Maryland Sheep Breeders Association
The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is the flagship event of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association (MSBA). The association also organizes the annual Maryland Shearing School in early spring as well as a range of sheep, wool, and lamb promotional and educational activities; and a scholarship fund.
Officers
President: Steve Breeding
Vice President: Emily Chamelin
Treasurer: Colleen Histon
Secretary: Michael Berlanger
Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Lee Langstaff, Festival Co-Chair
Jeff White, Festival Co-Chair
2026 Directors
Sarah Campbell
Ollie King
Lee Langstaff
Naveed Malik
2027 Directors*
Mary Ellen Clark
Megan Harrigan
Aaron Keller
2028 Directors*
Glenn Stunkel
A.J. Hesketh-Tutton
*Number of directors reduced by a change in bylaws
Membership
Our members represent a wide range of sheep related interests, activities, and experience. Some of our member shepherds manage just a few sheep, and others have several hundred ewes. Some are beginning farmers and others may have 20 to 50 or more years of experience. Together, MSBA members’ flocks represent some 50 different breeds of sheep (and innumerable crosses). Members may focus on breed-specific show sheep, 4-H club projects, meat, dairy, or fiber production — and many combine several of these. Some of our members do not keep sheep at all, but are fiber artists, wool processors, sheep shearers, or enthusiastic fans of sheep and sheep products. The one thing that unites us all is our love of this amazing and useful creature and a desire to be part of a community that shares interest, insight and expertise. All are welcome. If you want to join a community that shares a passion for this amazing and useful animal, its related products, businesses or activities, MSBA would be happy to have you.
As a member you will:
- Join an active and friendly community of shepherds and others
- Support the core activities of the MSBA
- Receive the Maryland Sheep News, an informative newsletter that is emailed to all MSBA members three times a year
- Receive regular publications from the American Sheep Industry Association
- Receive priority consideration for enrollment in the Maryland Shearing School (applicable only if you own sheep), and your family members will be given priority consideration for the annual MSBA scholarship
- Receive free admission to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
- Receive a free copy of the Festival catalog by mail
- Pay a reduced commission on any fleeces consigned for sale at the Festival’s Fleece Show & Sale (membership must be current as of April 23, 2026)
- Be able to promote your farm or business through a free profile page on the MSBA website, marylandsheepbreeders.org.
Annual membership dues are $25. The membership year runs from October through September. Dues received before June 1, 2026 will be recorded as paid through September 30, 2026. Dues for new memberships received on or after June 1 will be recorded as paid through September 30, 2027.
