Sheep Hands On Lambing Workshop – full day

Four Winds Farm will host a full‑day Sheep Lambing Workshop on March 28 in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. This immersive, hands‑on learning experience is designed for both new and experienced shepherds seeking to improve their lambing knowledge, confidence, and on‑farm success. 

The workshop will be led by Carolyn Ihde, Small Ruminant Outreach Specialist with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, along with Dr. Kelly Froelich, representing the American Sheep Industry (ASI) Young Entrepreneurs Education (YEE) program. Through their collaboration, participants will have access to possibly the only sheep dystocia training models available to US producers. This specialized simulation tool is used to teach producers how to assist a ewe with a range of lambing complications

Throughout the day, attendees will learn about: 

• Best practices in biosecurity, animal health, and nutrition 
• Essential lambing supplies and barn preparation 
• The phases of lambing and how to recognize when assistance is needed 
• Effective lamb processing techniques 
• Hands‑on practice pulling lambs from a life‑size ewe replica 

Four Winds Farm maintains a well‑managed flock of Cheviot and Tunis sheep and has collaborated with Ihde to plan this workshop to align with the flock’s lambing schedule, creating the possibility for participants to witness real‑time lambing during the event. The farm has also worked closely with Ihde to implement research‑based flock management practices aimed at improving lambing outcomes and overall flock health. 

This engaging workshop provides a supportive environment for learning, questions, and skill‑building—ideal for small-flock owners, aspiring shepherds, youth project leaders, and anyone interested in expanding their sheep-management capabilities. 

Registration & Fee

Register online at: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/fourwindsfarmfitchburg/sheep-lambing-workshop-625026477 ↗️

Each registration is $45 (includes lunch).

All sales are final and non‑refundable. If you are unable to attend, notice must be given at least 24 hours in advance to receive class credit. 

For questions or additional information, please contact kinzie@fourwindsfarmfitchburg.com. Inquiries will receive a response within 48 hours; participants are encouraged to check spam/junk folders for replies. 

All youth planning to show Livestock (Beef, Sheep, Swine) at the Dane County Fair (DCF) must meet these species specific educational requirements:

• Complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certification between 9/1/2025-6/1/2026 and upload certificate to the DCF online portal by June 1.
  • YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8-21 with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. There is a $12 fee for the online training.
• Attend at least one approved education event – list is available on the Dane County Fair Livestock Department Education webpages.
• Complete all training and submit education card and YQCA certificate into the online portal by June 1.
  • If showing in more than one species, youth must complete and submit the requirements for each species.
  • To upload the education card, please save the document as a JPG, TIFF, or PDF. Youth can take a picture of the education card to upload.
  • The Dane County Fair education card will be uploaded into FairEntry and the portal will be available in April.