812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 1, 1994
Top Fleeces Result
From Novice’s Research
DILLSBURG (Dauphin Co.)
Some might suggest that Jo-Anne
Trygg of Dillsburg had beginner’s
luck when the fleece she entered at
the Maryland Sheep and Wool
Festival placed first of 401 fleeces
judged.
Although it is unusual to win top
honors the first time entering pre
stigious shows especially since
she owns only three sheep
Trygg’s win was not haphazarded
luck.
The Dillsburg woman thor
oughly researched criteria for rais
ing sheep with top quality wool
before she purchased her first
sheep..
Trygg said that became inter
ested in sheep after deciding that
some animals would make a good
addition to the IS acres that she
and her husband Jim own.
“Sheep are about as large an ani
mal as I could comfortably handle.
And I thought I could find a market
for the fleeces with spinners,” she
said.
After several years of reading
everything that she could find on
sheep, attending sheep shows at
the Farm Show and York Fair, and
repeatedly talking with sheep exhi
bitors, Trygg took the plunge and
purchased the sheep.
Her first three sheep were pur
chased from Carol Peyser, a spin
ner with the Wool Wizards of
Farm Show Sheep to Shawl fame.
Peyser, a spinner, encouraged
Tiygg to try spinner. Trygg did and
loved it
The exposure to spinning
opened up a whole new way of
looking at wool for Trygg. She
looks at each fleece with an eye to
how it will spin.
So far, Trygg hasn’t sold any of
her fleeces because each fleece is
special to her and she looks for
ward to making something from it.
The fleece from her first Border
Leicester ram won the York Fair
Reserve Grand Champion fleece
award last year. This year, she
proved that it wasn’t just begin
ner’s luck when the fleece from her
lamb won the grand championship
at the York Fair.
Having a small flock allows
Trygg to give each animal indivi
dual attention.
When an undiagnosed illness
caused her ram to die, Trygg was
devastated.
"I spend time with them each
day. They’re like pets,” Trygg
said.
She examined several breeds
before deciding to purchase
another Border Leicester. This
time, it was a lamb.
“I like their wool, and I like the
way they look they’re beautiful
animals,” Trygg said of the Border
Leicester breed.
Dusty, purchased from Rams
den Farms in Birdsboro joined
Trygg’s flock in June 1993.
Trygg also credits her friend and
neighbor Deb Flanagan with help
ing her with problems she encoun
ters in her flock.
Flanagan showed Trygg how to
worm, trim the feet, and sheer the
sheep.
Research and hard work have
paid off, Trygg said. She plans to
enter the Pennsylvania Farm Show
to continue to prove that her First
win was not beginner’s luck.
'* < / *
} Si
e
»
Joanne Trygg shows off the prize-winning fleece ten
mnds of solid black wool is from a Border Leicester
Since Joanne has learned to spin wool, she entered a
scarf In York Fair competition that took first place this year
Joanne won 17 ribbons at the York Fair for wool and flower
entries.
See your nearest
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and
Dependable Service!
PENNSYLVANIA
AnnvlHe. PA Huotiivllte. pa
BHM Farm Farnsworth Farm
Equipment, Inc. - Supplies, Inc.
RDI, Rte. 934 103 Cemetery Street
717-867-2211 717-584-2106
CUfafa. PA
R&W Equipment Co. New Holland. PA
35 East-Willow Street A.B.C. Groff,.lnc.
717-243-2686 110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
F&S Supply Co. Qlov. pa
Wonsidler Bros.
215-987-6257
Blzabettitown. pa
■Messick Farm
Equipment. Inc. pA
PI. 283 • Rheem's Exit ™ .
717-367-.1319 Schreffler Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Halifax. PA
Sweigard Bros.
Swil«4 13 au/mfmm
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 1 %
Honey Brook, PA 215-636'1935
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
Tamaaus. pa
Charles S. Snyder, Inc,
R.D. 3
Honey Grove. PA 717-386-5945
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA West Grove. PA
S Gl L6WiS 4 Son - ln °.
717 789 3117 R - D ‘ 2 - Box 66
717-789-3117 ,215-869-2214
Frederick, md
Ceresville
Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MD,
800-331-9122
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton. NJ Washington. NJ
Leslie G. Fogg, Inc. Smith Tractor &
Canton & Stow Creek Equip., Inc.
Landing Rd. *l5 Hilicrest Avo.
609-451 -2727 ' 201 -689-7900
609-935-5145
AN
Wooditown. NJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308