sheep

The Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival was held in Kemmer in July. It was meant to celebrate the state's sheep and wool producers and help bring the industry to light with the public.

150 of the best sheepdog and handler pairings in North America competed in the 2023 USBCHA National Sheepdog Final, hosted at the Strang Ranch in Missouri Heights. The dogs were tested on their ability to work livestock in a series of tasks while working with ornery sheep.

The Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival was held earlier this month in Kemmerer. It was meant to celebrate the state's sheep and wool producers and help bring the industry to light with the public.

At the end of the month, sheep ranchers from across the state will descend upon Kemmerer for the first annual Sheep & Wool Fest. The three day festival hopes to celebrate those in the industry and raise awareness of the less well-known industry.

The University of Wyoming-based Wyoming Wool Initiative has launched a new program known as the Lamb-a-Year program. Loosely based on the Steer-a-Year programs found nationwide, it’s designed to give students hands-on experience with raising lambs and to give Wyoming producers valuable knowledge about lamb production in the state. It’s the first to do it with sheep.

A recent study found that when mountain goats and bighorn sheep compete over mineral sources at high elevations, it’s the goats that usually go home happy.

Last year, the University of Wyoming Sheep Program launched the UW Blanket Project. They designed, created and sold limited edition blankets made from the wool of the UW sheep herd. Now, that program has become the Wyoming Wool Initiative and it's more than just blankets.

The 32 consecutive hour event showcased the history of sheepherding in northeast Wyoming and paid tribute to the men and women who have watched over flocks for more than a century.

With the bulk of wildfire season on the horizon, officials in the Mountain West region are working to minimize risks. And sometimes they're getting help from four-legged friends.

Wyoming's climate is known to produce fine wool, perfect for spinning into yarn and creating high-quality products. And the University of Wyoming's Department of Agriculture has its own herd of sheep to study that wool. This year, they're trying something new.