Sheep Shearing School
Time to think about the UCCE Sheep Shearing School!
REGISTRATION FOR 2025 IS OPEN
The UCCE Sheep Shearing School was created by UCCE Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor John M. Harper almost 30 years ago and has been hosted at many venues. For many years, the venue was at the Hopland Research & Extension Center but now is back on private ranches to ensure students have adequate sheep to shear. John Harper is the coordinator and one of the four instructors. This year's school(s) will be in held in beautiful Clearlake Oaks, California.
Date: April 7-11, 2025
Location: 1100 Sulpher Bank Drive, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423.
Learn to Shear Sheep The New Zealand Way!
Shearing school participants will learn to shear sheep using the methods taught by certified instructors of the National Shearing Program. This five-day hands-on course, jointly sponsored by the National Sheep Shearing Program and the University of California Cooperative Extension in Mendocino County, is intended for both the beginner as well as the advanced shearer. It is especially designed to teach you how to shear sheep so that you will maintain a quality wool clip and minimize stress to both you and the sheep. In addition, you will learn about the shearing machine, how to care for and maintain the hand piece and how to sharpen combs and cutters. You will also learn how to handle the fleece once it’s off the sheep including the proper way to throw it onto a table for skirting.
Enrollment is Easy!
Due to how popular our shearing school registration is on a first come, first in basis, but we also give preference to California and Mendocino/Lake County residents. The Wool Classing School is not difficult to get into. We will be holding the Wool Classing School separate from the Shearing School so that people do both.
Cost will be $850 for the Shearing School and does not include your transportation, lodging and food.
Below is the registration link:
https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=42467
The registration link will close automatically once the number of students has successfully registered. There will be a wait list link for those who would like to sign up just in case of any cancellations received. We will only notify those who has competed the wait list survey link.
Shearing is hard physical work, and we suggest that you prepare prior to attending by stretching and doing light to moderate exercise recommended in the registration package. Successful participants have included both men and women ranging in age from 15 to 65.
If you have any other questions please call the UC Extension Office at (707)463-4495 ask for John Harper.
Hope to see you in our next class.
Sheep Shearing School 2023
UC Cooperative Extension Mendocino would like to thank of all those who attended the class and our sheep shearing instructors for their time to pass the skills and knowledge to the class of 2023.
