She’s Raising Sheep: California Shepherd Lani Estill

Lani Estill has built a good life and strong business around fine-wool sheep on the California-Nevada border. Far from a one-woman enterprise, running 3,000 Rambouillet sheep across a half-million acres of public and private lands involves Lani’s family and contract herders.  

This episode of Voices from the Field is part of our “She’s Raising Sheep” series. Lani tells NCAT Grazing Specialist Linda Poole about her journey -- first raising sheep, then teaching kids about wool, followed by developing her successful wool business, Lani’s Lana.  

Lani also details how an innovative partnership led by the nonprofit Fibershed brings together woolgrowers, climate scientists, fashion designers, and textile manufacturers to regenerate land and communities through the wild world of wool and shepherding. 

 
Related ATTRA Resources: 

• She’s Raising Sheep: New Zealand Shepherd Bev Trowbridge  
• She’s Raising Sheep: Indiana Shepherd Denice Rackley  
• She’s Raising Sheep: Montana Shepherd Becky Weed 

Other Resources: 

• Lani’s Lana 
• Fibershed 
• Fibershed Climate Beneficial Program  

Contact Linda Poole via email at [email protected]. 

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