We Love Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival

Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival, Tunbridge, Vermont is this weekend, Oct. 3 and 4.

Fiber lovers rejoice - there's tons of yarns, knitters, spinners, plus related vendors - and sheep dog demonstrations. Arrive early to get your pick of the roving and raw fleece.

Sheep, alpacas, angora rabbits, goats, and llamas too - plus spinning wheels, needle felting, ideas to last a whole winter long.

For details see www.vermontsheep.org.

Crossroads, Apply American Know-How

When stuck and spinning your wheels, either you figure a way out or have a long walk. In the current economic wheel-spinning, rut-chewing hole, there is ingenuity that is dormant and waiting to rise to the challenge across the United States. Every day in small machine shops and garages or home offices, problems are being solved for owner-operated businesses.

“Innovation leads to job growth directly and clearly,” said Robert Atkinson, president, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a non-partisan "think tank".

In a new ITIF report UC Davis scholars Fred Block and Mathew Keller analyzed a sample of innovations recognized by R&D Magazine as being among the top 100 innovations of the year over the last four decades. (See full report link here.)

The ITIF was launched in 2006 and is co-chaired by Jennifer Dunn and Calvin Dooley, former members of Congress.

The mission is to "formulate and promote public policies to advance technological innovation and productivity internationally, in Washington, and in the United States. Recognizing the vital role of technology in ensuring American prosperity, ITIF focuses on innovation, productivity, and digital economy issues."

Centennial for Sheep, Wool, Border Collies

There's nothing quite like quality yarn.

This spring, the 100th Annual Connecticut Sheep, Wool, and Fiber Festival is Saturday April 25 at Tolland Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Avenue (Route 30), Vernon. Featuring working border collies, sheep shearing, spinning, weaving, there's something for everyone. Meet the animals that produce the fiber - from sheep to llamas and alpaca. Watch the fleece to shawl contest, try your hand at spinning, or just enjoy the color and critters. Admission is $3 for parking; call (860) 526-3883 for details.

In 2008, the 20th Annual Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival offered up a feast of fiber - naturally dyed cotton, hemp, wool, and blends. Exotics. On display were all things to create beauty from fibers - from spinning wheels, drum carders, spindles and knitting accessories. There was raw fleece, rovings, homegrown millspun yarn, handspun yarn, hand-knit creations for people and dogs.

And then there was the working dog demonstrations, featuring Border collies, expertly herding sheep. Beauty in motion.


This year's Vermont festival will be held October 3 and 4, at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT. For more information contact Kat Smith, (802) 446-3325.