Welcome!          

                 Located on the site of historic Roberts Farm just 3 miles from the quaint village center of Putney, Vermont, Ledgewood Farm introduced its first Icelandic sheep in the fall of 2004. Since then we have gained certification in FAMANCHA management of haemonchus contortus and vaginal artificial insemination of ewes with frozen semen (VAI.). Memberships have been help with ISBONA, the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation, The Natural Colored Wool Growers Association, The Vermont Sheep and Goat Association and the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Growers Association. The learning curve has been a steep one here, and, in 2007, after working with a mixed flock for 3 years, I decided to focus my efforts exclusively on polled Icelandic sheep.

                 I use herbal and organic products whenever possible, and my flock management is almost exclusively pasture based.

                 My ongoing goal is to produce outstanding Icelandics while concurrently utilizing them -true to their heritage- as the triple purpose breed that they are heralded to be.

                 A big fan of utility, I was initially attracted to this breed by their versatility. The idea of having sheep that could so fully care for one’s basic needs; warmth, protein, and hygiene, certainly piqued my interest, and the fact that on top of these things they are thrifty keepers, thriving on grass alone while reliably producing multiple lambs, seemed too good to be true. Then, when I learned of the variation of colors and patterns... I was absolutely sold!

                 I continue to select for Icelandics that are honest-to-God triple purpose, hardy, healthy, easy keepers and reliable producers. About half of my breeding goals pertain specifically to ewes and maternal lines. The reason is simple: It is their production capability that will dictate profit potential in the number of lambs produced, their vitality and the rate at which they grow. Of course no sheep is perfect, but every breeding decision here takes into account the strengths and weaknesses of a given animal with the intent of producing an improved generation the following spring.

                 We provide the basics: fresh pasture, clean water and a foundation of health. Apart from that, we pretty much expect our sheep to take care of themselves. Our flock management is intentionally low input, and that’s the way we like it!

                 As I acquired my stock, however, I quickly learned that not every Icelandic sheep is all of the things that they are advertised to be; Some have fantastic fleece but are poorly conformed, some are coarse-wooled but exceptionally milky and others are meaty and gorgeously put together but susceptible to parasitism and other ailments. Disheartened to find that my dream sheep was not so readily acquired, I determined that I would set about breeding my dream flock of Icelandics “as they should be”.

3 ewe lambs share a perch

Nebula with her first lamb, Annie.