SWANTON, Ohio—Want to learn how to shear sheep? And maybe find ways to market the wool from a small herd? On Saturday, March 27, Central State University (CSU) is partnering with H.O.O.V.E.S., a veteran-run non-profit livestock farm, to help farmers learn that skill. The workshop is free.

Participants will:

*Learn how to shear a sheep

*How to protect the quality of the fleece while shearing

*How to skirt the fleece

*How to spin and dye wool

H.O.O.V.E.S. which works holistically with their animals was gifted with a herd of 14 sheep. Amanda Held, executive director of H.O.O.V.E.S., asked Michelle Wallace, NW Ohio ANR Extension Educator with CSU, to help them learn. 

“It is expensive to hire somebody to shear your sheep,” Wallace said. “If you’re on a large farm with a large number of sheep it makes sense to hire that out because it is time-consuming. But if you have a small herd it is an added cost that cuts into your revenue. 

A small farmer does not have many options for selling their wool, Wallace explained. Many compost it. But that wool could be a valuable niche product wool to market to spinners, knitters, and quilters who want to make it into a small-scale value-added product.

Phil Hollingstead, SE Ohio ANR Extension Educator, will be the sheep shearer. But he only plans on shearing one sheep. Then the participants will be invited to try their hand at shearing while Hollingstead offers advice.

“I want to pass along the easiest techniques possible to these producers to minimize stress on the animals and the product while not wasting time. We’ll offer small little tips and tricks but we’re not going to be perfectionists. We’re wanting to give them a good framework to build on in the future.”

Hollingstead will show participants how to get good quality wool off their sheep, not all chopped up, and how shear animals safely, so they’re not nicking the sheep.

The presenters will demonstrate how to skirt the fleece, which is the process of removing the dirt, oil, manure, any wool from the face, neck, and legs that is too short for processing, Wallace said. 

Andrew Kimmey, Toledo Fiber Artist, will demonstrate spinning and dying.

This event may present an opportunity for people with small sheep herds to network with spinners who are looking for wool, Wallace said. 

“When you own a small farm you want to make as much money from as you can,” she said. “Meat is one of the ways to make money from sheep and milk is also a specialty product. But if you’re a small farm you have to take a lot of extra steps to make money from the wool. For a lot of farmers, it’s not worth It would be nice if this event could generate interest in networking between small sheep farmers and artisans.”

The workshop will take place Saturday, March 27, 2021, from 11 am until 2 pm at H.O.O.V.E.S., 4055 Wilkins Rd., Swanton, OH 43558. 

For more information, contact Wallace at mwallace@centralstate.edu.