Woolly Weekend
farm@shepherdscross.com March 21, 2024 No Comments
Thursday April 25, Friday April 26, & Saturday April 27, 2024 10:00 am – 7:00 p.m. Woolly Weekend is a “sheep to shawl” festival held at Shepherd’s Cross, an authentic working sheep farm, just north of Claremore OK on Scenic Route 66. Come to the farm and watch as the sheep are shorn (given a haircut). Sheep shearing occurs throughout the day. After the fiber is shorn from the sheep, visitors can watch the wool being processed on site. It will be combed, spun, woven, knit, crocheted, and felted into finished products. This is a true Sheep to Shawl Event. Over the three-day period at least three shawls will be created entirely from the wool shorn on the first morning of the event. It is rare to find a true Sheep to Shawl experience. Shearing and demonstrations take place inside the Amish built tour barn, which houses some of the animals as well as the wool processing, farm museum, and the gift shop. There are Short Course Fiber Classes available; learn drop spindling, hand carding, or needle felting during the event. Be sure to visit the Farm Animal Barn & pet the barnyard animals. Tour the educational interactive Farm Museum & Four-Story Observation Silo, as well as the Bible Garden. Bring the entire family. Children’s activities include weaving, games, wool project, and coloring contest. This is a free event. Donations are welcome – suggested donation of $5 per person. Groups of twenty or more, please pre-register. Volunteers are needed to demonstrate fiber arts. If you spin, weave, knit, crochet, or
Read MoreSpring & Summer Field Trips
farm@shepherdscross.com February 28, 2024 No Comments
Beginning Mid-March 2024 Spring & Summer Field Trips or Road Trips to the Farm Sheep & Shepherd Tours begin when the lambs are born each spring here at Shepherd’s Cross, an authentic working sheep farm, just north of Claremore OK on Scenic Route 66. Come to the farm and watch as the sheep peacefully graze the pastures and rest by the still waters. The newborn lambs jump for joy and frolic in the pastures. Sheep & Shepherd Tours: Self-guided Tour – Donation Based (suggested $5 per person) Enjoy watching the sheep in the pastures as you stroll the grounds in the visitor areas. Virtual Tours: https://www.youtube.com/user/ShepherdsCrossInc/videos Sheep & Shepherding Guided Walking Tour – Donation-based (suggested $5 per person) Drop in or schedule. Please Note: Walking Tour is not in the pasture with the sheep, but adjacent to the pasture per Animal Welfare guidelines. Sheep & Shepherding Guided Wagon Ride Tour – $7 per person Wagon Ride in pasture with the flock Must be pre-scheduled. Holds 20+ passengers per wagon load; ramp-loading. Springtime also brings blooms in time for Bible Garden Tours. Shepherd’s Cross is home to one of only a handful of Bible Gardens in the U.S.A. Over 100 plants in this garden have Biblical references. Bible Garden Tour Options: Self-Guided Tours – Donation based (suggested $5 per person) Enjoy the English Country Garden, read the placards, pick up a brochure with map. Audio Tours Available online: https://shepherdscross.com/bible-garden.html All Tours also include the following: Visiting the sheep, lambs, and other farm animals at the petting barn area. Teaching Nomadic and
Read MoreTable and Floor Loom Weaving Classes
farm@shepherdscross.com January 25, 2024 No Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Shepherd’s Cross Advanced Weaving Retreats Table Loom Weaving: February 8 & 9, 2024 Thursday & Friday Floor Loom Weaving: February 8, 9 & 10, 2024, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm Table Loom Weaving is a two-day class. You will learn to weave on a harnessed table loom. Cost is $159 fiber included, and you will leave with at least one finished product: a table runner or scarf. Floor Loom Weaving is a three-day class. You will learn to weave on a harnessed floor loom. Cost is $259 fiber included and you will leave with at least one finished product: a table runner or a scarf. In-person or virtual All materials included. You may bring your own loom or use one of ours at no additional charge. You will learn to warp and to weave, completing a sampler scarf or table runner to take home. We are open until 5:30 pm each day, and you are welcome to stay and practice or work on your project. Please bring lunch each day. There is a class size minimum of two, and a maximum of 6 participants. Our classes go a degree farther than most, and teach some history of fiber arts, and practical technology. As well as being augmented by hands on learning tools available in the Educational Farm Museum. Shepherd’s Cross offers weaving and fiber arts classes year-round, on an individual or group basis. Shepherd’s Cross is an accredited Agritourism facility, a Made in Oklahoma Company that processes the only Animal Welfare Approved fiber
Read MoreWinter Barn Sale
farm@shepherdscross.com January 9, 2024 No Comments
