The Ins and Outs of Corriedales, the 2027 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Featured Breed, with Dr Geoff Ruppert and Deborah Robson

Dr. Geoff Ruppert, DVM, is a shepherd, a judge, and a veterinarian from Fairfield, Pennsylvania. He has been raising purebred Corriedale sheep since the late ‘70s and has been using artificial insemination since 2001 to achieve his goals. The importation of Australian ram semen from both breeds has had a profound impact on wool quality of his flock. He has served as a judge at many shows including the Black Sheep Gathering, the National Corriedale Junior Show and the National Merino Sale, among others.

Deborah Robson is a fiber generalist who specializes in spinning, knitting, and weaving, although she experiments with all aspects of textiles. She is the fiber author of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook and of The Field Guide to Fleece, in collaboration with livestock expert Carol Ekarius. For fourteen years she worked at Interweave Press, editing both books and Spin-Off magazine.