Valerie L. Spanos

Valerie L. Spanos, PresidentMountain Meadow Wool Co.Inc.
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"A processing facility in the state will allow Wyoming wool producers to establish a value-added product, and will provide for the beginnings of a wool textile sector," said Valerie L. Spanos, president of the Mountain Meadow Wool Company.

Although Wyoming ranks second in the nation in wool production, no commercial scouring facility exists in this region."Unfortunately, the wool is shipped out of state before processing, meaning that Wyoming ranchers cannot benefit from their superior product," Spanos said.

Spanos explained that Wyoming wool is of a higher quality than wool from many other areas of the U.S., and is generally cleaner before processing.This is due to the state's dry climate, which results in a fleece with less dirt and sand than those from sheep in more humid areas.Wyoming's yearling wool is "fine" grade, measuring 19.8 to 23.0 microns in thickness making it suitable for apparel.

"Unfortunately, Wyoming's high quality wool is usually blended with wool from all over the country, resulting in a United States wool supply that is considered to be a medium to medium-fine grade," said Spanos.

Spanos said the establishment of the facility will test the "proof of concept" regarding the ability of producers, small business owners and the community to profit both economically and socially from a local mill.

Additionally, recent advancements in effluent treatment will allow the company to use as a revenue source many of the by-products, which were formerly considered pollutants.The potassium salts from the sweat of the sheep will become fertilizer, the wool grease will be refined into lanolin, the mud and manure will become compost and the water will be recycled.

Valerie Spanos and Karen Hostetler are the principal investigators for the project.

Valerie Spanos, PresidentMountain Meadow Wool22 Plains DriveBuffalo, WY 82834Cell: 307.620.5061
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According to Mountain Meadow Wool's Valerie Spanos, Mountain Meadow is developing a shelter that would involve wool as well as an underlying material.Given the fact wool is naturally anti-microbial and can absorb moisture better than synthetic fibers, Spanos says this is an excellent use for wool.

"In order to protect these vital members of the armed forces, we are looking at the feasibility of a shelter composed of wool," Spanos said.

Valerie Spanos, President of Mountain Meadow Wool explains, "the reason that we started the whole thing is that we were trying to preserve the open spaces of the west, and the best way we can do that is to preserve ranching."

So they're hoping to help area sheep ranchers by giving them 10% of the mills yarn sales.Spanos says she doesn't want to see the Buffalo area wool ranchers disappear.She says, "a lot of our neighbors had been going out of business and we thought that we just couldn't believe that there wasn't just some way for them to market their wool."

Valerie SpanosSales Associatevalspanos@vcn.com

Valerie Spanos, PresidentMountain Meadow Wool22 Plains DriveBuffalo, WY 82834Cell: 307.620.5061
...
According to Mountain Meadow Wool's Valerie Spanos, Mountain Meadow is developing a shelter that would involve wool as well as an underlying material.Given the fact wool is naturally anti-microbial and can absorb moisture better than synthetic fibers, Spanos says this is an excellent use for wool.

"In order to protect these vital members of the armed forces, we are looking at the feasibility of a shelter composed of wool," Spanos said.