LocalFiber’s mission is to engage the natural fiber production community in our region and collectively address supply chain and marketing challenges. We host sales, marketing and networking opportunities and connect fiber farmers and producers in the Finger Lakes and Central New York State area to each other and to new markets. Collaboratively we are working to rebuild a vibrant, ethical, sustainable regional fiber and textile economy.
In 2017 LocalFiber was founded by Dana Havas (now with Cornell Cooperative Extension-Cortland County). While sourcing wool fleeces from around the Ithaca, NY area to process and make things with, Dana discovered a world of beautiful local fiber to choose from, as well as a determined collection of dedicated farmers who produce it. In conversations, she heard of the difficulties fiber farmers have with processing and marketing their fiber. In response, Dana launched a series of community conversations inviting fiber farmers and enthusiasts together to brainstorm, understand shared challenges and get to work on solutions. Dana wrote a SARE grant to support this work, communicate findings to the community, and create marketing opportunities.
LocalFiber is now a farmer-member run organization. We offer memberships to farmers and makers in the following counties in the Finger Lakes/Central NY area: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, Seneca, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates.
In the Spring of 2022 the membership voted in our second set of officers:
President: Lisa Ferguson
Vice President: Nancy Munkenbeck
Treasurer: Sarah Davis
Secretary: Erin Shafto
If you are a local Finger Lakes farmer or maker wanting to become involved with LocalFiber send us a message!
LocalFiber’s mission is to engage the natural fiber production community in our region and collectively address supply chain and marketing challenges. We host sales, marketing and networking opportunities and connect fiber farmers and producers in the Finger Lakes and Central New York State area to each other and to new markets. Collaboratively we are working to rebuild a vibrant, ethical, sustainable regional fiber and textile economy.
In 2017 LocalFiber was founded by Dana Havas (now with Cornell Cooperative Extension-Cortland County). While sourcing wool fleeces from around the Ithaca, NY area to process and make things with, Dana discovered a world of beautiful local fiber to choose from, as well as a determined collection of dedicated farmers who produce it. In conversations, she heard of the difficulties fiber farmers have with processing and marketing their fiber. In response, Dana launched a series of community conversations 
inviting fiber farmers and enthusiasts together to brainstorm, understand shared challenges and get to work on solutions. Dana wrote a SARE grant to support this work, communicate findings to the community, and create marketing opportunities.
LocalFiber is now a farmer-member run organization. We offer memberships to farmers and makers in the following counties in the Finger Lakes/Central NY area: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, Seneca, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates.
In the Spring of 2022 the membership voted in our second set of officers:
President: Lisa Ferguson
Vice President: Nancy Munkenbeck
Treasurer: Sarah Davis
Secretary: Erin Shafto
If you are a local Finger Lakes farmer or maker wanting to become involved with LocalFiber send us a message!
