Welcome to Hellewell Lamb and Wool - where our love for sheep, family, and farming runs deep and strong. Blair Hellewell's journey started halfway across the world in New Zealand, where he was raised on a sheep farm and developed a lifelong passion for agriculture. In 1997, his love for farming led him to Minnesota through the University of Minnesota's MAST (Minnesota Agricultural Student Trainee) program. He was placed at Coorain, a grain farm in Balaton, MN owned by Ron and Connie Schwartau. It was there, during a summer BBQ, that fate stepped in.

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Tami, originally from Colorado, was studying to become an Occupational Therapist in Nebraska. While visiting extended family in the Balaton area, she crossed paths with Blair at a BBQ-and the rest is history. They married in 1999 and made their home in Balaton, starting their life together with a small flock of sheep while Blair continued working full-time at Coorain.

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What began as a modest venture has grown into a thriving family operation. Alongside their three daughters- Ashley, Jayda, and Joelle-they've built their flock to over 500 breeding ewes. Everyone plays a part: Blair manages the daily care of the flock, the girls are hands-on with lambing, sorting, vaccinating, and shearing, and Tami-though she works full-time as a pediatric occupational therapist-jumps in when needed, especially when a lamb needs special care or a splint expertly applied.

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Our daughters have grown up deeply connected to the sheep industry, participating in 4-H and FFA, where they've proudly showcased not only their animals but also hand-sewn wool outfits in fashion reviews and lamb lead shows. Lamb lead events, which combine showing sheep while modeling wool garments, are a highlight of the year and celebrate the beauty and versatility of the wool industry-a cause that's close to our hearts. As our family's passion has grown, so has our commitment to expanding the business. We've long marketed our lambs through Superior Farms, but we wanted to do more with the wool. After research and experimentation, we found two exciting ways to bring more value and sustainability to what we do:

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• Wool Pellets for Fertilizer: Made from dag wool (the back end and belly wool not used for textiles), wool pellets are an incredible natural fertilizer. They slowly release nitrogen, retain moisture in the soil, and help improve soil aeration-all while being completely biodegradable and safe for gardens, flowers, and crops.

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• Wool Pet Beds: Using skirted raw wool pelts, we've created natural, sustainable wool pet beds. Unlike synthetic polyfill, wool is naturally temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and biodegradable-making it a healthier, more eco-friendly option for your furry friends.

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Raising sheep has truly been a blessing for our family. It's taught us resilience, the value of hard work, and the strength of working together toward a shared goal. Every lambing season, every show, every new product idea has brought us closer-not just as a family, but to a community that values quality, sustainability, and the simple joys of farm life.

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We'd love for you to get to know us, follow our journey, and support our growing sheep business. Thank you for being here and sharing in our story!

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- The Hellewells

Blair, Tami, Ashley, Jayda & Joelle