Cedar Ridge Farm

America 🇺🇸 is celebrating 250 years of history. Sheep helped build this nation, providing wool for clothing, blankets for soldiers, and food for families. Yet today, the American sheep flock is smaller than it has been in over 150 years. Maybe it's time we remember the animals that helped clothe and feed a growing nation.

I did some digging to find history on the size of the American sheep flock over the years. Unfortunately the data doesn't go back to the founding of our country, but its safe to say there were still a pile of sheep back in 1776. Especially considering that sheep were the first animals brought to the "New World" around 1619.

1867: Around 45 million sheep (first national estimates)
Around 1900: Over 60 million sheep, the highest on record.
1942: About 56 million, boosted by the wartime demand for wool for uniforms and blankets.
1955: Around 32 million as synthetic fibers began replacing wool.
1970: Around 18 million.
1990: About 11 million.
2000: Around 7 million.
Today: Roughly 5 million head, less than one-twelfth of the peak.

As we celebrate our freedom let's not forget the humble sheep that helped build this nation. God bless America, God bless our farmers, and God bless our sheep.