Franklin County NC Farmer Turns Flock’s Wool into Hats and More
By Kay Whatley, Editor
Stop by Clover C Farm and you might see Carol Cheves hard at work knitting fashionable accessories with yarn she’s made right at the farm.
Clover C Farm is a family farm located on the edge of the Town of Bunn, Franklin County, NC. The farm raises grass-fed lamb, and from the sheep provide wool, roving (wool fiber bundles), yarn (made on the farm), and other farm products including eggs, meat, and even specially blended sheep feed.
Clover C Farm in Bunn NC is owned and managed by the husband-and-wife team of Carvel and Carol Cheves. They both oversee the sheep, plus chickens and various 4H animals housed on the farm.
Mrs. Cheves creates felted hats, scarves, and other garments from the flock’s wool. To find these locally-made wares, according to Carvel, “We have them in Louisburg at Bobbie Wrenn’s consignment shop, at the Ray Family Farm store, and right here on the farm.”
The Cheves family is well-known in the Bunn community. They are life-long farmers who know how to work hard and roll forward through adversity on the farm and in life. Mrs. Cheves taught in the Franklin County school system for over 30 years, retiring only after losing part of her sight. Despite her vision limits, Carol continues working the farm and producing handmade, beautiful garments.
Clover C Farm raises Suffolk sheep (white with black face), Dorset (all white), Border Leicester (all white), and Katahdin (hair sheep of various colors), with the Katahdin being the primary breed. The Katahdin lambs vary from blacks to browns to whites, often dappled with mixes of all.
Clover C Farm has been a family farm with several generations operating the farm. Their sixth generation family member is a Veterinarian in-residence helping with the farm.
Drive by the farm during the Spring, and you’ll see the ewes and their white or black lambs. For those interested, the farm allows visitors to come and watch each year as they shear the sheep. For 2016, the shearing day is May 14, 2016. Get there early, as they work hard and finish the flock around noon or so.
The farm is located at 117 Cheves Road, in Bunn NC. The farm phone number is 919.496.2575. They welcome questions, and requests for viewing of the flock and facility, through that phone number or by email.
Ed. Note: The hat in the photo below, sported by Betty Ray, is one of Carol Cheves’ felted hat creations.
