Greg White is the only man to ever win the Sally Bill Memorial award at the San Juan County Fair, and he has won the honor twice.

The award, named after a master spinner from Orcas, is for the best hand-spun item, meaning that White had to sheer the sheep, wash the wool, spin the yarn all by himself, and all that happened before he even started knitting.

“Actually three-fourths of the work is done before you get to knitting,” White said.

White, an avid knitter, is no stranger to the fair. He has participated in the Sheep to Shawl every year since 2009. He jokes that he is one of the newer members since the Orcas members have historically been in the group for many years.

This year he is entering a sweater, but not just any sweater. The item was created over the span of several years throughout five states in various forms of transportation including a train, plane and boat.

It also has sentimental value. White calls it a story sweater. For instance there is a black band of ravens on one arm in honor of his father in law who passed away recently.

The sweater is also special because it was made from White’s own Shetland sheep.

“I like knowing the shed and where the wool comes from,” he said.

In addition to the sweater, White is entering a purple hat that his daughter, Erin, helped to dye.