Released: February 22, 2006

Phillipsburg Evolving as Fiber Center – Exotic Animals at Home on the Plains

PHILLIPSBURG, Kan. – Alpaca. In Kansas, no less.

The South American animals, which produce silky, wool-like fibers used in luxury clothing and fiber arts, seem at home on the Plains and particularly in Phillips County, host of the Central Plains Fiber Festival April 21-23, 2006 at the Phillips County Fairgrounds (in Phillipsburg).

Dubbed the “fourth annual” event of its kind in Kansas, the local offering has grown from the community’s desire to match fiber artists and craftsmen with producers and suppliers, said Vicky Overley, Kansas State University Research and Extension agent in the county and member of the festival planning committee.

“Though moderate in size, Phillipsburg, with a population of about 3,000, is evolving as a fiber art center,” said Overley, who credited local fiber artist Sally Brandon with inspiring fiber artists and producers. “As a student, Brandon traveled to Finland with the International 4-H Youth Exchange Program and fell in love with the many textures and colors of fibers used in Nordic textiles.”

The growing interest in fiber arts has sparked formation of the regional Fleece & Fibers Weavers and Spinners Guild, two new community-based businesses – The Shepherd’s Mill, Inc., and Great Plains Artisans, LLC – and support from a neighboring business, The Plum Nelly in Hastings, Neb.

Previous “fiber festivals” have attracted visitors from as far away as Alaska, and the 2006 event has been selected as the site for the annual state conference of the Kansas Alliance of Weavers and Spinners.

There is no charge to attend the Central Plains Fiber Festival, which Overley describes as “family friendly and educational.”

Producers are expected to bring fiber-producing animals, such as alpacas and Finn sheep, and to offer a wool shearing demonstration, fleece auction, session for would-be/could-be producers titled Alpaca 101, and children’s activities.

How-to classes, which range from textile care and preservation to free-form crochet, computer design techniques and hands-on fiber art teaching sessions, such as Turkish Felting and making a Felt ‘n Paca Purse, are available. The cost to attend classes varies and is based on the cost of materials and teaching fee.

For a complete schedule of events and classes, contact the Phillips County K-State Research and Extension office at 785-543-6845 or log on to the Web site: www.centralplainsfiberfest.com.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Nancy Peterson
nancyp@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News