2026-AGM-Announce

2026 N-CSA Annual Meeting Oct 15 to 17 2026

Navajo Churro Sheep Association (N-CSA) Annual General Meeting – October 15-17, 2026

Location:  Contoy Arena, 995 W. 1000 South, Mt. Pleasant, UT   84647

Schedule

Thursday October 15 – Special Pre-AGM Workshop 
Horseshoe Mountain Fiber Guild will be hosting a “Make it with Wool” demonstration and workshop day.  See more details at end of this post.

Friday October 16 – AGM Presentations and Annual Meeting

9:00 am – AGM Presentations Intro
9:30 am – Presentations Begin

Presentations (subject to change): 

  • Skirted Wool for Crop and Garden Improvement.  Alternate uses for scrap wool.  Presenter:  Dr. Melanie Stock, Utah State University, Associate Professor /Extension, Urban and Small Farms Specialist.
  • All Things Fleece.  Discussing all aspects of Navajo-Churro Fleece.  Presenter: Dr. Jim Keyes, Utah State University, N-CSA Inspector and Chair of the Standards Committee.
  • Merchandising and Social Media.  Ways to market and merchandise using Social Media.  Presenter: Janna Miller, long-time breeder of Navajo-Churros and wool provider.
  • Scrapie, Screwworm, and Your Questions. Overview of Emerging Diseases.  Presenter: Dr. Nicole Cossey, Field Vet, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
  • Insights and Solutions in Small Scale Custom Processing. How to prepare your Fleece and Examples of Good and Bad Preparation.  Presenter: Elias Baker, Owner of family-run Eagle Mountain Mill.
  • Animal and Farm Practices for a Successful Enterprise.  Presenters:  Chad Page, PhD, Utah State University, Sheep Extension Specialist and Joseph Okoh, PhD, Utah State University, Small Farms Extension Specialist.

There will be a break for lunch.

Friday Evening – AGM Banquet (time TBD)

Saturday October 17 – Sheep and Wool Show

Sheep Show Judge:  Dr. Jim Keyes
Wool Show Judges:  Irene Bennalley, and Colleen Biakiddy

9:00 am – Sheep Show check-in and sign up
10:00 am – Sheep Show begins

12:00 Lunch

1:00 pm – Wool Show registration
2:30 pm – Wool Show begins

Other Information

Silent Auction: Donations welcome!

Vendors Welcome!: Vending is free, but each vendor will need to pay their own sales tax through Utah State. You will also need a temporary sellers permit. Go to tax.utah.gov for more information.

RV Hook-ups at Contoy Arena:  7-8 spaces available. $25 per night

Hotel: ½ mile from Contoy Arena – Horseshoe Mountain Lodge – $80-90 per night.  890 South Highway 89, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84646. (435) 462-9330. 15 rooms available. Call to make reservations and tell them you are with the N-CSA.

Nearby Hotels in Ephraim:

  1. Cobblestone Hotel and Suites- 70 E. 900 North Street, Ephraim, UT 84627. (435) 283-2351.
  2. Willow Creek Inn: 450 South Main Street, Ephraim, UT 84627. (866) 246-1035

Air Flight:  Salt Lake City Airport – 1 hour and 40 minutes away by car.  Provo, UT Airport – 1 hour away by car.

Special Pre-AGM Workshop – Thursday, October 15th

Horseshoe Mountain Fiber Guild will be hosting a “Make it with Wool” demonstration and workshop day.  All N-CSA members and the public will be invited to join in the workshops! Everyone can try different activities or just observe. Everyone is encouraged to bring handmade wool items for the display!

(weaving, felting, knitted, tatted, crocheted )

Horseshoe Mountain Fiber Guild Workshops and demonstrations:

Five Workshops and a Lamb tasting table:

  1. Weaving – all types including Inkle, Navajo Tapestry and Floor looms.  People will be able to observe various types of weaving and to try hands on projects.
  2. Knitting and Crochet (including tatting and Fishnets)
  3. Dye Pot – Natural dye and Prochem
  4. Spinning, carding.  Wool processing.  Drop Spindle and floor spinning wheels
  5. Felting – If people have examples of things they have felted; please bring.
  6. Tasting table – All things Lamb.