2026 Schedule
Sunday, July 26-27, 2026
Through the Wyoming Lens- western photography experience
Join us in Powell, WY for an immersive photography experience offered as a pre-event to the 2026 Wyoming Sheep & Wool Festival, set among the surrounding ranch and range lands. Designed for photographers of all experience levels who are drawn to authentic storytelling, this weekend offers the opportunity to photograph both sheep and cattle operations while refining your eye for light, movement, and meaningful, unscripted moments. With intentional on-on-one time alongside Open Triangle Photography, this experience is built around hands-on learning, connection, and community. Together, we'll step into real working environments to capture the story of agriculture in the heart of Wyoming and learn how to preserve it through honest, impactful imagery. To learn more, click on the 'Register Now' link below. Register now: https://www.wyomingsheepandwoolfestival.com/through-the-wyoming-lens
Friday, July 31, 2026
Sheep Trail Tours
A self-driving tour will be available in the Festival program for those interested in seeing local features and ranches throughout the weekend in the Shoshone National Forest. Listen to the recordings of sheep stories from the very herders that once called these mountains home as you drive through, admiring the sheep grazing.
Art & woolcraft opening reception- 5:30 pm
Come see the beautiful curation of art and woolcrafts at the Park County Fairgrounds. The show has been professionally juried, but some of the prizes are up to you and your families: People's and Children's Choice Awards (to be given out at the Sheepherders Come Bye on Saturday evening). Visit a working sheep camp just outside, while taking in the aroma of fresh Basque style lamb! Hors d'ouevres will be served (lamb, veggies, fruits, and cheeses; cash bar). These works of art will be available for silent auction on Saturday evening, during the Sheepherders Come Bye. Location: Park County Fairgrounds Heart Mountain Hall.
Historical Sheepherder panel- Begins at 6:30 pm
While walking through the beautiful works of art, enjoying tasty lamb, listen to a multi-generational panel of Wyoming Sheepherders reminisce on the past, discuss the present, and gaze into the future of the sheep industry. Location: Park County Fairgrounds Heart Mountain Hall.
Saturday, August 1st, 2026
SheepDog Trial- 8 am (all day)
The 2026 Wyoming Sheep & Wool Festival is happy to announce a second year of trials open to the public. For more information and registration please stay tuned. Location: Small Arena, Park County Fairgrounds.
Workshop, TBD- 9 am
Location & Registration TBD.
Vendor Fair- 9 am - 4 pm
Keep scrolling to check out the vendors that will be at the Festival in 2026.
Click on the links to check out their websites and/or social media. To become a vendor or
demonstrator, click here. Some of our vendors will be holding demonstration
(spinning, rug hooking, etc.) while others will have educational displays or shops.
Location: Park County Fairgrounds. See Vendor Info Below!
The rug hookers
The Rug Hookers are back! Join the Rug Hooker ladies for amazing demonstrations
throughout Saturday. These ladies put on a great show and are a great bunch to talk and
learn from. Location: Park County Fairgrounds.
Art & Woolcraft exhibition- 9 am- 4 pm
Continue to gaze upon the beautiful curation of art and woolcrafts at the Park County Fairgrounds! The show has been professionally juried, but two of the prizes are up to you and your families: People's and Children's Choice Awards (to be given out at the Sheepherders Come Bye on Saturday evening). Scout out your purchases for the silent auction that will also take place at the Come Bye! Location: Park County Fairgrounds, Heart Mountain Hall.
Lamb, It's What's For dinner, 10 am & 2:30 pm
University of Wyoming meat scientist, Cody Gifford, will present various lamb cuts and preparation options. Participants will also enjoy some savory samples. This program is a must for those interested menus. Location: Park County Fairgrounds, Heart Mountain Hall.
Shearing Demonstration, 10:30 am & 3:00 pm
Isaiah Kerr, owner/operator of Kerr Shearing will join us this summer to demonstrate how to properly shear sheep. Isaiah shears thousands of sheep each year across the Intermountain West. Location: Park County Fairgrounds. Demos at: 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM
Children's activity station (all day)
Join us at the Sheep Wagons for coloring, shearing (children friendly version), and so much more!
Location: Sheep Wagons at the Park County Fairgrounds.
