Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival Meeting - Oct. 28, 2004

I [Kate Goebel] attended the WSWF meeting on Thursday night and have some great news....

First, they have started work on replacing the sheep stalls in our barn with brand new ones! Already looking good, and was promised they will be complete in time for our show this next year.

They are also currently working on repaving and redoing the parking around all facilities. Also looking very nice, and they are trying to structure "general parking" AWAY from the animal barns all together. Only exhibitors will be allowed in the separate "barn parking" areas....should be very nice for us! 

I addressed the couple of minor details we had problems with last year...to name: the missing chairs, table and arena bedding. Apologies were made and I was told that we are VERY valued, and they will do everything in their power to make sure this does not happen again. I assured them that those minor incidences would not deter us from using their facility for our show, but it was lovely to hear we are such a valued commodity!:-) I have been asked to attend future meetings on behalf of MSSBA...told them would be happy to, if that is our membership's wish. 

Our show created a bit of a stir in the "production lamb" end of the event. I had wondered about the big sheep people making comments about our having our farm names on our stalls as they walked through. Had one local sheep guy (meat breeder I know from Watertown) ask me directly why we were able to do that...advertise our farms on our stalls. I told him it was a private show, and that we agreed that our participants could advertise as they wanted, and sell sheep from their stalls private treaty. Explained that we felt that if participants were paying to show they should be able to advertise at the very least. Apparently that is NOT an acceptable practice with the "production sale people". I told the board that if we are not allowed to advertise, what would be the point of showing? The board agreed completely....and will take measures to address the two "camps" that have formed in the meat sheep arena. We will continue to do as we wish with that regard without any problems from WSWF.

The WSWF group collected some excellent data with their "free lamb tasting" booth. They polled people's opinions as they ate the lamb and I have the data sheet of their results. Interesting data. Another interesting piece that the data sheets demonstrated is that the grass fed lambs were the winners this year. Something most of us knew all along....:-)

Some discussion on the "lamb dinner" on Friday night being a "total flop" was heard. I did say I knew one couple that had attended and was thoroughly disappointed. The board agreed that they needed to do something else...too many flies, too expensive, and too late in the day without having anything else to draw folks to stay.

"Beer, brats and a band" was suggested by Mr. Black and all seemed to agree that it would be more fun to have that instead....less complicated to run, less overhead on finding lamb, and may even draw in some locals to the festivities.

One final thing to mention, or I should say ask....who provided the "Shetland Sheep Show" this way sign for us? I had my car with me, so could not pick up the sign....as it was left behind after the show. I would be happy to pick it up and store it in my barn for next year, but was wondering whose sign it was? Not sure if that person would not want it back? Please let me know when you can.

Respectfully submitted: Kate Goebel, MSSBA Secretary 11/1/04