February 1, 2, & 3, 2024 – Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 7:00 am – 5:30 pm Rain or shine Donated items graciously accepted. Please drop off your donations at the barn Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm by end of day January 27, 2024. Huge, Multi-Family Garage Sale of donated articles including appliances, large selection of vintage & antiques, vintage car parts, farming items, furniture, wall décor, housewares, DVDs, farm and garden items, children’s games and toys, home decorator items, bedding, office supplies, books, and collectibles, as well as clothing for the entire family. Photographs of sale items can be found on our Facebook page the week before the event at: https://www.facebook.com/ShepherdsCross Indoors and heated. Free cider, hot beverages, and pumpkin bread will be available. Sale benefits Farming Missions, Starter Flocks, and Wool Mills in remote locations around the world. Locally, the sale benefits Rural Veterinary Outreach and Baby Blessing Bags. 100% of funds from the barn sale will go directly towards these projects. Monetary Donations towards these missions are greatly appreciated. A tax-deductible receipt is provided upon request. In addition, the following activities are always available at the farm (on a donation basis): Touring the educational & interactive Farm Museum & Silo Touring the Bible Garden – guided or self-guided Spinning and Wool Mill demonstration Shepherd’s Cross is an accredited Agritourism facility, a Made in Oklahoma Company, and is Animal Welfare Approved. Website: https://shepherdscross.com/index.html Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShepherdsCross Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShepherdsCross Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shepherds_cross/ Heart of the Shepherd is a public Christian non-profit organization; 501C3. The mission of Heart of the
Read MoreFiber Fest Weekend Retreat
farm@shepherdscross.com December 9, 2023 No Comments
January 18, 19, & 20, 2024 – Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm Three days of learning how to process any kind of fiber (we teach with wool) Includes washing, dyeing, wet felting, carding, picking, spindling, spinning, needle felting, and weaving and some history of fiber arts with practical technology. Each participant will make and keep multiple projects. Virtual or onsite Retreat fee is only $267 (all three days); all materials provided. Any single day of the Retreat is available for $89 per day. Retreats are augmented by hands on learning tools available in the Educational Farm Museum and with a collection of fiber arts from around the world. Registration is required. You may find information and registration form online or call 918-342-5911. Shepherd’s Cross offers these classes year-round, on an individual or group basis. Shepherd’s Cross is an accredited Agritourism facility, a Made in Oklahoma Company that processes Animal Welfare Approved fiber (that is chemical free, hormone free, free range, all natural). Shepherd’s Cross hosts a mini wool mill, processing the wool from their own sheep raised on site. Heart of the Shepherd is a non-profit organization (501-C3) that operates at the farm and establishes wool mills in remote, impoverished areas around the world. Heart of the Shepherd teaches Biblical references to the harvest, the animals, farming, and gardening. Shepherd’s Cross and Gift Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 – 5:30, year-round (closed some holidays). Shepherd’s Cross holds three Fiber Fest Weekend Retreats a year: January, June, and August.
Read MoreSmall Ruminant Animal Husbandry Training
farm@shepherdscross.com December 8, 2023 No Comments
Sheep, Goats, and Small Ruminants Animal Husbandry & Herd Health Class Friday, January 12, 2024 8:30 am- 4:30 pm For those interested in returning to the basics of farming, small ruminants present a great option for sustainable living. Our small ruminant class is a great place to start learning how to be more self-sufficient and for homesteading. Learn how to care for small ruminants such as sheep, goats, alpacas, and llamas. Class includes instruction, handouts, videos, tutorials, and hands on experience. The primary instructor for the class is Dr. Diane Dickinson, a licensed veterinarian and an agriculturalist, with over 40 years of livestock and farming experience. Her unique perspective of animal husbandry care includes that of a producer, a veterinarian, and a small flock & herd owner. She also shares her experiences in global agriculture, Biblical agriculture, sustainable living, natural production, agritourism and niche markets. The Dickinsons have owned and operated Shepherd’s Cross, a working sheep farm, for over 30 years. Their livestock include sheep, cattle, alpacas, llamas, donkeys, horses & poultry. Their farm is Animal Welfare Approved with their livestock pasture raised and pasture fed. Class Topics Include Vaccinations Feet Trimming Tail docking Bloodless castration Managing pasture & Feeding Parasites & Worms Practical profitable flock herd health for working shepherds FAMACHA Sheep, goats, alpacas & others Lambing & birthing Neonatal care – lambs, kids & others Tubing Wool management AWA Shearing Classes are limited to 20 participants and fill quickly. Beverages are provided at breaks. Bring your lunch. Cost is $89.00 per person, $169.00 for 2 family members, or
Read MoreSpring Internship at Shepherd's Cross
farm@shepherdscross.com November 17, 2023 No Comments
Intern / Apprentice Program at Shepherd’s Cross Spring Semester January – Early May Shepherd’s Cross is a working sheep farm, with several hundred sheep. There are many other animals and activities on the farm. The animals include cattle, horses, donkeys, chickens, llama, alpaca, sheep dogs, geese, and barn cats. Other areas of the farm include a Farm Museum, a Farm Store, hay harvest, pecan harvest, walnut harvest, a wool mill, shearing school, fiber arts classes, a Bible Garden which produces vegetables and fruit for farm use and for sale, and a Mission Shop. The internship program at the farm equips students with basic farming skills. As well as supplies them with Biblical references to farming and shepherding. Students gain an awareness and develop skills of basic agriculture. They are taught historical agriculture, mixed with a healthy appreciation for industrialized agriculture and exposed to agricultural parables found in The Bible. The internship is under the direction of Dr. Diane Dickinson. She is an agriculturalist with a Bachelor’s in Agriculture, a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, and over five decades of farm and livestock experience. She serves as an on-site veterinarian and operates a veterinary care unit on the farm. Students will learn in the same manner as an apprentice learns. Watch the shepherd, practice with the shepherd, and then perform the task unassisted. The spring semester is the busiest Sheep and Shepherding season to intern, as this is lambing season and sheep shearing on the farm. This is an authentic working farm, not a hobby farm. Internships may be geared toward one
