From Iceland — Icelandic Sheep Coming Up In Alaska

Icelandic Sheep Coming Up In Alaska

Published January 26, 2014

Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photo by
Anna Andersen

A small farm in Fairbanks, Alaska has a few new members now.
The NewsMiner reports that Tamara Rose and Julie Guth-Schwab of Fyndinn Farm in Fairbanks, Alaska currently have five Icelandic ewes and two rams. The original additions – a ram and a ewe – were imported from Vermont last summer, and traveled over to Alaska by plane, in dog crates.
Of the sheep, Rose sees a lot of potential, telling reporters, “They are not great at one thing but are good at a lot of things,” referring to their ability to provide wool, meat and milk.
Eventually, she hopes to have a flock of sheep, and has been doing copious research on genetics and upkeeping in order to make sure the sheep are well cared for. She also plans to import ram semen from Iceland and begin artificial insemination of her ewes at some point.
On the subject of farming, Rose advises, “If you want to make money, know the business end of this, not that I’m doing a good job of it, but you should have a business plan and do your research. And take good care of the animals because people will know. If you do a good job it will pay off in the end.”

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