Sheep Industry News May 2024

“Sheep’s milk is really cool because something like 80 per cent of the people who are lactose intolerant can drink it. So, it’s unique and different than traditional cow’s milk.” While the small town of Glenallen – just a mile east of the farm – doesn’t seem like the best place for a direct-to-con sumer operation, Ed knew what he was doing when he picked the spot back in 2020 while relocating from Kentucky. “When he moved back to Missouri, he was talking about all of this direct-to-consumer, farm-to-table and ag tour ism stuff,” said Lynn Fahrmeier of the ASI Executive Board and Ed’s college roommate at the University of Missouri in the 1980s. “What I didn’t realize at the time is there are like 2,000 camping spots in a 30-mile radius of here. There are a lot of people coming through this area from Memphis and St. Louis. They’re driving by here and seeing his farm store.” And more often than not, they’re willing to stop and spend a few bucks. The store offers everything from Mesta Mead ows’ meat, milk, ice cream and wool to products from other farms in the state. When the lamb supply runs low, Ed brings in lamb from Fahrmeier’s operation four hours to the north west near Kansas City. He sells sheep cheeses from Green Dirt Farms – also near Kansas City – and a variety of knick knacks from local artisans.

Ed Crowley comforts a bum lamb.

THE FESTIVAL The Ozark Highlands Sheep & Wool Festival – which was March 22-23 this year – took root in 2021 when Mesta Meadows had a booth at the local fall festival. That generated enough interest to spur Ed to develop his own festival, one that invites the general public to see his farm up close. “The festival itself has been a great promotion for the sheep industry in Missouri,” said Fahrmeier, noting that the Missouri Sheep Producers manned one of the vendor booths during the festival. The booth offered lamb samples, as well as a variety of printed information on lamb and wool for at tendees to take home. Attendance has increased each year as participants take in shearing demonstrations and watch as fleeces are “aggres sively skirted.” Ed said that’s necessary to maintain the quality his wool customers expect. In addition, they visit with sheep, goats and livestock guardian dogs in the petting zoo, shop the store and check out a dozen or so vendors who set up on grounds for the weekend. “It’s growing a lot, and I think it’s a really neat opportunity to introduce our farm to the public,” Ed said. “Agritourism was always part of what we wanted to do here. We have peo ple camp here, take tours here. Last year – not counting the festival – we had 400 to 500 people tour the farm. We want to share our farm and our lifestyle with anyone who is interested in seeing where their food and fiber comes from.”

Tony Troendle put on daily shearing demonstrations during the festival.

22 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org