Young’s Jersey Dairy celebrates its 29 annual Wool Gathering

By Leah Angstadt

“There is no way that all of these people are here to look at yarn,” marveled an onlooker, walking up to one of the numerous tents in the 2025 Wool Gathering at Young’s Jersey Dairy. 

The 29 annual yarn fair at Young’s took place on Sept. 20 and 21, drawing an astonishing number of people out to gaze upon the beauty of hand-spun yarn. The skeins were draped around the tents, forming colorful walls from head to toe, directing the hordes of onlookers throughout the bustling event. 

With multiple towering tents, open campers brought by funky small businesses and a large assortment of wool-producing animals, it is not challenging to understand why so many people were drawn out to feel and gaze upon countless skeins of yarn for hours on end.

Journeying from the parking lot to the first tent brought the distinct smell of farm, which seemed to overwhelm every one of the five senses. Animals of all kinds filled the tents, seemingly waiting for friendly pats from the curious onlookers. At every new station stood friendly vendors, encouraging the crowds to touch and interact with the animals; friendly vendors were increasingly eager to pass on unique knowledge about the entire yarn-making process. Their eagerness made the entire show fun and engaging, as well as educational.

For the sensory customers, this wool gathering is a dream come true–many of the vendors showcased trucks with the walls lined with every kind of yarn imaginable: from alpaca to angora rabbit, cotton to hemp and lace to bulky weight. Some of the vendors chose to display signs reading, “Please, come in and touch”, encouraging the consumers to compare the high quality of the hand-spun yarn to that of the yarn commonly purchased in a larger store.

Not only is the entire concept of the Wool Gathering at Young’s Jersey Dairy fascinating, but it also offers a wealth of knowledge that can be passed from one generation to the next. The vast majority of the vendors that were present at the Wool Gathering were exceedingly ecstatic to speak with customers, young and old, about the process behind the creation of their hand-made craft. 

After roaming around the yarn and alpaca-filled tents, spectators were left to enjoy the usual goodies offered by Young’s Jersey Dairy: homemade ice cream, assorted milkshakes, pumpkin donut bites and so much more. Not only were the sweet treats enticing to the visitors, but also the numerous pumpkins, corn mazes and goat-feeding opportunities.

September 2026 will mark the 30 annual Wool Gathering–that is three decades of both celebrating the art of crafting with multiple mediums, and spreading that art onto future generations. 

To learn more about the Wool Gathering at Young’s Jersey Dairy, visit the website at youngsdairy.com. 

Leah Angstadt is a senior Linguistics and Spanish major. She enjoys writing, knitting, and learning languages.