Proceeds Support
Producer programming and education, research and development related to the wool industry, investing in wool manufacturing, specialized student programing, and training in preparation to enter the lamb and wool industry.
Benefits
Awards
If you would like to participate in Lamb-a-Year, please download and complete the form below and email it to Dr. Whit Stewart at Whit.Stewart@uwyo.edu.
University of Wyoming’s College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources in collaboration with Wyoming Wool (WWI) Initiative began the Blanket Project in 2021. The Blanket Project serves as an intentional, innovative continuation of the university’s heritage as a foundational support to Wyoming’s sheep ranchers.
Each year WWI design and manufacture new limited-edition wool throws. The University of Wyoming's sheep flock in Laramie, Wyoming, comprises 300 Rambouillet ewes. The growing flock of fine wool ewes provides all the necessary fiber for WWI's Blanket Project.
In 2022, the Laramie Research and Extension Center (LREC) based flock obtained the American Wool Assurance (AWA) Level III - Certified Status. The University of Wyoming was the first flock in the United States to receive this certificate.
The blanket project is also essential to conducting value-added research for the wool industry. Currently WWI is researching blockchain technology to document stages of production and improve product traceability. Traceability and blockchain technology will add value to Wyoming's annual wool clip, and Wyoming producers will see a higher return on their hard work raising American lamb and wool.
UW Graduate students and manufacturing partners keep records of dates, details, and processing information for each of the five stages of blanket production: shearing, first-stage processing, dyeing, spinning, and knitting.
You can learn more about WWI's traceability efforts at sheepchain.org.
This Blanket Project is more than a good way to stay warm. It is a responsive alternative to meet funding needs. Proceeds from the Blanket Project will fund and support sheep teaching, research, and extension efforts within the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and
Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming.
When people in and out of Wyoming purchase a blanket, they are collaborating with the university in this vital work. Each blanket sale helps ensure our heritage is not left in the past, but rather it becomes something sustainable, supported by innovation.
Blankets are available for purchase at the UW Bookstore.
An annual dinner celebration to recognize and thank Wyoming’s sheep producers and UWYO Sheep Program Alumni. This Sheep Herders Come Bye is sponsored by Wyoming Wool Initiative and planned by UWYO Collegiate Wool Growers and Wool Judging students.
Sheep Herders Come-Bye Events: Lamb dinner, Presentation of Awards, Live & Silent Auctions to benefit UWYO Wool Judging Team, Live Music.