Nestled in the rolling mountains of Cameron County, Pennsylvania, Bonnie Troemel has turned her love of animals into a thriving business. Her 12-acre farm, Mountain View Sheep Farm, is dedicated to raising sheep and creating high-quality, handcrafted products. As the first featured maker of 2025, Bonnie is the perfect example of the dedication and craftsmanship that makes the Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region so special.
From Christmas Tree Farms to Sheep Pastures
Born in the South, Bonnie grew up on her father’s Christmas tree farm surrounded by the country. Seven years ago, she moved back to Pennsylvania and has been running her sheep farm in Emporium for the past five years. Bonnie jokes, “I was born and raised in the country, and now I’m a country bumpkin in the mountains.” Though she always loved animals, it wasn’t until 15 years ago that she fell in love with sheep—a passion that is now part of her daily life.
A Love for Animals and a Passion for Craft
Bonnie began her creative journey as a fiber artist before expanding into soap making.
“It kinda all started off with always having a love of animals.” Bonnie shares. “Then I had a desire to spin, so I taught myself how to spin, then I taught myself how to weave, and I wanted something more.” She continues, “I bred my sheep and thought, I’m gonna look into making sheep milk soap.”
Bonnie learned firsthand from a seasoned artisan who had been making sheep milk soap for 50 years. “I called her and I said, ‘I wanna make soap,’ and she says, ‘Pack your bags and come on down. You’ll be here for three weeks.’”
The Benefits of Sheep Milk in Skincare
“People are realizing all the properties and nutrients that sheep milk has that no other livestock has in their milk,” Bonnie explains. Compared to goat or cow milk, sheep milk contains higher levels of protein, calcium, and essential minerals. It is rich in vitamins A, B, and E, as well as phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium making it an excellent natural moisturizer—perfect for sensitive skin.
Sheep’s milk contains more fat than goat’s milk, meaning the same volume of sheep milk has almost twice the moisturizing nourishment for your skin. Another interesting fact about sheep’s milk is thanks to its small fat globules, sheep’s milk is easier to digest when consumed.
Crafting Unique, High-Quality Products
Bonnie’s soap-making process follows the cold-process method, blending her farm’s fresh sheep’s milk with coconut oil, sodium hydroxide, and purified water. She formulates her own scents, with 95% of them being unique blends she designed herself. Her best-selling Honey & Oats soap is made with honey from her son’s beehives and organic oats that she grinds herself.
Beyond functionality, Bonnie’s soaps are also works of art. Many are created using intricately designed molds, including some hand-carved by an artisan in Poland. “Most of my molds, I try to use ones that are unique looking…they are very intricate and very pretty.” These beautifully detailed soap bars can serve as both practical skincare and fragrant decorations.
Quality is a priority for Mountain View Sheep Farm and Bonnie does a lot of research and testing of her products. “Every bar of soap and every lotion bar that I make, I always make a little tester and try it on me before I sell it…I have very sensitive skin.” Bonnie continues to share that her sensitive skin is one reason why she started making fragrance-free options.
Making a Difference—One Bar at a Time
For Bonnie, the most rewarding part of her work is helping people and sharing the benefits of sheep’s milk. 
She recalls a touching story of a mother who approached her at a market, sharing how her child, who had extremely sensitive skin, avoided baths due to negative reactions to soaps. After trying Bonnie’s fragrance-free soap, the mother was elated. “It was the first time that [my child] has ever enjoyed taking a bath.” Inspired by this, Bonnie now creates fun-shaped soaps for children, sometimes even including a bath toy.
A Scent That Brings Back Memories
Among the many scents (or unscented bars) she has created, Christmas Tree Farm holds a special place in Bonnie’s heart.
“I grew up on a Christmas tree farm,” she reminisces. “When I finally made that scent, I stood there just smelling the soap, zoning everything else out. I just reminds me of running up down the aisles of the Christmas tree farm when it was Christmastime, and people were coming in buying their trees”.”
Community and Connection
When asked what she loves most about being a maker in Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region, Bonnie doesn’t hesitate to say, “The people.”
She cherishes the connections she’s built with customers. “I have met more amazing people in the past five years of living up here,” she says, recounting a moment when she was recognized as ‘the sheep lady’ while visiting Sinnemahoning State Park with her grandson.
Bonnie actively participates in local markets and festivals, including the Cameron County Farmers Market (May–October), the Elk Expo in Benezette, and events at Sizerville, Sinnemahoning, and Parker Dam State Parks. Her soaps can also be found at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center, Benezette Wines, and even a shop in Harrisburg—with plans to expand into a shop in Coudersport soon.
Where to Find Mountain View Sheep Farm
To explore Bonnie’s products and learn more about her work, visit her website at Mountain View Sheep Farm or follow Mountain View Sheep Farm on Facebook.
Through passion, dedication, and a love for both animals and craftsmanship, Bonnie Troemel continues to make a lasting impact with Mountain View Sheep Farm.
Stay tuned for next month’s Maker of the Month feature as we continue to celebrate the incredible artisans of Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors!
