2022 Free Talks & Presentations

Friday 1:00pm-2:00pm

In their ongoing commitment to making it more profitable to raise heritage breeds, the Livestock Conservancy created the Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em Initiative. It’s a program that recognizes fiber artists for using wool from breeds on their Conservation Priority List while connecting shepherds and woolen mills working with heritage breeds with customers. The Conservancy has long said that the way to save endangered breeds of livestock is to give them a job. In the case of wool sheep, we need to start using their wool again. Because of marketing challenges, some shepherds discard or compost the wool after their annual shearing rather than cleaning it and selling it. In addition to encouraging fiber artists to try using rare wools, the program also educates shepherds about how to prepare their wool for sale and how to reach customers and fiber artists, thereby making it more profitable to raise heritage breeds. Come learn about this exciting program and how you can participate as fiber provider or fiber artist.
The Livestock Breeds and Cindra Kerscher bio A nonprofit founded in 1977, The Livestock Conservancy is the leading organization in the United States working to protect over 150 breeds of livestock and poultry from extinction. The Livestock Conservancy works with farmers and ranchers, chefs, historians, consumers, and others across the nation to protect genetic diversity in agriculture and for the security of our agricultural system. Cindra Kerscher is the “gate keeper” for the Shave ‘Em to Save “Em program at the Livestock Conservancy, an emerging fiber artist, and the accidental shepherdess of a small farm in Chatham County.