Sheep shearing schools offered

WASHINGTON, Pa. — If you are interested in learning more about sheep shearing and basic sheep management, you might be interested in the Penn State Extension Livestock Team’s sheep shearing workshops.

These workshops are being held throughout Pennsylvania and are co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Association.

Dates, locations

Upcoming workshops are scheduled for the following dates:

• May 1-2, Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania; 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. both days
• May 7-8, Grove City, Pennsylvania, 5-8:30 p.m., both nights
• Aug. 31/Sept. 1, Penn State main campus  5-8:30 p.m., both nights.

The workshops will cover professional shearing patterns; tagging and eyeing; equipment maintenance and repair; wool handling and preparation; and basic sheep care. The school is geared toward beginning shearers, but others may attend.

Registration

To allow for as much one-on-one instruction as possible, registration is limited to the first 10 registrants per site. The registration fee is $85 ($60 for a second person from the same farm or family). The fee includes tuition and handouts. Participants are asked to wear work clothes and bring leather gloves. Refreshments and all shearing equipment are furnished.

At the Washington County (Scenery Hill) site, you may bring a own bag lunch or you may purchase lunch for $7/person/day.

Register online at: http://extension.psu.edu/courses/sheep-shearing-instruction. Credit cards are accepted online. Instructions for check payments are on the registration site.

If you are unable to use the Internet call the Greene County office at 724-627-3745 and they can help you register.