STROMSBURG, Neb. -- One mill in Stromsburg uses a building from 1910 and massive equipment dating as far back as 1929 to create custom yarn and blankets for sheep farmers. 

Kelsey Patton started a yarn shop 11 years ago in 2011. Realizing she should go bigger to create a retirement plan, Patton started a wool mill six years ago.

It began with researching business plans, applying for loans, and working with Nebraska Business Development Center.

"After a lot of nos from the bank [...] all the equipment was finally delivered in 2020," Patton said. "It felt terrifying but it was nice to start from square one." 

Her two employees include her mother and her sister-in-law. Her toddler also shows up. 

Per day, they create 14 to 20 pounds of wool. 

Customers send pieces from their sheep to their custom fiber mill from all over the country to be made into custom pieces. 

First, Patton and her employees clean the wool, which can have dung tags or other dirt. 

"We have found fake Christmas greenery, we have found tinsel, once found a petrified toad," Patton said.

After washing, they fluff it out and put it through a machine called a picker. Then a carter -- which weighs two tons and was made in 1929 -- starts to comb it. Then, it goes through the pin drafter and spinning frame if it's going to be yarn. Or, it is laid out to be made into a blanket stuffing. Finally, they're sent back to the customers. 

Patton said they get wool from a lot of different breeds. But personally, her own family raises around 45 Icelandic sheep. 

"I've always liked sheep. When I was 13 I told my mom I wanted to knit a sweater but first, we needed some sheep," Patton said. 

"I really enjoy working with sheep [...] so this is almost a dream job, this is fun," Claire Quandt said. 

The Fiber Mill is the only wool mill in Nebraska, and now is part of the Nebraska Passport Program, too.