Read MoreNavajo Weaving Class
farm@shepherdscross.com November 10, 2023 No Comments
Navajo Weaving Class – Weekend Retreat January 4, 5, & 6, 2024 – Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm Learn how to Navajo Weave in one weekend. This is a basic weaving class, including fiber arts history and practical technology; offered on site or virtually. Each participant will finish a Navajo Woven project to take home. The retreat fee is $299.00 – all materials provided. We provide instructions, in advance, to build your own loom, or you may use one of our Navajo looms for a rental fee of $100. Retreat is limited to 8 participants (minimum of 2). Class time is augmented by hands-on learning tools available in the Educational Farm Museum. The Museum also hosts a collection of fiber arts from around the world. Registration is required. You may find information and registration form online or call 918-342-5911. Shepherd’s Cross is a “Made in Oklahoma Company & Producer” and an “Animal Welfare Approved Farm”, so our animals and fiber products also carry those honors. We are an educational and Accredited Agritourism Facility. In addition to the shop the farm hosts a Farm Museum, Bible Garden, and Mini Wool Mill. Shepherd’s Cross farm is home to Heart of the Shepherd Inc., a public, non-profit Christian organization (501-C3) that teaches Biblical references to the harvest, animals, farming, and gardening. Shepherd’s Cross and Gift Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 – 5:30, year-round (closed some holidays).
Read MoreChristmas at the Farm
farm@shepherdscross.com November 3, 2023 No Comments
Christmas at the Farm at Shepherd’s Cross December 7, 8, 9 & 14, 15, 16, 2023 Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 p.m. Experience a shepherd’s Christmas at an authentic working farm, nestled inside a cozy Amish-built barn. Step back in time and journey with the shepherds for a peaceful reflection upon the original Christmas night, when Christ was born. Indoor activities include a living manger scene, with live animals and character portrayals, musical performances, storytelling, all-new “A Shepherd’s Christmas” audio-visual story, bird feeder craft, coloring contest, tabletop games, the educational Farm Museum and Silo, fiber arts demonstrations, and Farm Shop. Outdoor activities include winter yard games, Christmas lights, wagon rides, tours of the Bible Garden, and sheep and alpacas reminiscent of the first Christmas pastoral scene. Enjoy a peaceful moment of reflection as this age-old scriptural story springs to life in the Living Nativity. Final Manger Scene for the evening begins at 7:15. Plan on spending 1 – 2 hours for this Christmas experience. Christmas at the Farm will proceed even in the case of inclement weather. The Shepherd’s Shop will be open, featuring a host of Made in Oklahoma crafts & gifts. Over 60 artisans provide unique hand-made items. Additionally, the shop features Shepherd’s Cross 100% natural wool and alpaca yarns and products. Farm produced food items are available. The Gift shop also features hand-made fair-trade products; returning 100% of the proceeds to the indigenous peoples that have made the products. Winter is walnut and pecan harvest season. Walnuts, pecans, and nutty treats will be available.
Read MoreAnnual Open House and Sale
farm@shepherdscross.com October 26, 2023 No Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE AND SALE The Shop at Shepherd’s Cross Saturday November 11, 2023 – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Come join Shepherd’s Cross at our Annual Open House as the season of gift-giving begins. Enjoy complimentary cider, coffee, cappuccino, tea, and snacks as you browse through the unique gift shop. Receive 10% off your purchases storewide on this day. We have one-of-a-kind gifts, from over 60 local consignors. We sell our wool products grown, processed, and dyed here at the farm. We sell yarn, scarves, silk products, jewelry, wool rugs, handmade children’s toys, books, handmade cards, baby items, needle felting supplies, fiber spinning and weaving supplies, Christmas ornaments, essential oils, meats, dried fruits and nuts, Amish baked goods, fudge, candies, jams, and honey. Something for everyone on your shopping list. We accept major credit cards, EBT cards, Cherokee Nation WIC, cash, and checks (with proper ID). Items made by missionaries and mission groups from around the world may be purchased here at the farm. We return 100% of the proceeds back to them. Countries include Afghanistan, Uganda, Malawi, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, India & Mongolia. If you would like to display and sell your goods in our shop, please request a consignor application. Shepherd’s Cross is a Made in Oklahoma Company and is Animal Welfare Approved. We are an educational and Accredited Agritourism Facility. In addition to the shop, the farm hosts a Farm Museum, Bible Garden, and Mini Wool Mill. You are welcome to come out anytime year-round, Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. We
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