The History of sheepherding in Northwest Wyoming- 11:00 am
A local historian will regale us with a full history of sheepherding in Northwest Wyoming. The area is home to a beautiful history when it comes to the sheep industry, but has undergone many changes in the last century. Join us for all of the tales! Location: Heart Mountain Hall- Park County Fairgrounds.
Wool Learning Kiosk
Wool is the miracle fiber, and Wyoming is the "wine country" of wool. Understanding wool quality requires understanding its various characteristics. Learn and test your knowledge with a variety of wool types. and bring your own wool samples for analysis! Better yet, take home some great fleeces for all your hand-spinning and fiber art needs at the silent auction. Location: Park County Fairgrounds.
Wool product creation & marketing- 12:45 pm
Ever wondered what all is entailed in creating and marketing wool textiles, garments, and more? Join the us s for a full lesson in all those topics. Location: Heart Mountain Hall- PCFG.
sheep-2-shawl demonstration (all day)
A Sheep-to-Shawl demonstration includes shearing a sheep, cleaning and washing the fleece, carding and spinning the wool fibers, and then weaving the yarn into a shawl. At the festival there will be demonstrations of shearing, carding, spinning and weaving, along with some samples of raw fleece and descriptions of how it is cleaned and washed from the Yellowstone Fiber Guild. The loom will be warped ahead of time with hand-spun natural-colored wool yarn, and spinners will produce more yarn for the weaving of a shawl, which will be completed at the event.
Location: Park County Fairgrounds.
WWGA Membership Business Meeting- 2:30 pm
Join the WWGA for our annual summer business meeting. Learn what the Association has been working on since the winter meeting and what's to come of the next 6 months of our operating year. All are welcome. Location: Heart Mountain Hall- PCFG.
Rock Creek Watering hole
Marie McClaren is a 5th generation sheep rancher in SW Wyoming. She shares her every day ranching experiences on her blog, A Sheepherder’s Story, and welcomes all to come experience the stories for themselves at Rock Creek Watering Hole. Book your future stay right here! It includes sleeping in an authentic sheep wagon at the ranch, eating lamb raised and cooked right there, and riding along with Marie each day to learn about and get first-hand experience of the sheep ranching tasks. Location: Park County Fairgrounds.
Sheepherders Come Bye Awards Dinner- 6- 8 pm
Join us for a night to remember! Your ticket includes a tasty lamb dinner and access to the cash bar. The Wyoming Wool Growers Association and Wyoming Wool Initiative will be handing out their annual awards as well as the awards for the Art and Woolcraft exhibition and the sheepdog trials. Sponsored by the Wyoming Wool Initiative. This is a TICKETED event. Tickets go on sale May 1, 2026; link for purchase here. Location: Heart Mountain Hall- Park County Fairgrounds.
Dance to live music from TBA- 8- 10 pm
Let loose and wear your dancing shoes, see Wyoming native, Josh Dorr, live and at no charge! Following the Sheepherders Come Bye; no ticket required. Location: Park County Fairgrounds.
Sunday, August 2nd, 2026
WWGA Festival Committee Meeting- 8:00 AM
Want to serve on the committee for this event? Join us at this meeting to help with a little clean-up and discuss additions and improvements for the event's future. We would love you input and help with future festivals!
WWGA Board Meeting- 10:30 AM
The WWGA Board meeting will take place over brunch.
Vendor Line Up- 2026
Read below for more information about the WY Sheep & Wool Festival Vendor, their products, and programs:
Pretty Pelts: The Wyoming Wool Growers Association is the statewide organization for Wyoming sheep and wool producers and is the lead sponsor of the Wyoming Sheep & Wool Festival. Stop by the WWGA booth to pick up a membership application, ask questions, or purchase a beautiful sheep pelt, wool wax creams and lotions, and many other American sheep/wool products.
Get to Know Wool: The University of Wyoming Wool Initiative will host a hands-on wool assessment in its vendor space. Stop by and test your wool judging skills!
Support the Foundation: The Wyoming SHEEP Foundation was founded by Wyoming Wyoming Wool Growers Association as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to preserve and promote our state’s sheep industry heritage. The Wyoming Sheep & Wool Festival is a project that fits right into the mission of the of the SHEEP Foundation as revealed int the acronym “SHEEP” which stands for “Sheep Heritage, Education and Environment Projects.”
Farm Service Agency: Talk to the FSA staff about what they do for sheep and other AG producers in Wyoming.
