Annual sheep shearing school to be held at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A sheep shearing school will be held Feb. 22 at Purdue University’s Sheep Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Indiana Sheep Association is hosting the event, which is sponsored by the Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Program.

Anyone regardless of experience level is invited to learn the skills and methods required to successfully shear a sheep.

In addition to the beginner class, an advanced class will be offered this year for those with previous instruction on shearing, can shear a sheep on their own and have the intent of shearing professionally.

“With the addition of the advanced shearers’ class, we hope to assist promising shearers with fine-tuning techniques that will decrease stress on the shearer and increase the number of head they can do in a day,” said Gerald Kelly, manager of the Purdue Sheep Center.

“We also aim to give demonstrations and hands-on practice for setting up sharpening equipment and grinders and real experience sharpening combs and cutters.”

All instructors will be experienced shearers, including co-organizer and master shearer Matt Kennedy, whose family has been instructing shearing schools for generations.

“There is a continuous need for young and new sheep shearers as the older generations retire,” Kelly said.

“Producers and 4-Hers benefit from being able to shear their own sheep efficiently instead of trying to find a professional shearer. The Purdue folks are happy to help the industry just as we have for the last 150-plus years.”

A registration fee of $50 will cover the cost of the workshop, lunch and required shearing equipment for beginners. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment if possible.

The class will be capped at 20 beginners and five advanced participants.

Registration forms — found at http://indianasheep.com — must be mailed to ISA Executive Director Emma O’Brien at 6840 S 280 E, Lebanon, IN 46052.

The completed registration form with the fee enclosed must be received by Feb. 10. As part of registration, attendees must sign a liability waiver.

Any questions about this event should be directed to O’Brien at executive@indianasheep.com.