ABOUT SHEPHERDS BAY FARM
Welcome to Shepherd’s Bay Farm, home to a diverse flock of fiber-bearing animals nurtured and raised to provide wool for knitters, hand-spinners, weavers and crafters. Shepherd’s Bay Farm is nestled amid the hills, trees, and lakes of west-central Minnesota.
We began with a small flock of Shetland sheep over thirty years ago. Since then, the farm has unwittingly evolved into a sanctuary of sorts for long-haired renegade goats, far too many angora rabbits, quirky guard llamas, and one exotic four-horned African sheep that didn’t make the cut as a house pet. Many of these animals came to us as rescues, having worn out their welcome at their previous homes.
Most of the animals on the farm are Shetland sheep, ranging in age from newborn lambs to toothless geriatrics. The sheep have found a home here, and they serve a purpose. The annual shearing of the flock provides fiber and wool for hand spinners, weavers, and other fiber artists.
Our Shetland and Shetland-crossbred sheep produce fine, soft fleeces ranging in color from white to black, with myriad shades of cream, fawn, brown, and gray in between. Known for its luster, strength and warmth, this premium quality wool is perfect for hand-spinning and makes an ideal knitting yarn.
In addition to our sheep, the farm is also home to a colorful cast of llamas, angora rabbits, and other long-term guests. Most of our fiber is mill-spun into soft, high-quality yarn perfect for knitting, and we also offer a limited selection of hand-knit items.
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Our resident shepherdess has shared her life on the farm in her memoir, Keeping Watch: 30 Sheep, 24 Rabbits, 2 Llamas, 1 Alpaca, and a Shepherdess with a Day Job, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press/Borealis Books. The book features heartwarming and humorous stories from the farm—introducing readers to a blind lamb, a lovesick llama, an exceptionally unattractive dog, and a wandering rabbit, among others. It's available through local booksellers and on Amazon.
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We primarily sell our yarns and products at craft, wool, and fiber festivals throughout Minnesota. To find out where we'll be next, please reach out—we’d love to connect.