Black Sheep Gathering

This year's Gathering at the new Linn County Fairgrounds location was a big success!

Thank you committee members, helpful volunteers, and many attendees!

This year marked the beginning of a new era for the Black Sheep Gathering. The 44^th annual Gathering, which was held June 29-July 1, 2018, was moved 45 miles north to Linn County Expo Center in Albany Oregon. Linn County Expo Center offered us a beautiful new facility with room to grow, modern amenities, and convenient camping and lodging options. All the events we've enjoyed for decades were part of the Gathering: three full days of workshops and classes; fabulous fleeces for public judging and sale; fiber arts and other competitions; and sheep and Angora goat shows that emphasized the beautiful fibers these animals produce.

Here's a link to a story about the show in the Albany Democrat-Herald.

SHEEP SHOW

Judge: Zane Bone
College Station, Texas

I am a 4th generation sheep and goat raiser from the Texas Hill Country. My father was a state winning sheep and goat vocational agricultural teacher; my mom was also from a ranching background. Read More.

ANGORA GOAT SHOW

Judge: Dr. Andy Laughlin
Lubbock, Texas

Dr. Andy Laughlin grew up in the rural town of Ingram, Texas located in the heart of the hill country. He received his bachelor's degree in animal science from Texas A & M Univerisity. Read More.

FLEECE SHOW

Wool Judge: Dr. Geof Ruppert
Fairfield, Pennsylvania

Your judge for the 2018 Black Sheep Gathering is Dr. Geof Ruppert. His involvement with sheep began in 1976 with a starter flock of Corriedales, chosen in part because of his mother’s interest in the fiber arts. Read More.

FIBER ARTS AND YARN SHOW

Judge: Marian Dyche
The Dalles, Oregon

I learned to spin when I moved to Oregon about 20 years ago, joined the Columbia Fibres Guild and also learned to live life as it really should be. Read More.