Shearing Day Roundup

Hello dear readers, welcome back to the farm. Welcome to the new folks! Please excuse the sheep, they are nekked and feeling a bit embarrassed about their state of undress at the moment.

Shearing 2026 is in the bag!

Our original date was for last Sunday, but a very cold and snowy front decided it was going to come thru. I was concerned about the driving conditions for my crew and the fact that having freshly shorn sheep in 4 degree temps after a stressful day was going to be too much on them.

Everything was shifted to Tuesday, when it was going to be sunny and in the 60’s. A much better choice for everyone.

Our day started at 5am, with the final food prep stuff to get finished. I still had to shred the barbacoa and get it into the crockpot to heat while we were in the barn. Along with putting together the charcuterie board, getting the final set up on the table, and cleaning up the resulting mess I made.

Boy child went up and pulled the water out of the sheep pen. It’s better for them when their stomachs are empty prior to shearing. Their last hay delivery was 4pm the day before.

Boy child being goofy with Leo

Shearer messaged she would be a bit earlier than expected, so a round of text messages was sent out to the folks coming to help out.

We kicked off around 10am with the shearer setting up and the first sheep on the floor by 10:30.

Everyone was shorn by 2:30.

We had a few bobbles. One of my big wethers decided he had had enough and took me for a drag thru the barn before finally wedging himself between the pen and the wall. Boy child had to extricate him. However, I did not fall down this year!!

I was only able to keep 4 sheep coated for the year. They all seemed to think leaving thru the barbed wire and sheading coats was a fun thing to do. Some of the coats I was able to fix, however, most were so bad they had to be tossed. I still need to try and figure out replacements and see if I can keep them intact and coated this year.

The fleeces were gorgeous though. I just wish they were not so full of VM basically making them unsellable. Going to be a tight year without that income.

This year was also pretty short on help. Several of the folks who could make it Sunday could not on Tuesday. Needless to say, it was very busy for all of us, and pretty much nonstop working.

This year’s crew consisted of Sherry, Marilyn, Deanna, Anna, Steven, Boy child and me.

Thank you to my crew! I am so grateful for all your help! This day would not have happened without you. You guys are the best!

When things wrapped up in the barn it was party time! I set out a taco bar of barbacoa and my homemade taco ground beef. I tried to cover all the sides but forgot the onion and left the lettuce in the fridge. We also had the above-mentioned charcuterie, ranch beans, along with salsas and guacamole, and salted caramel brownies for dessert.

Everyone ate to the point of bursting, then we sat around for a while talking, and resting our weary backs.

The sheep stayed in the barn until yesterday morning. This way I can make sure they acclimate to their new body temperature without being in any wind or wet. Not that we have had any. It’s been sunny and in the high 70’s all week. I can also monitor them for any infections or illness that may result from shearing.

Everyone is good though!!! And very happy to be back outside again.

Poor Leo was having the hardest time of all of them. He was pacing and banging the pen in a serious effort to get out. So, I let him out to wander around. He was following me around when I was feeding, watering and so on, like a puppy. I left him outside to chow down on the hay bale and that was fine until he realized he was alone and set about yelling until I got him back into the barn so he could see the rest of the flock.

I am sure he is still looking for, and very much missing his Brandy horse.

That is Leo above. I am always amazed at how much lighter he gets every year. He use to be a deep dark moorit brown. Now he is a light fawn with considerably larger white patches.

Sorry there are not more pictures. It was very busy and I just didn’t have time to take more.

I am grateful this particular chore is done for another year. I can use a break from the stress in causes in the sheep and myself. Now I just need to have my back stop being angry at me, and my hips and knees to quit complaining!

Blessed Be!

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Your paid membership or donation to the farm goes to support the sheep here. Every dollar goes back into the animals in some way. Either thru hay purchase, shearing, the occasional vet bill, or the extras they need such as floating tank heaters, coats, minerals, or salt blocks.

I am grateful for your financial support to help keep the farm going. Thank you for your blessing!