Skeins of yarn hang in a vivid rainbow of hand-dyed colors. Rovings of carded wool spark imaginative visions of homespun crafts. Baskets of fluffy fleeces beg to be touched. Baby-soft scarves, hats and shawls beckon shoppers to admire their workmanship.

This is where agriculture meets art.

Offering everything from raw wool to finished goods, the annual Ozark Fiber Fling in Steelville, Mo., brings together farmers and artisans alike to celebrate the beauty, utility and versatility of fleece-producing animals and the creations they inspire. This November marks the 12th year for the lively event, which combines workshops, demonstrations and vendor booths for anything and everything related to the fiber arts.

“We want to bring people back to their natural resources and promote a heritage that’s beginning to be lost in our society,” said Lois Wissmann, one of the Fiber Fling’s founders and instructors. “Shining a light on fiber arts not only supports the American farmer, but it also supports the American craftsman.”

Like many of her fellow Flingers, Lois became. . .

by Allison Jenkins