Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association, Inc.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to promote and encourage keeping sheep in Connecticut. The CSBA was formed in 1893, and we have been supporting Connecticut shepherds since that time by educating sheep farmers about issues relevant to raising lamb and wool, and facilitating marketing opportunities.

Polly Hopkins

It is with great sadness I am posting the following from Sarah Hopkins.

"It is with a broken heart that we share with you that mom, Polly Hopkins, lost her fight with ovarian cancer today. She fought long and hard. Mom was surrounded by her family when she passed. She loved her kids and grandson, her husband and her sheep! Mom will be missed by many.
We will be having calling hours Saturday, February 2nd from 11am to 1pm and her service will be right after at the Tucker Quinn Funeral home in Greenville, RI. In lieu of flowers please donate to the North East Youth Sheep Show or Hope Hospice in North Providence."

Polly and Kevin have been longtime members of the RI Sheep Cooperative, New England Sheep & Wool Growers as well as our organization and many of the breed associations they have raised.  She has been involved from its creation in the Rhody Warm Blanket. The family have raised Hampshires, Southdowns, Natural Colored Sheep and currently have Border Leicesters and in all of those breeds they were highly competitive winning many honors and awards.  There is so much more this wonderful lady has done but I will wait for the family's obituary for that.

RIP Polly, it was a privilege to have known and work with you.

Helping Those Winter Lambs

Sunday, January 27th - There is more ugly weather and single digits without counting the windchill on its way.  If you are lambing now have places out of the wind for those new lambs to drop.  A little blanket for lambs isn't a bad idea and is a much safer alternative to heat lamps.  The best blankets are made of wool and you can grab old sweaters and blankets from the 2nd hand shops like Goodwill or consignment stores.  I use old blankets and cut a rectangle, add a slit for each leg parallel to the lower edge and it's a custom blanket.  Wool is warm even if wet and it will smell like the lamb so less chance of a ewe not liking it.  Sweaters are also easy as you can get two quick ones just using the sleeves.  Cuff goes over the head, slits for the legs and cut out or slice the bottom for ram lambs.  You can make them as you go with just a pair of scissors and with woven fabric you can wait until after the lamb is done with it to stitch the edges. Make sure the lambs get a good drink of colostrum and watch for signs of hypothermia.  A healthy lamb will stretch when it gets up.  As for the rest of the flock make sure they have water and give them some extra hay to eat as rumination creates body heat for them. 

Don't forget to renew your membership 

The fillable form is available on the Membership page.  Before you know it Blue Ribbon will be here, shearing season and then Connecticut Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival!



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We are now on Twitter and Instagram!
Instagram - CTSheepBreedersAssoc   @ctsheepbreedersassoc
Twitter - CT Sheep Breeders Assoc - @ctsheepbreeders  and  #ctsheepandwool2018

Upcoming Events 

Blue Ribbon Forum
&
4H Sheep Program
Saturday, March 30, 2019
UCONN Storrs Campus
Ratcliffe Hicks Arena
Registration starts at 9am
 
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110th
Connecticut
Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2019
9 am - 4 pm
Rain or Shine
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 Fall Sheep Shearing School
 October 2019
UCONN

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Cornell Sheep Program 
View their full calendar of events
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