We are writing with some heartbreaking news that hits very close to our hearts. Many of you may know Amy Ross Manko and Ross Farm from their pop-ups and workshops here at fibre space. Her historic farm sits in Washington County, PA, the hometown of own family farm and my college town. For over 30 years, Ross Farm and Amy’s family have tended multiple flocks of heritage breed sheep, and she and her small farm have saved several rare breeds of sheep from threatened or endangered status.
Around 11 pm on Monday, February 2nd, Ross Farm’s main barn was engulfed in flames, from what is assumed to be an electrical fire. Nearly her entire flock of rare, heritage-breed sheep was lost, along with some farm equipment. In total, 152 sheep were lost, with many of the ewes only 12 weeks away from lambing. Melinda, the Ross Farm shepherd and shearer, lost her entire business of shearing equipment and will lose her spring shearing business. In addition to the property and animals lost inside the building, the barn itself is an iconic piece of the original Frank L. Ross Farm, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
As Amy stated in the local newspaper, “Those sheep were our history and our future.”
This is total devastation of Amy Manko and her family’s 33-year business of breeding and raising heritage breeds. Insurance will only cover a portion of rebuilding the barn and some farm equipment; however, no livestock is covered. She will need to rebuild many decades of her flock. This tragedy falls only a few months after the sudden passing of her son and the main shepherd for her flock: Drew Manko.
The team and I are crushed, and want to support Ross Farm as much as we can—and we know our fibre community will, too. Amy is a generous teacher and mentor to so many others in this industry. Her and her family have helped so many others start their own flocks. Right now Ross Farm needs our help. If you wish to donate to the effort for Amy to rebuild, you can give directly to her efforts here.
We also encourage you to pick up some of the incredible yarn from this flock, while it is still available: https://www.therossfarm.com/product-category/the-ross-farm-yarn/
