Vermont Wool Handling and Shearing School Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, 2015 Merck Forest and Farm Center Rupert, Vermont
Day One Agenda: 8:30 am - 9:00 am: Meet, Greet and Coffee 9:00 am – 12:00 noon: Go Over Outline for the Weekend Shearing Day Preparations Why and When to Shear Advantages and disadvantages of shearing at different times of year Animal Preparation Keeping wool clean Bedding Coats Contaminants Are your sheep healthy? Site Preparation Space Shearer requirements Sheep requirements Placement of pens Power Help Equipment Plywood boards Brooms Wool bags Wool stand Skirting table Sheep handling and Welfare It’s Shearing Day! Who is in Charge? Shearing Order Fine white through colored wool Bellies and Top Knots Out Proper Way to Handle Fleece from Board Skirting? Advantages and disadvantages Skirting procedure Noon - 1:00 pm: Lunch and Entertainment
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Vermont Wool Handling and Shearing School
Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, 2015 Merck Forest and Farm Center Rupert, Vermont
Day One Agenda continued from page one... 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Shearing and Crutching Demos and Basics of Shearing Equipment Types Combs and cutters Set up and care Wool handling continues 2:00 to 4:00pm (Shearers leave to another area) Skirting Demo (hands on) Skirt your own fleece Wool Grades and Quality Critique and grading of fleeces Fleece Presentation Presentation for sale and contests Shearers: 2:00 to 4:00pm Fitness Basic Pattern Shearers Shear Sheep Starting with Long Blows Shearers Go Home and Recover! (Instructors come to my house for diner) Day Two Agenda: 8:30 am: Coffee! 9:00 am - 10:00 am: Shearing and Pattern Demo Discussion of Problem Areas from Yesterday 10 am – 12:00 noon; Shearing 12:00 noon – 1:30pm: Lunch and Entertainment and Grinding 1:30 pm - ? Shear all Remaining Sheep and Go Home!