Chris and LaVonne live and work on 40 acres of family land they purchased in 1985 from his parents. It is in the beautiful Gallatin Valley and just 8 miles North of the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
LaVonne has raised sheep for over 30 years and worked at the previous wool mill location for 4 years before deciding to take ownership in 2018. The equipment was for sale for as long as she worked there, it just took her a while to realize it really needed to stay right here in the Gallatin Valley. That experience, along with the support, help and experience of the other "mill family members" is just the right combination to prepare your lovely wool just the way you want it.
LaVonne has operated Serenity Sheep Farm Stay where you can come and sleep in an antique sheepherder's wagon on the farm, for the past 13 + years. They have had guests from over 28 countries. Find it on airbnb too!
Chris is now retired and working on the farm.
Seven and a half years later, having experienced a fire in the mill building, LaVonne wrote this on the wool mill's facebook page.
I have so many thoughts that need to come out. So many words to write or say. So much gratitude and so much to be thankful for.
As I looked through my photos for one that might represent the mill and what it has become, this one spoke to me. Woven by one of nature's greatest weavers and all but invisible until the morning dew lands upon its fine but mighty strands.
We are but one mill in a land of many. I've come to realize there are more small mills in the US than I ever knew about, but the internet has helped with that realization. I was recently asked what size mill do you call yours. We are a small mill. By no means are we large, nor are we a mini mill, as some call the mills with equipment of the same name. The Wool Mill has a history. It's not a glamorous one, but one of passion born by a woman with a desire to be able to process her own fiber. Becky owned the mill for 14 years. When the time came to sell, I resisted for 4 years. To all things there is a season and in February of 2018, I pulled the lever on the solar power and began operations, continuing that passion. It was just me. I couldn't afford help and I certainly could not afford insurance. I worked alone for 3 months waiting for the insurance rates to change when they finally finished a small fire substation up the road. One by one my 3 employees came to me with a love of wool and a desire to help, teach and learn.
These last 5 months have been a challenge. I've aged more in the last 5 months than the last 5 years. The mill has been able to remain operating through it all with the exception of 5 weeks. Those 5 weeks went by quickly and I am proud to say, we really haven't missed a beat. We knew a rebuild would take time and prepped for that down time by washing, washing, washing. We had plenty of backlog to start right up again when we opened. Through hard work and dedication we are still only 4 - 5 months out, which is pretty amazing for any mill. The success of this wool mill is many-fold and I don't tell all of my secrets. Believe me, I do get asked on a pretty regular basis. Once or twice a month I get a call, email or give a tour to someone wanting to start a wool mill, most overtly, some not so much. In my opinion, there is a misconception in the fiber world that we need more mills. I don't find that to be true. We need buyers for existing mills looking to retire and we may need a LARGE mill to produce super fine wool threads for super fine wool used in the clothing industry, but what we need is for you to support the existing mills. I am grateful for my customer base. It's something I have worked hard on, but all things in life are a crapshoot. If you are one of those people whining about needing more mills, I have to ask, what are you doing to support the existing mills? We try our best to give the customer MORE than what they want or expect and I think we've done a good job at that.
There is so much to teach the general public about the benefits of wool. If you're a producer, I challenge you to talk about the fiber you're raising. If you don't know about the fiber you're raising, learn. Tout it, shout it 'cuz we're all about it! If you want to continue to raise sheep and wool, your future depends on you to promote it every chance you get.
And so, like the web in the photo, we are here. Largely invisible until something illuminates us into view. We are strong, creating a web of growers, producers, makers, creators and fiber lovers in general. For this I thank you all!
Written in its entirety by:
LaVonne Stucky Owner/Operator
