We love helping visitors make the connection between land, animals, agriculture and the clothes we wear, and one of the best ways to achieve that is through meeting the fibre animals themselves! Each year in the Hall of Breeds, a selection of sheep, alpaca, and other animals are on hand to represent this bountiful resource.
Thank you to the farmers who make the display possible! It is a big commitment of time and resources to bring their cherished animals to the Festival. The 2024 Hall of Breeds participants are: Forever Prairie Ranch, Luckystone Acres, Raspberry Roost, Spirit Sands Shepherds, Tribble Ranch, White Spruce Heritage Farm
Please treat the animals with respect and move and speak calmly around them. The animals have very specific dietary needs - do not feed them anything as it may upset their complex digestive systems.
No dogs are allowed in the Red Barn. No matter how well behaved your pet, their presence is perceived as a threat by these gentle prey animals far from the protection of their home flock, and we must spare them that stress.
Farms and Breeds in the Red Barn 2025
BREED OF THE YEAR: Valais Blacknose - Tribble Ranch
Learn all about the worlds “cutest sheep” and see their interesting long wool locks, yarn and other items.
Icelandic Sheep - Luckystone Acres
Meet these heritage sheep and see the beautiful Icelandic lopi yarn, felted goods, sheepskins, leather/leather goods, and knitting patterns.
Navajo Churro - White Spruce Heritage Farm
A heritage breed that has been on the ‘endangered species list’ learn all about them and check out the beautiful Navajo-Churro lopi spun yarns, roving, batts, felted rugs, woven collars, small weavings and raw fleeces.
Shetland Sheep - Manitoba Shetland Sheep Project
Our first breed of the year in 2023 a heritage breed from the Shetland Islands with more than 11 distinct colours within the breed and beautiful markings with their own unique names. Stop by the Manitoba Shetland Sheep Project table and buy some unique and beautiful raw fleeces in a range of natural colours.
Wensleydale, Cotswold, Romeldale/CVM, and Romney - Spirit Sands Shepherds
The winner and namesake of our Gerry Oliver Award for Fibre Excellence - Gerry Oliver - will bring a beautiful selection of sheep breeds including long wool sheep. There will also be prize winning fleeces, raw and washed wool and fleeces, some felted wool and items, wool batts, white and coloured locks available.
Alpaca - Raspberry Roost Farm
Always a winner at the festival our Alpacas from the Raspberry Roost Farm.
Angora Rabbits - Raspberry Roost Farm
Always a winner at the festival our Angora Rabbits from the Raspberry Roost Farm.