A Respectful Harvest: Honoring the Sheep Through Timeless Craft

At Driftless Tannery, every hide tells a story — one of life, care, and the deep relationship between people, animals, and the land we share. Our work begins long before a hide reaches our workshop. It begins in the pastures, where sheep graze and grow under the care of small to mid sized farmers who value stewardship as much as sustainability.

Fall is harvest time for many sheep farmers — a season when months of care and pasture-keeping come to fruition. As the temperatures cool and pastures begin to fade, farmers prepare to gather the rewards of their year’s work. For some, this means collecting wool from late-season shearing or sorting fleeces that were stored through the summer. For others, it marks the time when animals raised for meat are respectfully harvested, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

It’s a rhythm as old as shepherding itself — the natural close of the grazing season, when the bounty of the flock provides sustenance, warmth, and materials for the months ahead. In this way, fall becomes not just a time of ending, but of transformation — when the gifts of the sheep are honored and carried forward into new forms, from nourishing meals to beautiful, enduring textiles.

We believe that using the whole animal is an act of respect. When a sheep’s life comes to its natural end — whether from age, illness, or harvest for meat — its hide remains a part of its legacy. By transforming that hide into sheepskin, we ensure that no part of the animal is wasted, and that its life continues to offer warmth, comfort, and beauty.

Our tanning process reflects this philosophy. We work by hand, using small-batch methods and natural materials, preserving the integrity of each hide’s unique texture and markings. Each finished sheepskin is one-of-a-kind — a tactile memory of the animal it once was. It carries the subtle story of a life lived outdoors, shaped by sun, grass, wind, and weather.

When you bring a Driftless Tannery sheepskin into your home, you’re not just purchasing a textile — you’re participating in a respectful cycle. You’re supporting local agriculture, traditional craftsmanship, and a deeper connection to the sources of the things we use and cherish. Every sheepskin becomes a legacy piece, honoring the animal through a lasting, functional beauty that will be treasured for generations.

In every stitch, every fiber, and every soft curl, we are reminded: true sustainability is born from respect — for the animal, the earth, and the story each hide has to tell.

Thanks for reading and following along with our story. We are here because you believe in the value of the products we create.

-Team Driftless