You may remember that back in May, I shared a blog post about what spring and summer usually look like on the farm; living with the land and preparing for the year ahead (you can catch up here if you missed it!).
But this summer looked a little different for our family and farm. Instead of being at home full-time, we packed up and headed to Toronto for the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) - or as many call it, The Ex!
Revolution Wool Company, along with our farm, Circle R Livestock, had the incredible opportunity to represent Canadian and Ontario sheep and wool producers this year at the CNE Farm. That meant 18 full days in Toronto with a small flock of sheep (yes, 18 days!). It was a whirlwind, but also an amazing chance to meet some of our customers face-to-face, share our passion for sheep and wool, and - of course - put the kids to work.
Life at The Ex with Sheep
With so many days at the show, we quickly got into a rhythm. Ryan had chores under control back at home, and while in the city we kept busy with the sheep and our booth. We were lucky to have help from our summer student, our kids, my mom (show moms really are the best), and even Lindsey from Wool Grown Company (https://www.woolgrowncompany.com/), who joined us on weekends.
Each morning started with feeding and checking on the sheep, though most of the heavy lifting was done by the CNE Farm Team: a dedicated group of 4-H kids (including my oldest two) who looked after all the animals in the building for the duration of the exhibition. They were fantastic!
Me and my youngest (show kid extraordinaire) focused on stocking the booth, tidying up (sheep pellets really do bounce further than you’d think), and making sure our wool products looked great. During the day, we connected with visitors, answered endless questions, and hosted two presentations where people could learn about sheep farming, wool, and even pet a lamb. Ryan came for a few days too, bringing supplies and back up when I didn’t have a second person to help out.
The hands-on interaction of watching children and adults light up as they touched a lamb or saw one nursing from its mother was unforgettable. Only about 1.6% of Canadians are farmers today, which makes these connections so valuable. Sharing our story openly helps build trust and confidence in Canadian farms and the products we create.
We also got to experience some awesome shows and concerts too! The ice skating show, aerial balloon show and the Dean Brody concert were favorites. And lets not forget about the treat and goodies we go to taste. The air show is quite the show to take in too, fortunately they sheep could have cared less about the extra noise.
The Most Common Questions We Heard
How old are the lambs?
The lambs at the show were about 3 to 4 weeks old (and they grew a few pounds while we were there!). This may seem young, but I compared it to teenagers in human years. Lambs stay with their mothers for about two months before they’re ready to eat on their own and be weaned.
How often do sheep need to be sheared? How long does it take?
Some sheep, depending on breed, grow wool faster and may need shearing more often. It takes about 1 to 2 minutes for a sheep to get sheared.
Does shearing hurt the sheep?
Not at all! Wool is like our hair; it doesn’t hurt to cut it. Professional shearers are highly skilled at keeping sheep comfortable and safe while they work. Our shearer does about 30,000 sheep a year, so you can imagine how practiced he is! A shearer is very skilled at making sure the sheep are held comfortably and that their legs and body moves the right way to make it a quick job.
How long do sheep stay on your farm?
Sheep usually live on our farm for about 5 to 8 years.
What about wild sheep, like Shrek the famous lost sheep?
There really aren’t wild sheep in North America, other than mountainous sheep. Sheep are one of the oldest domesticated livestock animals, they’ve been domesticated for 10,000 years! They’ve always relied on people for care and shearing. In turn, humans have relied on them. That relationship goes back thousands of years!
How do you care for wool? How do you wash it? The short answer: most of the time, you don’t need to! Wool is naturally self-cleaning and doesn’t hold onto odours, allergens, dust mites, or bacteria. Instead of frequent washing, a good shake to remove crumbs and dust, and some time in the sunshine and fresh air, is usually all it takes to freshen it up. For a true “winter wash,” try laying your blankets or sweaters out in clean snow. Some products, like our wool felt insoles, just need to be aired out regularly to stay fresh. If they ever need a deeper clean, they can go through a gentle cycle in the washing machine and then be air-dried. Wool really isn’t complicated, simple care keeps it performing beautifully for years.
Behind the Scenes
A show like this doesn’t come together overnight. Planning actually started back in the winter. We wanted our space to be both educational and interactive, so there were many details to pull together: designing and organizing print materials and educational banners, preparing products, and planning out the display.
One highlight was working with a production company to create a special shearing video that played during the exhibition. Visitors loved it, and even better, one of the sheep featured in that video was right there with us at the CNE!
Our displays walked people through wool “from sheep to finished product,” with hands-on stations where they could touch raw wool, compare it to washed fleece, and then feel it again as yarn or felt. But the real magic was always with the sheep themselves. Nothing compared to visitors petting a lamb for the first time, watching a ewe nurse her baby, or simply standing around the pen to take in the everyday moments - sheep eating, napping, chewing their cud, or lambs clambering up onto their mothers.
Would We Do It Again?
Was it a wild, one-of-a-kind summer? Absolutely. Would I change it? Not a chance.
It’s easy to take for granted the knowledge and experience that come with farm life. Getting to share that with people - especially in a big city setting - brought a deep sense of satisfaction. It was also incredible to watch our kids learn and grow through the experience too, discovering new ways to connect with agriculture and our story.
Now, back at home, the sheep are happy in their barn, the kids are back in school, and we’re all enjoying our own wool-outfitted beds again. What a summer to remember!
– Romy