Leicester Longwool Love

Look who joined the ag team at work. Two Leicester Longwool ewes!

We are incredibly excited to add these girls to the team. Not only are they beautiful, but they allow us the opportunity to introduce our guests to the story of Robert Bakewell, who revolutionized agriculture by being the first to use modern line-breeding techniques with his flock in the 1700s. Another famous farmer connected to the breed was George Washington.

Despite their presidential connection, the Leicester Longwool fell out of favor and had all but become extinct in the United States, until the 1980s when Colonial Williamsburg stepped in to reestablish the breed. Today, the Leicester Longwool is one of the sheep breeds listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as critically endangered. Breeds considered critical have fewer than 200 North American annual registrations and an estimated global population of less than 2,000. 

We are humbled to have the opportunity to play a role in conserving this grand old breed. Both ewes have been exposed to a ram so we are looking forward to spring lambs right about the time the grounds open again.