Shearing 2015

Although we had a cold start the weather for Shearing Day turned out great and a lot of people came out to watch and to buy fleeces. Ewes before shearing.  Farm Club members handled all the jobs. I don't have photos of all of them but FC photographer, Dona, will probably have some for me to add to another post. That's Stephany and Gynna who wrangled sheep all morning.  Alison and others helped skirt fleeces that people purchased.  Here is a view from above. Carol and Amy are in place to sweep between sheep and to let the shorn sheep out the gate.  John Sanchez has been our shearer for several years. The fleeces are always beautiful and the sheep look great too. He's prompt and he's fast too. He finished everything in 3 hours.Looking at this photo I wish that I'd done a series of photos of footwear. There are a lot of stylish boots in our Farm Club.

 Jackie kept track of names and cards...

...while Mary scooped the fleeces into bags. All Farm Club members rotated tasks and helped all day--answering dozens of questions from visitors and also helping in the shop. Thanks to everyone: Alene, Alison, Amy, Betty, Carol, Dona, Gynna, Jackie, Janis, Joy, Kathleen, Lisa, Mary, Peggy, Polly, and Stephany (and to Judy for joining us).Jimmy is one of two wethers (castrated male) who was well marked so that the shearer would be told to watch for different parts while shearing off the belly wool.

 Amaryllis was probably glad that she wasn't on the shearing list.

This is what Dan made out of the pressure tank we had to replace a couple of months ago. It provided a welcome place to warm hands. Maggie behaved admirably all day.Rusty kept watch.Ginny was in the barn with us but had her own pen to keep her out of trouble.

  Bags of fleeces for me to sort through. 

This is how I felt at the end of the day.