Sheep are the life force of Larry and Rosalie Brown’s Bentwaters Farm in Bavon.

The gentle creatures graze quietly in their fenced pastures, welcoming Rosalie by sidling up closely and waiting for a head scratch or two. She obliges, enjoying the feel and smell of the sheep and the peaceful aura created by their presence.

For nearly 40 years, fiber animals, especially sheep, have helped sustain the Browns. Their dozen or so Shetland sheep provide enough fiber annually for all of the wool products the farm sells, from raw wool and quilting bats to roving wool, yarn, and finished products such as scarves, rugs and felted hats.

The couple’s all-natural products come in a variety of earth-toned colors, including off-white, grey, sable, dark brown, and black. Rosalie hand-paints and dyes some of the wools to create all the colors of the rainbow, then re-skeins the yarns for soft, multi-colored blends.

For a while, llamas were a regular part of the scene at Bentwaters Farm, sa...