroft Fence Systems has helped thousands of farmers design fence systems for the protection of crops and livestock for over 45 years. He has field-tested his fencing products on his own 300-acre farm ,Wellscroft Farm in Chesham, NH, one of the larger working sheep farms in New England. Wellscroft is the largest agricultural fence company in New England, and regularly hosts popular educational workshops such as Lambing Clinics, Fence Clinics and Grazing Workshops. Wellscoft Farm works closely with NRCS and Cooperative Extensions to design IRG and MIG programs for farmers. David and Wellscroft Farm are recipients of Innovative Farmer of the Year, Master Shepherd and NH Farm of Distinction awards.

2:00 – 2:50 pm – The Wonderful World of Crochet with Susan Rogers. If you were ever curious about the wonderful world of crochet, I’ll be sharing a variety of different types of crochet including creative freeform, Tunisian, and Camel stitch.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area

Instructor Bio: I’ve been involved in fiber crafting for over 44 years now. I tired to learn crochet in the 70’s but didn’t really pick it up until 1983 and have been crocheting ever since. Along with crochet I also spin yarn and occasionally dye both yarn and fiber, as well as dabble in other creative projects that catch my fancy. I am very passionate about crochet as well as spinning and really enjoy sharing that passion with others.

2:00 – 2:50 pm – Pros And Cons Of Different Ways To Feed Sheep And Goats with Andy Rice.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: at booth
Questions: [email protected]

Instructor Bio: Andy Rice has been involved with animals his whole life. Started out raising tropical fish and as a teenager was employed by a zoo supplier working exotic animals of all sorts. After college and 4 years in the Navy started a home repair business. Doing a lot of work on a 2000 acre estate became the farm manager with horses, beef and dairy cattle. Around 1975 started working with his own flock of sheep and goats. In 1985 he started a commercial sheep shearing business also suppling fencing, farm supplies and handling equipment. He has been farming, mentoring and consulting for many farm operations over 30 years.

3:00 – 3:50 pm – Getting A Fleece Ready For Spinning, Carding Vs Combing with Chris Majauckas. CR. Processing a fleece by hand? Everyone knows about Carding, but what about Combing? I’ll talk about the differences and demonstrate some Combing techniques to produce fiber ready to spin.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: classroom demo area

Instructor Bio: Chris has been a Comb Maker for over 30 years.

3:00 – 3:50 pm – Working With Angora. Sarah Hegener. LH. How to card angora, spinning angora and spinning angora with wool.

Class Cost: Free
Class Location: lecture hall area

Instructor Bio: My name is Sarah Hegener, and I run a small homestead business “Hegener Homestead” in Bridgewater with my husband. I raise rabbits and two of these are angoras which I keep for their wonderful fiber. I started spinning on a drop spindle in the fall of 2022 and got my spinning wheel in February 2023. I use a Country Craftsman spinning wheel which was definitely not easy to learn on but I stubbornly pushed through and figured out her quirks. Now, I can spin beautifully with my wheel. Angora is my niche, I’m passionate about caring for these wonderful animals as well as utilizing their luxurious wool. I am also in the process of learning sheep shearing and look forward to working in that field. I am also an EMT/Firefighter and work on two small departments locally. Spinning and working with animals are my biggest passions.