Festival Committee
Many people come together to make the annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival a success. If you are interested in joining us and getting a behind-the-scenes peek at the Festival, please contact .
Chairperson: Gwen Handler
General Manager: Kris Thorne
Support Committees
Admission: Kris Thorne, Larry Fisher, Barbara Graybeal, Gwen Handler, Lee Langstaff
Catalog: Kris Thorne, Rachel Adra, Shelly Auker, Mary K. Fry, Chris Gahs, Bonnie Lease, Judy Leece, Carolann McConaughy
Festival Farm Market: Jeff White, Carolann McConaughy
Finance: Kris Thorne, Leslie Bauer, Denise Ziegler
Food Vendor Booths: Rosita Underwood
Grounds: Larry Fisher, Matt Benning, Rick Bontz, Gary & Liz Cavey, Tom Mullinix, Larry Pugh and family, Larry Raskin, Ridgely Thompson, Greg Thorne, Adam Willie
Home Arts Building: Nancy & David Greene, Lisa Wheeler
Hospitality: Mary K. Fry, Evelyne & Howard Bloomer, Simone Martinez
Information Tent: Bethe Brekke, Barbara & Jack Graybeal, Denise Geiger, Tom Humpheys, Rowan Huy, Shellie Smith; Announcer: Doug Alexander
Kick-off Celebration: Gloria Mathews, Cynthia Koonce, Katie Lunemann, Liam McGovern, Molly McGovern, Lynn Rainsberger
Parking: Matt Benning
Recycling: Peter Austin, Elizabeth Thornton
Retail Sales: Shelly Auker, Anja Abbott, Rick Bontz, Elizabeth Carter, Cody Chung, Laura Eisenman, Larry Fisher, Gwen Handler, Dolores Harris, Pauline LeClaire, Amber Markel, Rivkah Mentzer, Nancy Norris, Stephanie Norris, Jessica Raskin, Larry Raskin, Judy Seymour, Kathie Simon, Kris Thorne, Adam Willie
Ribbons & Trophies: Jan Derry
Saturday Dinner/Sunday Breakfast: Shelly Auker
Security: Larry Fisher
Tents & Tables: Jan White
Vendor Booths: Jan White, Gwen Handler, Pat Kohler, Lee Langstaff, Angela Muller, Cindy Senseney, Kris Thorne, Marjorie Warden, Denise Ziegler
Volunteer Coordinator: Gwyneth Breyer
Educational Seminars & Demonstrations
Family Activities: Kellie Nuss, Helene Davis
Fiber Arts Demonstrations: Nora Miller
Fiber Arts Workshops: Lois Geer, Pamela Jenkins, Jean Beaudry, Jeanne Bohlen, Lisa Check, Sally Eller, Janet Garman, Frances Hartley, Pat Henley, Peggy Howell, Janet Lee, Victoria McKay, Yvonne Muise, Angela Muller, Nan Reinhardt, Gayle Roehm, Sue Sloan, Beth Truesdake, Mila Vascones-Gatski & JOhn Gatski, Sara Watkins
Lamb Promotion & Education: Sharron & Don Pilson; Patricia, David, Ian & Ben Sanville; Karren Sowell
Maryland Make It With Wool: Judy Williamson, Jamie Frank, Donna Gill, Breanne Lippy, Jeanne Lippy
Sheep Breeds Display: Alex & Karren Sowell, Konnor Sowell
Sheep Shearing Demonstrations: Emily Chamelin Hickman, Martin & Ruth Chamelin
Working Sheepdog Demonstrations: Nancy Starkey, A.J. Hesketh-Tutton
Shepherd Seminars & Workshops: Peter Austin
Shows & Competitions
Club Lamb Jackpot: Robert Dinsmore, Charlotte Dinsmore
Creative Shearing Competition: Peter Austin
Fine Arts Competition: Mary Jeanne Coles, Pauline Hood, Katie Coles
Fleece Show & Sale: Jill Arnold, Lee Langstaff, Judy Leece, María Barrerá-Oro, Carey Benadon, Kate Bostek, Alicia Clugh, Bonnie Frederick, Laurie Hynson, Pamela Jenkins, Elaine Parry, Beverly Swayze
Junior Sheep & Goat Skillathon: Susan Schoenian
Junior Spinning Contest: Patricia, David, Ian & Ben Sanville; Rhiannon Huscha
Lead Line Contest: Karen Fleishell-Fought, John Fought
Maryland Sheep & Wool Ambassador Contest: Barbara Mullen, Karren Sowell
Sheep Photo Contest: Roxanne Dean, Mary Streaker
Sheep Poster Contest: Elaine Reedy
Sheep Shows: Mara Mullinix DVM, Amy Miller, Milleanne Mullinix, Meredith Null, Mary Rasche; Announcer: Tom Colyer
Sheep-to-Shawl Contest: Chris Gahs, Susan Withnell
Skein & Garment Competition: Angela Collison, Terry Collison, Carol Bailey, Joanna Crosby, Bonnie Lease, Fred Lease, Judy Rhoades, Betsy Szkil, Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore
Youth Conservationist Program: Elaine Ashcraft, Michele Clawson, Alesia Moore, Mary Thomas
Other Events
Shepherds Auction: Joe & Debbie Frey, Dick & Loretta Gunberg, Gretchen Jahnke, Jim Miers, Chris Miller, Kathy Santo Cristo, Charles Turdo; Auctioneers: Jack Downin, Fred D. Parks
Spin-In: Nancy Norris, Stephanie Norris, Janet Alger, Wendy Carballo, Karen Clough, Rivkah Mentzer, LeeAnne Roberts
In Rememberance
The Maryland sheep community lost a longtime member, Phil Shane, on March 29, 2019. Phil brought his smiling, friendly, teasing sense of fun to so many MSBA events and gatherings, always a cheerful and reliable volunteer worker at the Maryland Wool Pool, Shearing School, and the Sheep & Wool Festival, particularly the Fleece Show & Sale, with his wife Linda. We will miss Phil’s ready smile and presence in our community.
This photo, from 2012, shows Phil climbing into a wool bag to stuff down the wool at a sheep shearing day when his wife Linda was schooling several students in wool classing. Phil and Linda were recipients of MSBA's Shepherd of the Year Award in 2005, and Linda was honored with a life membership in the association in 2019.
