Sheep shearing school coming March 14

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A sheep shearing school hosted by the Indiana Sheep Association will take place March 14 at Purdue University’s Sheep Unit.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5480 ASREC Lane, West Lafayette. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.

The event is sponsored by the Indiana Sheep and Wool Market Development Program.

“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.”

Beginner and advanced classes are both available.

The advanced class will be offered to shearers who have had instruction on shearing previously, can shear a sheep on their own and have the intent of shearing professionally. Attendees can fine-tune their techniques.

All instructors will be experienced shearers, including organizer and master shearer Matt Kennedy, whose family members have been shearing school instructors for generations.

For beginners, a registration fee of $50 will cover the cost of the workshop, lunch and required shearing equipment, though participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment if they have it.

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

The beginner and advanced registration forms can be found at indianasheep.com and must be mailed to Emma O’Brien, ISA executive director, at 6840 S. 280 E. Lebanon, IN 46052.

The completed registration form with the fee enclosed must be received by March 10 or before spots fill up. As part of registration, attendees must sign a liability waiver.