BFL AT RHINEBECK '07!

1st National Bluefaced Leicester Show - 19 October 2007
NYSSWF - Rhinebeck, NY

It was an honor for the Bluefaced Leicester to be selected 'featured breed' at the Rhinebeck show for 2007. It was sheer good luck to have Jolene Vezzetti take charge of the event. She began the planning 2 years
before and undoubtedly set the standard for all featured breeds to follow! Over the course of the preparations we came to know Jolene was an extremely talented and organized detail person, and her family was equally generous in their efforts to make all go smoothly where ever it was needed. Paul & Patrick Vezzetti made the wooden awards; Sarah and Hannah Vezzetti were cheerfully indispensable wherever needed.

Graeme Stewart ably judged the sheep show, which was well attended. It was the largest single show specifically for the breed in its short history. There were separate shows for the white and the natural colored, between them there were over 80 head of Bluefaced Leicesters. Of the many BFL breeders who entered their sheep in the shows; some had never shown before. With the usual friendliness of the Rhinebeck show, there was plenty of help with the group classes. Mary Grant, Ontario, Canada, long time Border Leicester breeder and who had written her spinning certification thesis on comparison of the three Leicester breeds' fleece, judged the fleeces. She also gave a presentation on selection and preparation of fleeces, drawing on her extensive experience.

Kris Barndt created all the Bluefaced Leicester art work for this huge east coast event. She not only produced a black/white pencil sketch for the 2007 calendar, she did the artwork for the show mementos - t-shirts, sweat shirts, totes, etc. - and again was in the 2008 calendar. She was responsible for the history of the breed boards and the coloring corner. Kris created the art work for the award ribbons, the wooden award pattern depicting a distinctive BLF outline; also donated a hand crafted cane from the UK as the award for the Supreme Champion. Lisa Rodenfels did a poster depicting the fleece samples from many types of cross breeding programs. It was well received, underscoring the tremendous fiber value of the Bluefaced Leicester as a crossing sire.

The Wool Room was the hub of several events - the fleece show, demonstrations, featured speakers, photo contest, a coloring contest, posters, sales of fiber, sweatshirts, stationery and other items. Many breeders pitched in to take care of sales, set up the fleece entries, and generally be available.

It was an exciting weekend, so much was crammed into the three days. The Friday wine and cheese get together after the shows was a real treat. The feasting table was beautifully set. It all lent a warm, friendly atmosphere to the room abuzz with comaraderie. The dinner Saturday evening was exceptional. Winding down on Sunday, many Bluefaced Leicesters left the fairgrounds bound for new homes. Tired BFL exhibitors were exhilarated with not only the warm response to the breed, the fleece; but the opportunity to introduce the breed to an enthusiastic audience. Acquaintances were made and renewed.

It is a well known truth that the successful event is the result of many people cooperating. The Bluefaced Leicester breeders did themselves proud with their efforts focused on behalf of the breed.

(Results from both shows will be in the Banner December/January issue.)

This custom created figurine of the Bluefaced Leicester has been issued in a numbered limited edition. It was unveiled at the dinner held in Rhinebeck, NY to the appreciative breeders who attended the 1st National BFL Show at the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival.

For details please contact Paul or Jolene Vezzetti at breezymeadowsfarm@verizon.net or
215-257-0348.

BLUEFACED LEICESTER NATIONAL SHOW – NYSWF October 19- 20-21, 2007

The Bluefaced Leicester has been selected as the Featured Breed at the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (Rhinebeck, NY) for 2007. The Featured Breed designation was created in 2001 with the goal of featuring a different sheep breed each year to promote and educate the Festival attendees about the many different sheep breeds that exist in the United States.

The New York State Sheep & Wool Festival is the second largest on the East Coast and thousands of people attend the festival each year. Being the Featured Breed at this festival, gives the Bluefaced Leicester breeders a tremendous opportunity to showcase and promote our sheep. The Featured Breed has its own breed sheep show at the festival, Graeme Stewart will be the judge. There will be two separate shows, white and natural colored. For the Bluefaced Leicester, this will be the first ever national show held in the United States!

Come to Rhinebeck, New York, see their web link: Rhinebeck for this prestigious event. Graeme Stewart is the sheep judge; and he has offered to hold a ‘short course’ in sheep showing to any who have never shown before. Jolene Vezzetti has simply done an outstanding job in putting this event together. Contact her (bflsheep@breezymeadowsfarm.com) if you have any questions; also for the Saturday evening dinner reservations.

Bluefaced Leicester member, Kris Barndt, has submitted her color art work for the Rhinebeck promotional pieces that will be for sale at the show. The Bluefaced Leicester is the only one of the Rhinebeck featured breeds to have had a member of their organization do this prestigious art work. Her black and white drawing was on their 2007 calendar, which sold out quickly. Kris is an avid supporter of the Bluefaced Leicester, selflessly donating her time and talents.

The Bluefaced Leicester sheep show is on Friday, October 19th. Throughout the weekend there will be displays of fleeces, cross breeding exhibits, demonstrations of felting, dyeing, and much more!