Events
Sheep shows sponsored by the Empire Sheep Producers Association
July – Empire Classic Youth Sheep Show, Genesee County Fairgrounds, Batavia, NY
July – Ontario County Fair Sheep Show, Ontario County
Fairground, Canandaigua, NY
August – Washington County 4-H Youth Sheep Show,
Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY
August - September – NYS 4-H Youth Livestock Show,
New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY
October – New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Dutchess
County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY
Find more NYS sheep industry events below and add them to your calendar.
ESPA helps support several New York State sheep shows, including 4-H youth sheep shows and fiber festivals.
NY Fiber Trail
Follow this self-guided summer-long tour centered around yarn and fiber. From May 1 to October 31, 2026 visit as many participating shops, fiber farms and studios along the trail as you can.
Pick up a passport at your first stop and have it stamped at every member shop you visit! At the end of the season, send a photo of your stamped passport in for a chance to win some great prizes! Find out more: https://nyfibertrail.com/
The NY Fiber Trail is made possible in part by the generous support of the Empire Sheep Producers Association.
2026 Wool Center at NY State Fair
LocalFiber Initiative (LFI), a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Central NY, whose mission is to promote the use of natural fiber and support small fiber farmers, is collaborating with ESPA in 2026 to coordinate the NY State Fair Wool Center programming. Activities will again include the operation of a wool shop. Over 25 members have registered to participate in the Wool Center.
NYS Sheep and Wool Festival
ESPA helps support the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival, an annual event attracting visitors from across the country. Festivities include a livestock show and sale, fleece show and sale, wool and textile arts vendors, and workshops. For more information visit: https://sheepandwool.com/
New York State Fiber Conference
This one day conference is for new and beginning animal fiber producers who are looking for additional information to better make educated decisions regarding what species and breed of animal to raise and their efforts to produce, use or market their animal’s fiber. Producers and potential producers from New York State and throughout the Northeast US are welcome to attend. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what they can do with their animal fiber or its value-added products to increase its market value; whether marketed through direct-to-consumer channels, commodity markets or wholesale.