The Superior Express -

Megan Landes-Murphy founded Kestrel Ridge Pellet Company at Lawrence to transform how people think about sheep and the wool they provide. When you think of sheep wool, you probably think of clothing and yarn, but most sheep in the Midwest don't produce the fine wool needed to make that high-quality fabric. Nevertheless, these sheep need to be shorn every year because their wool doesn't stop growing. However, their wool is often of so little value that the price sheep producers sell it for usually doesn't even cover the cost of

shearing (their form of a hair cut.) Producers resort to burying or burning their wool just to get rid of it.

"As a sheep producer myself, this didn't sit right with me because wool is truly a remarkable fiber that took thousands of years of selective breeding to create. I couldn't just stand by and watch this wonderful fiber go to waste," said Landes-Murphy.

That's where Kestrel Ridge Pellet Company steps in. She's providing an outlet for this second- rate wool, in the form of wool pellets, that benefits sheep producers and plant enthusiasts alike. Sheep wool pellets provide a safe, natural, and local alternative to other fertilizers on the market.

Why should you choose wool pellets for your plants?

• Water retention – wool pellets hold more than 3 times their weight in water. This reduces the frequency you need to water plants, which is vital during times of drought.

• Release nutrients – they slowly release nitrogen, potassium, and other important micronutrients for plant growth and health.

• Increased soil porosity – as wool pellets expand and contract in soil, they increase its porosity to improve water, oxygen and nutrient retention.

• Biodegradable – sheep wool pellets are a natural product that biodegrades in the soil in about 6 months.

• Support local rural economies - all our wool used comes from within a 200-mile radius of our ranch based in Lawrence, Nebraska which ensures the money is kept in our rural economies.

Landes-Murphy said, "While I didn't invent the concept of wool pellets, I've applied my talents and passions to build a company that promotes healthy soils and healthy communities. Together, we're working with nature to nourish the soil."