Demonstrations
Hoof Trimming
with Melanie Barkley (PSU Agriculture Extension Educator) & Dan Turner (Pres. PSWGA, Owner-Ewe Lamb Right Farm)
Saturday, October 11 & Sunday, October 12
10:30 - 11:30am
Join us for an informative and hands-on hoof trimming demonstration led by two highly respected voices in the sheep and wool industry: Melanie Barkley, Penn State Agriculture Extension Educator, and Dan Turner, President of the Pennsylvania Sheep & Wool Growers Association and owner of Ewe Lamb Right Farm.
Proper hoof care is essential for maintaining the health and mobility of your flock, and this demo is a great opportunity to learn best practices from seasoned professionals. Whether you're a new shepherd or looking to refine your technique, you’ll walk away with valuable insight and practical knowledge.
Don't miss the chance to see how it’s done, ask questions, and learn from the experts!
About Melanie
Melanie Barkley is an educator for Penn State Extension, based in Bedford County. She began her career in Extension as a youth educator and has covered many program areas in agriculture over a 34-year career. Her current position focuses on livestock production, which includes serving as chair of the state Livestock Team. She mostly works with sheep and meat goat producers to help them analyze their operations to improve sustainability. She also works with small ruminant producers to manage internal parasites within their flocks or herds and trains producers to use FAMACHA. She received her B.S. from Penn State in Animal Production in 1986 and M.Ed. in Extension Education from Penn State in 1992. Melanie has a lifetime of experience raising sheep and beef cattle, including 30 years raising Dorset, Tunis, and Border Leicester sheep. Her interests focus on livestock performance and managing livestock on pasture.
About Dan
Dan Turner, from Shippensburg, PA, has been raising sheep since the late 1990s. At Ewe Lamb Right Farm, he and his wife Jan manage over 250 Katahdins using a forage-based, rotational grazing system. A hands-on farmer, Dan has built miles of fencing and shares his knowledge freely with others.
He is a strong advocate for the sheep industry, serving as a current board member and past president of the Katahdin Hair Sheep International, president of the Pennsylvania Sheep & Wool Growers, and Pennsylvania delegate to the American Sheep Industry Association. He also played a key role in advancing genomically enhanced EBVs for Katahdins through NSIP.
Passionate about promoting lamb, Dan purchased a jerky business to create value-added lamb products and boost U.S. lamb consumption. He also trains Border Collies for herding, owns and consults in fluid power businesses, and enjoys machining, welding, and fabricating. In his community, he volunteers at a historic iron furnace and serves on the board of the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation, supporting grief services for children.
Wet & Dry Felting
with Moire McLauglin Bridges (Owner, Burnhead Grazings)
Saturday, October 11 & Sunday, October 12
1:00-2:00pm
Moire will be demonstrating both wet and dry felting creating a wool “painting” and an animal sculpture.
Wet felting is a process used to make wool into the dense fabric known as felt. The process involves the application of warm, soapy water, which causes layers of fleece placed at 90 degree angles to one another to hook together into a single piece of fabric. After the wet felting process is complete, the felted project is finished by fulling, or agitating the fibers on a rough surface such as a washboard. The felted fabric can then be dried and used to make “paintings” accessories or garments.
Needle felting is a craft that uses specially designed notched needles to sculpt wool into shapes and designs. The notches on the needles tangle the wool fibers, causing them to interlock and form firm structures. This versatile craft allows you to create anything from beautiful 2D flat pieces to intricate 3D sculptures.
About Moire
Moire McLaughlin Bridges is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, children’s book author, illustrator, artist, and shepherdess who cherishes the people, land, and animals in her care.
Her passion for art began early. To fund her degree in fine arts and graphic design, she worked as a coal mine surveyor. Her career took her from art director to publishing, working with clients like National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and National Wildlife.
Moire and her husband, Randy, returned to her hometown of Indiana, PA, to care for her parents and revive the family sheep farm, Burnhead Grazings. There, they raise lambs, produce wool for spinning and felting, and host guests through BnB stays and small events.
She is the author and illustrator of the children’s book Sissy & The King (available on iBooks) and teaches wool felting through demos, classes, and private felting parties. Contact Moire to sign up, book an event, or purchase her artwork.
Sheep Shearing
with Melinda Wamsley (Boss Mare Shearing)
Saturday, October 11 & Sunday, October 12
2:30-3:30pm
Don’t miss the chance to watch professional sheep shearer Melinda Wamsley of Boss Mare Shearing in action! With skill, speed, and a deep respect for the animals, Melinda will demonstrate the art and technique of humane, efficient sheep shearing.
This is a great opportunity to see firsthand how fleeces are harvested — an essential step in the journey from sheep to shawl. Whether you're curious about the process or considering shearing in your own flock, this demonstration is sure to educate and inspire.
Come see the wool fly and learn from an experienced shearer who brings both skill and care to every cut!
About Melinda
Melinda Wamsley is the owner/shearer of Boss Mare Shearing which has a home base in Washington, Pennsylvania. With a degree in Ruminant Production and Management from The Ohio State University, she has taken her knowledge into her adventures while shearing. She also enjoys doing numerous educational demonstrations at notable festivals like Maryland Sheep & Wool, Fayette County Fiber Festival, Central Pennsylvania Fiber Festival and her “Celtic Crossfit” at Scottish Highland Games. Since participating in Maryland Sheep Shearing School in 2020, Melinda has traveled the east coast and beyond shearing all breeds of sheep, goats, llama and alpaca. Her love of shearing has evolved to a love of all things fiber related and has made her life's mission to teach about the sustainability and humane practices of wool products.
