Stonehedge Farm, Tamworth, NH
Peg Delong has been raising Navajo Churro and Navajo Churro Crosses for many years. It takes an experienced shepherd to know how to make a great pelt. Navajo Churro Crosses make excellent pelts because of their inherent durability mixed with softness from the cross.
Pelts are an important value added product that helps the shepherd cover the costs of expensive meat processing. Peg picks up her pelts from the USDA approved processor and spreads them out in her barn on tables. She lightly salts them with pure salt and then monitors them as they dry. The length of time it takes to dry depends on the season. They dry fastest in the Fall or Spring, around 4-5 weeks.
Once dry, the pelts are rolled up and sent to Bucks County Fur in Quaker Town, PA for processing into a finished pelt. Bucks County Fur has been producing quality pelts for over 25 years. New owners took on the operation 5 years ago and have done a real good job building on the success of the business. Their reputation is such there are many New England shepherds who pool their pelts together and drive them down to PA each year.
Pelts sell fast in the Fall and Winter markets, so a pro tip is to visit Peg’s stand at the Tamworth Farmers’ Market in the Summer to ensure you get the best choice pelt. Customers have found all sorts of uses for pelts. Ornamental throws, pet bedding, rugs, and office chair padding are the most common uses.
If you work a desk job, a sheep pelt can add a significant amount of warmth to your task chair in the winter. Two of Peg’s favorite customer uses include coverings for a ’77 Mustang’s bucket seats and then a steel-horse cowboy recently had one stitched to his saddle.
Pelts are easy to care for. You can brush them, but Peg just shakes them out. You can also wash them. Just be sure your washing machine can handle the weight of a wet pelt because Bucks County Fur does not guarantee it won’t break your washing machine.
Stop by Stonehedge Farm’s booth at the farmers’ market to pick out a pelt that is the right size and texture for you.
