Oregon's Make It With Wool Contest

Photos by Jan Jackson

Hailee Olheiser, Oregon's Senior Division Winner Oregon Make It With Wool winners
compete in Nashville

Hailee Olheiser, Oregon Senior 1st place winner from The Dalles, Lauren Riback, Oregon Junior 1st place winner from Canby and Jana Webb, Oregon Adult 1st place winner from The Dalles, competed in the National Make It With Wool Contest held January 23, in Nashville Tennessee. While Olheiser and Riback were among the 35 wool ambassadors attending in person, Webb sent her garment and a video. Riback placed 2nd runner up in the Junior Division and Webb received an honorable mention for garment style and construction. The 62nd national contest was held during the annual American Sheep Industry Convention.

Oregon MIWW Director Maureen Krebs accompanied the Oregon contestants.

“These seamstresses, who will now represent Oregon as this year’s Wool Ambassadors, truly appreciate wool and the wonderful qualities it has,” Krebs said. “And in addition to the thrill of the contest, Hailee and Lauren got to do some touring in Nashville with the 70 other contestants from 35 different states. They visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and recorded their version of “You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog” in the historic RCA’s Studio B where the late Elvis Presley recorded more than 200 hit songs. The piano that Elvis used for several of his recordings is still in the studio and many of the contestants actually had the opportunity to play it.”

The competition began with 36 contestants competing at the state level during the Oregon Sheep Growers Convention December 5, 2009, in Pendleton.

Jana Webb, The Dalles—1st Place Adult Division
Nancy Hinsch , North Plaines—2nd Place Adult Division
Hailee Olheiser, The Dalles—1st Place Senior Division
Allison Wallace, Powell Butte—2nd Place Senior Division
Lauren Riback, Canby—1st Place Junior Division
Emilee Patterson, Imbler—2nd Place Junior Division
Emily Issacson, Banks—1st Place Pre-teen Division
Angelique Duckworth, Portland—2nd Place Pre-teen Division
Tora Jo Timinsky, The Dalles—1st place Sew for Others (sewn by Jana Webb)

“I am pleased to have Lauren, Hailee and Jana as the 2009-2010 Oregon Wool Ambassadors and it was fun traveling in Nashville with Lauren and Hailee,” Krebs said. “Now, I’m ready to start working on the 2010 Oregon Make It With Wool Contest that will happen this December and then we’ll be off to the National Make It With Wool Contest January 19, 2011 in Reno, Nevada.”

For date and location of
Oregon’s 2010 Make It With Wool Contest contact the Oregon MIWW Director Maureen Krebs
at 541-422-7548 or email eatlamb@wildblue.net