08/31/2026
Our October speaker will be Alex Norris where he will be speaking on "A History Lesson Through the Eyes of a Sheep." This meeting will take place Monday, October 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM. This is FREE for everyone to attend.
*Due to the ongoing restoration of the Parish House Museum, the meeting will take place at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 West Main Street, Hummelstown in Leatherman Hall (basement). There is parking at the rear, side, and front of the church and an elevator at the rear entrance to take you to the basement.*
Sheep are EVERYWHERE. Jump into your car and take a drive down any backroad and I am sure you will see a flock (yes, flock is correct) of sheep eventually. Most people see a sheep and just see that cute fluffy critter roaming throughout a pasture, but there is so much more than that. How many times have you asked yourself, “I wonder what breed that is, what all are they used for, I wonder how their fiber feels?” Probably never, but that’s why I am here.
Sheep have been around since ancient times with several citations that they were among the first domesticated livestock. Some sheep have biblical references, some came from the Roman occupation of the England, many have roots to the Viking Sheep that were brought during their invasions, and others just showed up without any traces.
Join me for an evening of history with sheep as our guides. Along the way I will introduce breeds from around the world, as well as ones that originated in North America. We will explore what makes some breeds unique whether it’s their six horns, personalities, or their tail that requires a cart to be towed around (yes, there are pictures of this). You will learn not only about their fiber but how they were often responsible for a culture’s success both economically and for survival. For example, England’s economic success lied very heavily on their wool empire to the point that the Chancelor of the Exchequer sat on a red wool stuffed sack and many of the most magnificent churches were referred to as “wool churches” because that’s where the money to fund them came from.
Other cultures were so protective of their breeds that they would not allow any exportation. Spanish merinos were so coveted at one time that anyone trying to export sheep from the country received the death penalty.
You may ask, “why would I want to listen to you speak for an hour about sheep.” That is a fair question. I promise there will be lots of photos and fun stories that will make it worth your while. Hopefully you will leave the presentation with a new appreciation for our familiar friends.
