Sheepapalooza at The FARM Institute

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The FARM Institute in Edgartown seems to be having fun with its “paloozas.” First was Cornapalooza in August 2007, where kids and adults figured out the corn maze, played with animals, and enjoyed food and music. This weekend is Sheepapalooza — you guessed it — three days filled with all things sheep starting Friday, April 29.

Friday evening’s event, geared more towards adults, is from 6 to 9 pm. Special guest Stan Potratz of Premier 1 Supplies will give a free presentation on care and handling of sheep. Participants will enjoy a light supper, and pre-registration is required by calling 508-627-7007.

The fun for kids starts Saturday at 9 am. Celebrate sheep by helping out with community chores on the farm (9 to 10:30 am), learn at fiber arts displays and demos (all day), try sheep’s cheese (1 to 2:30 pm from Old Chatham Sheepherding Company in New York with Princess MacLean of Bonnieview Sheep Dairy in Vermont), and lastly, learn how to cook lamb with Island cookbook author Cathy Walthers (“Soups and Sides,” “Raising the Salad Bar”) from 10:30 to 12:30 pm. Pre-register for Ms. Walthers’s class ($25) by emailing cathy@farminstitute.org.

Morning chores commence again on Sunday morning at the same time. The concluding events, a sheep shearing and sheep dog demos, run from 9 am to 2 pm with Andy Rice of Hoggets Farm in Brattleboro, Vt.

Other Island farms are involved with the events, such as Allen Farm Sheep and Wool Company, Native Earth Teaching Farm, Stoney Hill Farm, Mermaid Farm and Dairy, and Whiting Farm, in addition to Island Grown Schools. And on Sunday, Island sheep farms will be open for tours during the afternoon. Pick up your map of Island sheep farms at Sheepapalooza.

For those interested in cooking their own lamb, local lamb is available for purchase at The FARM Institute, Allen Farm Sheep and Wool, Mermaid Farm and Dairy, Whiting Farm, Flat Point Farm, and Thompson Farm.

Daily entry fees are $5; $10 for families. For more information, call 508-627-7007 or visit farminstitute.org.