Rock Creek Watering Hole: Come experience life as a sheepherder! Enjoy sleeping in an authentic sheep camp on a 5th generation working sheep ranch amidst the beautiful sagebrush covered mountains along a fish filled creek. We will supply you with all of your meals, including gourmet lamb suppers. You can either spend the day relaxing in the Rock Creek oasis, or ride along with sheep woman, Marie McClaren, to learn about and get firsthand experience of day to day tasks. The tasks include, but are not limited to, moving/supplying camps, shearing, lambing, docking, trailing, visiting with the Peruvian sheepherders and so much more!
Cottonwood Creek Wool: Wool pellets for your garden. 100% Wyoming wool, bio-degradable, renewable and increase nitrogen and oxygen in the soil.
Bureau of Land Management: The local BLM Office will be at the Festival to provide information on grazing permits, recreation, conservation, and so much more. They will also discuss how the local offices work alongside the agricultural industry to preserve the Wyoming rangelands.
U.S. Forest Service- Shoshone National Forest: Representatives from the Shoshone National Forest will be present to answer any questions, provide maps, and any information about grazing and management in the Forest.
Animal Damage Management Board: Ever wanted to learn more about trapping predators, common practices, techniques or something else? Ask your questions and learn.
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS): Learn about the watershed, projects in the county and what NRCS does locally.
WY State Vet: Meet some of the staff, ask questions, and learn what all our state veterinarians do for our industry!
Sheep Wagon Exhibit: We will have working sheep wagons from across Wyoming set-up for you to explore!
Meeteetse Museum: The museum will is home to a historic sheep exhibit and will remain open throughout the event.
Yellowstone Fiber Guild: A complete Sheep-to-Shawl demonstration would include shearing a sheep, cleaning and washing the fleece, carding and spinning the wool fibers, and then weaving the yarn into a shawl. At the festival there will be demonstrations of carding, spinning and weaving, along with some samples of raw fleece and descriptions of how it is cleaned and washed. The loom will be warped ahead of time with handspun natural-colored wool yarn, and spinners will produce more yarn for the weaving of a shawl, which will be completed at the event.
Taste of the Wind: Felted pelts, tanned hides, clean ram skulls, and lamb snack sticks.
FootHills Eclectic Design: Explore a variety of artistic creations ranging from fiber art to wood carvings and many things in-between while demoing fiber art techniques.
Beginner Shearers: Stop by the programmatic booth to learn how to join a shearing crew as a beginner shearer, receive more training, and more opportunities to hone your skills.
Spinning, Weaving and Other Demonstration: Join our vendors as they demonstrate how to spin fiber into yarn and then create beautiful textiles through weaving!
Park County Tourism Association: The PCTA will be on site to answer all of your questions about the towns of Powell and Cody, as well as Park County. Need directions? Places to stay or eat some lunch? Check out their booth!
UW Anthropology Department: Drop by the booth to visit about Wyoming's agricultural community needs and how the University of Wyoming can help provide more resources.
UW- Ranch Management & Leadership program: the UW RMAL program will be in attendance this year to talk about this new program training our future leaders and managers in agriculture.
Wyoming Yarn & Fiber: Stop by this booth for more hand dyed yarn for purchase!
ABOUT
Enjoy a celebration of sheep and wool in the Bighorn Basin, surrounded by mountains!
EXPERIENCE
Experience Powell, Wyoming like only a sheepherder can! We will take you through real sheep ranches with the sheep and the herders themselves. Then come back to town and enjoy food, art, and education about the amazing and historical sheep industry in the great state of Wyoming.
LOCATION
Powell, Wyoming
FOLLOW US
@WYSheepandWoolFest
our sponsors- click on icons for more info!
Spearhead Ranch
McCormick Rambouillets
Julian Land & Livestock
Partial funding by Wyoming Humanities Council
Supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming cultural trust fund, a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources
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More Information
WY Sheep & Wool FESTIVAL 2025
Ever wanted to learn more about the history of sheep and wool in Wyoming while experiencing the culture and beauty of the state? Join us this summer for a celebration of all things sheep and Wyoming!
Visit the tabs throughout the website to view the Festival Schedule, learn more information about sponsors, vendors, educational programs, and so much more!
Come visit us in Powell, WY in 2026!
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