Sheep Shearing School and Wool Science and Handling Program Set for Nov. 13-15

If you are interest in learning more about sheep shearing or the science of wool and how to handle it, then plan to attend the North Dakota Sheep Shearing School on Nov. 13-15 or the Wool Science and Wool Handling Program on Nov. 14-15 at North Dakota State University’s Hettinger Research Extension Center.

The topics to be covered during the sheep shearing school include:

• Professional shearing patterns
• Tagging and eyeing
• Equipment maintenance and repair
• Wool handling and preparation

Instructors for the school are Curt Olson, a Montana professional sheep shearer, and Wade Kopren, a professional sheep shearer from South Dakota.

The school is open to those who have experience in sheep shearing and those who do not. To allow for one-on-one instruction, registration is being limited. The registration deadline is Nov. 9.

The registration fee is $125. The fee includes tuition, a handbook and DVD. Topics to be covered during the wool science and wool-handling program include:

• Wool fiber growth, development and production
• Objective wool measuring
• Genetic selection programs
• Wool contamination and handling practices
• Wool classing, packaging, labeling and marking
• Hands-on wool grading

The instructor is Bob Padula, American Sheep Industry Association wool quality consultant.

The fee for the program is $35, which includes tuition and materials. For more information on both, contact Chris Schauer at (701) 567-4323 or e-mail christopher.schauer@ndsu.edu. Entry fees for both can be sent to the Hettinger REC, P.O. Box 1377, Hettinger, ND 58639.

The sheep shearing school is sponsored by the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association and NDSU Hettinger REC. The same organizations, along with the American Sheep Industry Association, are sponsoring the wool science and wool handling program.

Schauer, director of the Hettinger REC, is coordinating both events.

NDSU Agriculture Communication