The owners of Luckystone Acres sheep farm just north of Gimli are not only supplying the market with speciality wool and pasture-raised lamb, but they’re also helping expand interest in agritourism by offering farm tours and workshops.
Zoe and Craig Bailey specialize in raising Icelandic sheep, a hardy breed that grows thick, luxurious coats and whose wool is used to make Icelandic lopi yarn.
The couple’s farm on the northwest border of Loni Beach is open (by appointment) to visitors curious about their small flock of breeding ewes, their wool and how they’re raised. The farm is especially popular at lambing time in the spring.
“We do give tours when people come out,” said Zoe. “We also have regenerative agriculture projects where we’re constantly trying to improve our farming practice and add new designs and elements. We have a few on the go now. We want to make our farm more environmentally friendly.”
The Baileys converted the front of their barn into a farm store where they can sell their own farm-produced goods such as sheepskins, felted crafts, yarn, produce and woodworking items.
“We sell lamb meat and we have the wool processed locally into yarn. We also sell wool batting and wool roving, as well as sheepskins and felt projects – items that have been turned into felt art,” said Zoe. “My husband and a friend have a woodworking shop on the property and we sell wood turnings in the store.”
Last Sunday the Baileys treated visitors to a sheep-shearing demonstration. Shearer Stacey Rosvold came out to show people how the sheep are sheared.
“It was amazing to watch Stacey handle the sheep. Traditionally, we only shear in the spring, but the wool of Icelandic sheep grows so quickly and so long that we can do it twice a year. We sheared off high quality wool which has not been spoiled from the winter feeding of dry hay,” said Zoe. “We also skirted the fleeces, which means taking all the vegetable matter out of them and let people feel them. We trimmed hooves and answered questions.”
The couple have started hosting felting workshops where visitors can learn how to make a decoration using a needle and felt. In September visitors got to make a pumpkin decoration out of felt. On Oct. 22 (Sunday from 1-3) they’ll be offering their second felting workshop, teaching visitors how to make mushroom decorations.
The Baileys’ farm was part of the Icelandic Festival this year for the first time, welcoming visitors from near and far to their operation during festival.
“We hosted a large event. We had almost 700 people on our farm over two days of the festival and it was super fun,” said Zoe.
The farm store is open by appointment and during select weekends. Please call Zoe or Craig at (204) 990-4670. The farm is located at 90 Loni Beach Road.
Express photos by Zoe Bailey
