Our first Jacob Sheep was a ram we purchased to add some color to our handspinning flock. We had no interest in raising purebred sheep, but we did want horns, color, hardiness, and fleeces. We were quickly hooked! We decided to go with a registered Jacob flock and joined JSBA in 1995. Then we got serious about building a flock that we are proud of. I have served as Webmaster for the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association and as JSBA Director for the Southeast district.

Here at Patchwork, we believe strongly in preserving the diversity of the primitive American Jacob Sheep. I strive for a diverse flock - both genetically and visually, while still staying within the standards of JSBA. I believe that the primitive Jacob Sheep is a hardy sheep and hardiness, easy lambing, and mothering skills to be of prime importance when selecting sheep. I select ewes with strong, well placed horns and use rams from a maternal line of strong horns. Flock members are chosen and retained with an eye to both their ancestors and their descendants.

The production of fiber for our unique handspun yarns sure helps to pay the feed bills :-) and we do place an emphasis on fleece quality, while realizing that Jacob Sheep are more than just fleece.

While my preference is for a good deep black, I decided to work abit with the lilac aspects of some of the older lines. Our lilacs represent some of the oldest lines in the history of the breed.

Our Jacobs are registered with the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association. Please check out www.jsba.org for more information on this special breed.