What is a Featured Breed?

• "Featured Breed' is a way to highlight a certain breed or species within our event.

How will Dorset Sheep be Featured?

• A special award in the Fiber Arts Show (Items made with over 50% Dorset)
• A special class in the Fleece Show
• An ample supply of Dorset fiber available for purchase at the Fleece Sales
• Dorsets available for viewing in the Live Fiber Animal Exhibit
• Live Demonstrations, including the use of this fiber in the “Sheep to Sock” event.

Dorset Sheep - Breed Information

Breed Information:

• http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/dorset

Natural Colored vs White:

• Historically, the commercial wool industry desired white sheep, so breeders worked toward that goal.
• ​Underneath all the genes, all white sheep are actually:
  • Naturally colored with a huge white spot!
• When we line breed, color starts popping back out!

Horned vs Polled:

• ​​In antiquity, Dorset sheep were horned.  
  • Occasionally, lambs were born without horns (aka polled).  
  • Back in the 60's, those lambs were bred to create the polled Dorset breed.
• More recently, line breeding started popping out lambs with horns!  
  • Some breeders are now working on isolating the genes that create natural color with Horned Dorsets.

How to Purchase Dorset Fiber:

​​Can I use my own Dorset fiber?

• Yes, you may use your own fiber

Fleece to Buy?

• $10 per pound
  
• 18 fleeces of the rare Natural Colored Horned Dorset available for fiber artists to work 
  • ​​Amy Wolf sheared and collected fiber from Oregon Breeders:
    • ​​Terri Salisbury, Carol Park, Brenda Miller
• ​​White Dorset fleece also available from both OR and WA

To Puchase, please contact:

• Amy Wolf, FFNW Fleece Show & Sale Coordinator
  • [email protected] or (425) 232-0429​

*NEW* Fiber Arts Award:  'Featured Breed - Dorset'

Dorset Fiber Arts Entries:

• Entries MUST contain 50% (or more) Dorset fiber
• Enter your item(s) under the appropriate Fiber Arts Category
• To be eligible for the award, select: 
  • ​Featured Breed Award option

Fleece Show - Featuring Dorsets!

• Enter your Dorset Fleeces in the Fleece Show!
  • Specify Natural Colored or White
• Special Award for the Best Dorset Fleece!

Fleece Sale - Featuring Dorsets!

Sell your Dorset Fleeces!

• Fleece can be entered as Show-Only, Show & Sale, or Sale-Only!

Buy a Dorset Fleece or two or more!

• Both Natural Colored and White Dorset fleece will be for sale!

Live Fiber Animals - Featuring Dorset Sheep!

Come see Dorset Sheep up close in our Live Fiber Animal Exhibit!

Demonstrations - Dorsets

Information TBA

* NEW* - Dorset Sheep to Sock

Specifics TBA