This blog entry will discuss my rationale for choosing which external fiber shows Withers Wool and Farm attends. As I started to write, I realized that my reasons would not make much sense without first explaining the core values, mission, and vision of Withers Wool and Farm—which I have defined but have not generally shared. And so:
Our Core Values
Value Pillar: Flock-Centric Care
What it means to us: Our well-loved Merino sheep and Angora goats are the true heart of our farm. We believe that their health, happiness, and comfort directly translate into the premium quality and exceptional softness of our fiber.
Value Pillar: Community Connection
What is means to us: We are rooted in our local community, striving to inspire, educate, and bring together fiber artists through a shared love for natural craft and local agriculture.
Value Pillar: Pasture Integrity
What it means to us: We practice mindful, pesticide-free farming to protect our land, ensure the well-being of our flock, and deliver clean, wholesome products from our pasture to your hands.
Following that is our mission and vision
Mission
To craft skin-soft yarns, roving, and unique handmade goods using only the pesticide-free wool and mohair produced by our own Merino sheep and Angora goats.
Vision
To inspire our community with sustainable, high-quality fiber and goods crafted with love for our animals and land.
These statements have evolved over the years into their present form. When deciding which shows to attend, a—no, the—key consideration is supporting the local community and encouraging people I meet at a show to visit the farm, engage with our lovely animals, and appreciate how a local fiber farm can provide superior, high-quality products that support their artistry. First and foremost, this leads me to participate only in local fiber shows—those within an hour or so of the farm and local shop.
A second criterion for deciding which shows to support—that is, where to be a vendor—is the number of fiber artists, fiber enthusiasts, and animal lovers who attend. This is a subjective criterion. For my part, I want to see crowds numbering at least in the hundreds. The other consideration is the show’s focus is on fiber artists, fiber enthusiasts, and animal lovers. As a practical consequence, an event such as a Christmas show is not appealing to me, even if it draws large numbers, because its focus is not on fiber, fiber crafts, and the animals that support them.
The third criterion is money—that is, the value received from being a vendor at a show. There are three costs: (1) the direct cost of the booth; (2) the time required to set up for the show, be at the show, tear down, and then set back up at the local store on the farm; and (3) the opportunity cost. When I am a vendor at a show, I have to close the farm and store, which prevents people from visiting the farm and local shop—the primary driver of the business and the main focus of my attention.
Given these considerations, there are currently only four shows at which Withers Wool and Farm is a vendor: the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the Howard County Fairgrounds in May; the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival in Berryville, Virginia in September; the fall Frederick Fiber Fest at the Frederick County Fairgrounds in October; and the Maryland Alpaca and Fleece Festival at the Howard County Fairgrounds in November.