Our history & Current Board of Directors

Formerly known as Kid 'N Ewe and Lamas Too!

. . .the festival began in 1989 by a small group of Natural Colored Wool Grower Association members, who were hand spinners and/or hand weavers. Their goal was to promote natural Texas fiber by educating the public and marketing the products of the animals they raised. The first November event was held in Hamilton, and then moved to Goldthwaite. As the festival grew from a back yard gathering, it moved to Bartlett, then to Johnson City, and in 2001 to Boerne. Fiber Producers of Texas, Inc. (FPT) was incorporated in 1998 to manage organization of the annual festival and was its primary sponsor. 2018 saw the festival move to Kerrville, Texas, where it's found a home at the Hill Country Youth Event Center.

The event name was changed in 2020 to reflect a new era for Kid 'N Ewe to Texas Fleece & Festival. The name change has given the event a fresh perspective.

2025 -- Texas Fleece & Fiber Festival is celebrating its 6th year, continuing the tradition of being Texas’ Premier Fiber Festival.

Our Partners, Texas Make It with Wool* (TMIWW) and Texas Angora Goat Raiser’s Association** (TAGRA) join us as we celebrate 36 years of bringing together fiber artists, enthusiasts and producers together under one roof! Texas Fleece & Fiber Festival is an in-person event. Vendors from all over the Great State of Texas and beyond offer their products and art over the course of three days. Teachers and speakers offer classes from fiber arts to animal welfare and husbandry practices. Additionally, live demonstrations from pioneers, sheep herding to washing and dying of fleeces, exhibits and classes are offered throughout the weekend, along with several smaller events.

*Texas Make It with Wool is the State Chapter of the National Make It With Wool. TMIWW presents sewing and fiber arts competitons that are supported by the American Sheep Industry, Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers and Hill Country Sheep and Goat Organization. The competition will concludes with a fashion show.

**Texas Angora Goat Raiser’s Association (TAGRA) holds its Annual Jack Pot Show on Saturday from 8:00am to 1:00pm in the Arena.

Texas Fleece & Fiber, Inc.

Texas Fleece & Fiber, Inc. is a Texas Non-Profit Corporation established in 2024 for the purpose of managing the festival and its expansion. Texas Fleece & Fiber Festival supports and encourages small farms and homesteads who raise or grow natural fiber in Texas; and to provide opportunities for fiber farmers, artists and enthusiast to share the history and passion that comes from working with natural fiber.

Meet the Board of Directors:

President:

Lyn Christoph -

Shortly after acquiring their land in 2007, Lyn and her husband, Mark began raising alpacas for their fleece on 5 acres. Since then they acquired another 25 acres and in 2011 they added Gulf Coast Sheep for their wool. Their herd size varies from 15-20 alpaca with sheep flock running 8-10. There are also a variety of chickens, ducks & turkeys for their eggs and their entertainment value. In 2017 they built 3 Cabins on the property and run them as B&B's.

In addition to Gulf Breeze Alpaca Ranch, Lyn and Mark also own an Insurance Agency in Corpus Christi, TX,

Vice President:

Ellen Baize -

Ellen Baize took up sewing, knitting and crochet as a teen but never dreamed of spinning and weaving wool from a sheep until her parents brought the first know flock of Shetlands to Texas in 1991. She took spinning, weaving and dyeing lessons from a master fiber artist, Anna Scott, and developed a passion for the world of fiber arts. Now as a shepherdess of Shetlands she loves breeding for lambs to sell, shearing her sheep and skirting fleeces to send to mills or to scour and spin. She keeps her hands busy with fiber arts projects using yarns hand dyed with natural dyes or yarns of many beautiful natural colors from her sheep. Knitting is a favorite pastime and Navajo style tapestry weaving an art form she is enthusiastic about sharing. Ellen loves to teach all ages the skills she has learned hoping that these wonderful arts will be preserved for future generations.

Secretary -

Joel Plummer

Owner and operator of a medium sized alpaca farm located in northern Bastrop County just east of Austin, TX, Hummer's Homestead Alpacas has been raising alpacas since late 2002
Joel and his wife, Julie participate in showing alpacas at alpaca shows, breeding and selling the alpaca and also in processing and preparing the alpaca fiber for use. They have been selling alpaca related products for many years and just recently opened an alpaca store on their property.

Director At Large:

Jennifer NImmricther

Jennifer Nimmrichter is founder of The Sheepwalk Ranch which is home to Suzoo's Wool Works and The Sheepwalk Fiber Mill. She has over 14 years of experience as an indie dyer and fiber artist. The last 10 years have been dedicated to learning about fiber breeds, fiber arts and, newly added, how to process in the fiber mill. Her passion is for community based projects that help preserve the history of the wool and mohair industry in the U.S., working with heritage breeds and creating a cooperative that is community centric. Students and Fiber Producers can book time in the mill to get a feeling for what it takes to raise wool and how to make it sustainable for future generations.

***if you would like to be considered for a position on the board of directors please visit the Participation Page and click on Volunteer!