Florida Cracker
This breed is listed as Critical on the Conservation Priority List. Each order of four ounces or more includes a passport sticker for the Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em Initiative.
When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in the new world some 500 years ago, they brought sheep from their home country with them to provide for their needs. When they left, the sheep were left behind to fend for themselves. Over time, they adapted to conditions in their new habitat and through natural selection – without human intervention – they became the hearty, well-adapted breed of sheep that we now refer to as Florida Cracker. The Hog Island and Gulf Coast Native breeds have similar beginnings and may well have originated in similar ways.
The Florida Cracker available to handspinners is typically white in color, 3 to 4 inches in length, and varies from soft to medium in hand. It usually has a fairly fine but loose crimp though we find that crimp style can be inconsistent within a fleece and vary greatly between fleeces. As the name implies, this breed was domesticated and is still raised in the humid Southeastern U.S.; we tend to find the humidity often causes yolk stain and that is no different with this breed. Likewise, we often see sand as well as dirt in Florida Cracker fleeces as they are raised on sandy soil. Vegetable matter varies depending on the flock and its location; this breed is not typically coated.
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Florida Cracker #219
$36.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageA Florida Cracker fleece in whites, tans, and yellows that will blend into a creamy white once processed. Like most fleece of this breed, the color, handle, and length vary throughout the fleece. For the most part, this fleece has a medium to coarse hand (not suitable for next-to-skin projects) and measures three to four inches in length. The vegetable matter content is relatively low considering what we typically see from this rare breed. Florida Cracker is listed on the National Livestock Conservancy’s Priority Conservation List and each order of four ounces or more will include a Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em Passport sticker.
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Florida Cracker #2516
$32.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageA Florida Cracker fleece in whites, tans, and yellows that will blend into a creamy white once processed. Like most fleece of this breed, the color, handle, and length vary throughout the fleece. For the most part, this fleece has a medium hand and measures three to four inches in length. The vegetable matter content is relatively low considering what we typically see from this rare breed, though there is some dirt in the tips that will come out easily during processing. Florida Cracker is listed on the National Livestock Conservancy’s Priority Conservation List and each order of four ounces or more will include a Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em Passport sticker.
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Florida Cracker #2517
Price range: $39.00 through $68.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageA creamy white Florida Cracker fleece measuring around 4″ in length. It has a medium to soft hand, and may be acceptable for next to skin garments for some people. Lock style and crimp vary throughout. This fleece does have a bit more vegetable matter than we like to see, but it will be removed easily during processing and that is something we have to live with considering the breed is on the Conservation Priority List and is a rare breed. Likewise, there is more than a little yolk stain (yellowing from naturally occurring bacteria) in this otherwise bright white fleece. On the whole, however, this is a great example of the Florida Cracker breed and this particular fleece is one we used in part for our SE2SE club in June of 2025. Each order of 4 ounces or more will include a passport sticker.
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Florida Cracker #72518
$185.00Add to cartA creamy white Florida Cracker fleece with a medium to soft handle. Its springy locks measure three to four inches in length and are relatively free of vegetable matter, considering the breed. As is often the case with Florida Crackers, crimp style and lock structure vary throughout the fleece. Sold as a whole fleece weighing 2 pounds; as a Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em breed, purchase of this fleece will include a passport sticker.
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Florida Cracker #72519
$96.00Add to cartThis is an interesting Florida Cracker fleece with very fine crimp but a medium handle. The locks are highly energized and measure around 3″ when stretched. There is a significant amount of yolk stain (yellowing from naturally occurring bacteria) in this otherwise bright white fleece. This fleece is certainly a candidate for the dye pot. Sold as a highly skirted whole fleece weighing 1.1 pounds. Florida Cracker is a Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em breed and this fleece will include a passport sticker.
