New ideas help sheep farmers in Amish Country create fiber-inspired products

John and Kathy Kirkwood’s flock includes different breeds of sheep, including Romney, Border Leicester, Merino and Meicester Longwool. “This latter breed of sheep was extinct at one time. It was a favorite breed of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson,” John recounted. They decided to raise these fancy sheep, in a half-open horse shelter, after John was told to stay out of the sun more.As their retirement projects, they had previously raised fields of garlic, then red raspberries on their acreage on SR 241, across from land they purchased from the Dale Pursley farm outside of the village of Mt. Eaton.All the sheep come running when John Kirkwood calls them with the noise of oats rattling in the feeding pan and he names each one. Their tightly curled black and white wool is a pretty sight to see.This family creates so many unique crafts and fresh ideas from this fiber. On this particular day, Kathy and her mother were using the soft, shiny spun material to make the beard of Santa for Christmas decorations. These original designs are much prized by many, including the owners of the Pine Tree Barn near Shreve, who purchased some of the decorations for their last year’s Christmas tree.Especially nice was the fragrant white lamb-shaped soap with curled markings all over to look like wool and also the child-sized quilted aprons for little girls. Once this family discovers, makes and tries out a new item, they have Amish neighbors make them in quantities for their sales catalog customers. With three separate websites, they receive orders from 30 states.Guarding this herd of animals is a proud llama that is not afraid to charge any outsider or investigate any disturbance with loud baying. He is very speedy and protective of his charges and no stranger would want to get near those hooves.Several local fabric craft people displayed their work at the Wayne County Fair Grounds over Memorial Day weekend, including the Kirkwoods. Organizing the vendors in booths was Linda Reichert, who proclaimed the show “bigger and better each year.”Joleene Tope, a longtime fiber enthusiast of the Fredericksburg area, attended with several other demonstrators and spinners. It was Tope who taught the Kirkwoods to spin. The Kirkwoods displayed many of their fancy items of wonderful woolen textiles at the Great Lakes Sheep and Wool Show Fiber Show this past May. John and Kathy sell and advertise only original items, concocted from their own imaginations.Their websites have pictures which give much information about this new farming industry located in rural Mt. Eaton, in the heart of Amish Country. They have also sold their products to Roscoe Village and on eBay.Especially interesting to quilters will be the wool batting they merchandise. Small samples of wool are supplied on request.Copies of their catalog are available online at http://www.kirkwood farm.com. Phone 330-359-5515. E-Mail is jkkirkfarms@g.mail.com.