WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Program is sponsoring a shearing school, hosted by the Indiana Sheep Association (ISA) on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Purdue University’s Animal Science Research and Education Center sheep unit.
The statewide workshop will take place at 5480 ASREC Lane, West Lafayette, and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m.
“There is a continuous need for new sheep shearers as the older generations retire,” said Gerald Kelly, manager of the Purdue sheep unit and shearing school co-organizer. “The Purdue folks are happy to help the industry just as we have for more than 150 years.”
Anyone is welcome to register, regardless of experience level, to learn the skills and methods required to successfully shear a sheep. This year, ISA will be offering an advanced class to run alongside the beginner class, for shearers who have completed previous instruction, can shear a sheep on their own, and have the intent to shear professionally. All instructors will be experienced shearers, including organizer and master shearer Mat Kennedy, whose family members have been great instructors for shearing schools going back to Kennedy’s grandfather.
“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,” Kelly said. “We also aim to give demonstrations and hands-on practice for setting up sharpening equipment and grinders and real experience sharpening combs and cutters.”
For beginners, a registration fee of $50 will cover the cost of the workshop, lunch and required shearing equipment. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment, if they have it. The class will be capped at 20 beginners and five advanced participants. There is no fee for advanced participants.
Registration forms, found at http://indianasheep.com, must be mailed to ISA Executive Director Emma O’Brien at 6840 South 280 East, Lebanon, Indiana 46052. The completed registration form with the fee enclosed must be received by Feb. 1, 2024. As part of registration, attendees must sign a liability waiver.
About the Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Program
The Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Program was created to support educational, promotional and research efforts involving sheep in Indiana. Funds for the council are collected from the sale of all sheep in Indiana — 0.5% of the net market price of each sheep sold. All funds collected by stockyards, sale managers, producers and others should be sent to the council’s business office at Purdue. More information is on the program’s website: https://indianasheep.com/checkoff.php.
