At the Woolly Mammals Farmstead, you’ll have the opportunity to witness sheep shearing demos from our local shearers: Jonathan Hearne and Charlotte Crittenden. Nathan Justice will teach about the setup, tools and care that is needed for shearing. Once the fleece is shorn, learn the fascinating process of turning raw fiber into yarn by Kendal Nicely. See if you have what it takes to be a fiber farmer during the busiest and most rewarding day of the year, harvesting your gold after a year of blood, sweat and tears. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

1. Skirting the Fiber: Skirting is the process of removing any undesirable parts from the fleece. This includes removing any soiled or matted sections. The goal is to keep only the clean, high-quality wool.
2. Cleaning the Fiber: After skirting, the wool is thoroughly cleaned. This involves removing dirt, grease, and other impurities. The cleaned wool is then ready for further processing.
3. Processing Techniques: During the demos, you’ll see various techniques used to process the fiber such as dying, carding, spinning, and combing.

Did you know that it only takes a professional shearer less than 5 minutes to shear a sheep? Get ready for an educational and woolly adventure at Shearing Day! Don’t forget to bring your curiosity and enthusiasm! The animals are patiently awaiting their much-needed hair cut for the hot summer weather coming up. 

Our dedicated team is getting everything ready for Shearing Day!  Can’t wait to see you there!

Event Rules/suggestions:

-bring plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

-wear something appropriate for the weather and something you don't mind getting dirty,

mud/rain boots suggested

-be courteous to others in the tour

-listen to the shearers and helpers for your safety as well as the animals'.

-Do NOT feed the animals. Due to the positioning of the animals, they can not eat 24hrs before shearing.

-use hand sanitizer before and after interacting with the animals or fiber.

-wear masks if worried about fiber particle inhalation, it could present a health risk. Some will be available to you.

-keep the premises tidy and clean from trash.

-please treat the animals and staff with respect and kindness, the animals are already stressed about being shorn, keep chaos and noise to a minimum.

-children must be monitored and within arms reach of their adult at all times. Shears and processing tools are VERY sharp and dangerous if handled incorrectly. There will also by dye on the property which can stain clothing and provide health risk if ingested.

-park in designated parking areas only

we have the right to ask anyone to leave the premises if they are being disruptive or unsafe.