Those who love to make things or watch deft hands turn fiber into beauty will enjoy the 105th annual Connecticut Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival on Saturday, April 26 at the Tolland Agricultural Center, Vernon/Rockville. Rain or shine. Spinning, fiber-related arts, sheep, fiber-producing animals, plus vendors galore and a fleece sale.

Free admission; parking is $5.

Sheep dog demonstrations, spinning bees, plus vendors with knitting, spinning, fiber products, tools, crafts, useful products.

Activities for children at the Kids Korner, sponsored by Windham Woolies and Bantams & Bunnies 4-H clubs. The grounds are mostly level, good for strollers, wagons and walkers. Plenty of food from breakfast, lamb stew, lamb burgers, sausage grinders, beef burgers, chicken nuggets, fries, fried dough, egg rolls, vegetarian items, beverages and more. No pets please. The Creative Living Community of CT greenhouse will offer herbs, microgreens and greeting cards made by an adult with autism and lead tours throughout the day.

A ranking of the total sheep operations per state based on 2008 data: 1. Texas, 700,000. 2. California, 570,000. 3. Colorado, 435,000. New England is 35th with 44,000 – that's Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Now did you know that as of 2013, there were 5.34 million head of sheep in the United States?

According to the American Sheep Industry Association (which began in 1865 as the National Wool Growers Association), “Sheep are produced in all 50 states. However, the highest sheep-producing states are located west of the Mississippi River, where most of the larger sheep ranches reside. The eastern part of the country supports a greater number of smaller, pasture-based operations. Through genetics, sheep producers in the U.S. tend to produce a dual-purpose animal – one that is valued for both its meat and its wool. Sheep also produce milk, some of which is processed into cheese.”

From Rockville it is not far to the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs. The 2014 UConn horse auction on Saturday, April 26 offers a ringside view of an live auction (inside the Horsebarn Hill arena) plus food available and vendors on site. A tag sale with tack and equipment starts at 9 a.m.; the auction preview is at 11 a.m. with the sale at 1 p.m. For photos of the horses (some list the pedigrees), see http://horseauction.uconn.edu. The auction is solely organized by UConn Animal Science students with faculty and staff supervision. Potential buyers should call (860) 486-2034 for additional information.

Visitors may also enjoy a walk or drive to visit the animal barns on campus to see dairy and beef cows, sheep, and horses year round. View the UConn dairy cows being milked from 1 to 4 p.m. daily at the Kellogg Dairy Center. All at no charge. Top off a day at the UConn dairy bar with some ice cream or visit the UConn Co-op for Dual National Championship T-shirts, hats, banners and other items to outfit the entire family. The so-more-than-a-bookstore features a great selection of titles on Connecticut history, hikes, nature, along with sustainable living, a wide range of reading, a technology center, special events, e-books – well, visit and plan to spend some time looking around.

Note: The Gurleyville Gristmill on Fenton River opens for tours on the third Sunday in May, but a group may see the workings by appointment. Call Joshua’s Trust at (860) 429-9023 for information. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. The exterior of this handsome stone mill may be viewed on the river located east of the University of Connecticut.