LaVonne Stucky was born into farming and the last of her family to continue this pursuit. Her purchase of two sheep, almost 30 years ago, turned into “too many” as she likes to say. They were a happy accident, born on her birthday, which led her down this natural fiber-loving path.
She has taught herself the varied textile endeavors she enjoys, including crochet with a bent bobby pin in the 4th grade when there was no crochet hook to be had. When something called “needle felting” came along, it sounded like the perfect fit for her and her abundance of wool. Blending wet felting and needle felting is something she has taught for the last 7 years as “Artist in Residence” at a local elementary school in Bozeman. Teaching children about sheep and wool has become a passion. She developed the “Ewe to You” station at the local farm fair and helps teach area 4th graders about this subject.
The sheep and wool process will soon be full-circle on their farm with the addition of the mill equipment from Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool. LaVonne and her husband, Chris should be in full production by January of 2018. LaVonne is dedicated to keeping wool processing in the Gallatin Valley and helping other farmers add value to their wool. Visitors to their farmstay will be able to see the raw product turned into roving and yarn. Serenitysheepfarmstay.com rents out two antique sheepherder’s wagons to guests from all over the world. You can check them out on airbnb.