One of the two largest gatherings for sheep and fibre enthusiasts in Manitoba, the Blue Hills Fibre Festival takes place every June in Carberry. This year’s event, happening on June 7, will feature vendors, workshops, industry information—and the ever-popular wool competition.

Gerry Oliver, one of the festival organizers and a judge for the wool competition, offers a glimpse into the world of wool. The competition evaluates fleeces—the full coat of wool shorn from a sheep—using a scorecard geared toward handcrafts. This focus highlights the fleece’s qualities and characteristics, unlike commercial competitions that prioritize weight and size. While prizes are awarded, perhaps the real draw is the silent auction that follows, offering visitors a chance to purchase high-quality fleece.

Western Manitoba, and the province as a whole, is home to a variety of sheep breeds—from ultra-soft Merinos to longhaired types used in outerwear. Fleece comes in a range of colours, from white to black and every shade of brown and grey in between. Local wool has many applications: clothing, crafts, industrial uses like carpets and felted padding, and even cosmetics, thanks to lanolin. Wool “skirtings” (the coarser edges of the fleece) are also repurposed into fertilizer pellets.

The Manitoba Sheep Association will be on-site to discuss industry issues, share the benefits of sheep and wool, and offer beginner-friendly guidance on getting into sheep farming, whether you're interested in just a few animals or a full-scale flock.

Complementing the festival, the Austin Woolen Mill will offer free tours all day, showing how raw wool is processed. Opened just last year, the mill is already booked into the following year, reflecting the growing demand for fibre processing services in the region. Austin is just a 20-minute drive east of Carberry.

The Blue Hills Fibre Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 7, 2025, at the Carberry Community Memorial Hall.
For more information, visit: bluehillsfibrefestival.wordpress.com