Frost and fog. Medina, ND
On the road just after 6am we start the 350 mile drive out to Hettinger, ND. By the time we reach Medina, dawn breaks revealing a frost that sharpens the fences, trees and blades of grass. Cotton-like fog softens everything else. The contrast is fitting: we’re on our way to the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center where students from North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin and Alaska are gathering to learn the art of shearing sheep. With twenty students, this three day course is one of the largest sheep shearing schools in the country. Students and instructors will shear roughly 500 head of sheep, learn wool handling and preparation, equipment maintenance and repair.
New and old. The clippers on the left are considerably faster than the old-style blade shears on the right.
It doesn’t take much imagination to appreciate the difficulty in maneuvering a nearly 200 lb. sheep with one hand while operating razor-sharp clippers with the other. Shearing requires confidence – even fearlessness – in every stroke. Confidence combined with knowing the pattern that has been perfected by shearers around the world is what makes them fast. A good shearer can do about 200 head of sheep in an 8 hour day – the real pros can do even more. Curt Olson, one of the shearing instructors, has traveled to such places as England, Australia and New Zealand to learn, teach and compare shearing techniques. The pattern he teaches is one that he’s learned and it truly is all about efficiency – after all, when you’re paid by the head, speed and precision means more money in the shearer’s pocket.
During lunch, a young man from South Dakota challenges us on why anyone would care about a project like this. It is a blunt and outstanding question and one that I will continue to ask myself with everything we feature. Why would anyone care? Why would North Dakotans, South Dakotans, Montanans, care about a sheep shearing school in southwestern North Dakota? One answer: preservation of a culture and an industry. Sheep numbers in the U.S. have been declining since World War II. From 56.2 million head in 1942 to 5.7 million head today, for many years domestic wool producers could not compete with the worldwide surplus. Now that supply has balanced with demand, the U.S. has the potential to grow this industry but we have to bring crews of shearers in from New Zealand and Australia to help with the numbers we currently have. As the largest shearing school in the U.S., Hettinger, ND is playing a key role in preserving that industry.
Shearing Instructor Curt Olson shows students how to fan the wool back while shearing.
Shearing Instructor Wade Kopren
Shearing School Coordinator, Christopher Schauer of the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center skirts the fleece on the wool table.
Christopher Schauer, Director, Livestock Nutrition and Rangeland Science, coordinates the shearing school. Born and raised in Hettinger, Schauer received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and Master of Science degree in Ruminant Nutrition from North Dakota State University. In 2003, he earned his PhD in Ruminant Nutrition from Oregon State University. All that hard work paid off for Schauer when he was given the opportunity to return to his hometown of Hettinger as Director of HREC.
Shearers prefer moccasins to boots as they allow them better feel and control over the sheep.
Sheared sheep huddle together.
Video: Skirting fleece on the wool table
Video: Instructor Curt Olson explains a shearing technique
Posted by: Kevin Tobosa is a North Dakota-based photographer and the driving force behind the vision of North Dakota Realized. You can follow him online via: Twitter and his blog.
This was our son Clint’s second year attending this school. He came away with more that a few new techniques to try out. Curt and Wade teach the students in such a way that when they leave the 3 day school they are ready to go to work. And work he did! Clint sheared near 3000 sheep in his first year. We’d like to take this opportunity to let the people who organize this school know how much they are appreciated.
Kevin – you did an excellent job covering this event!!! The photography is exceptional, great videos, and the article is very well written!! Thank you so much for getting this information out.
This is about more than shearing sheep. What needs to be ‘realized’ is that as a nation, we need to strive to be more self sufficient. Our young people need to learn and appreciate the value of work. To depend on others to do our work for us only produces a weak, needy people.
It was encouraging to see the number of students double from last year. Proof – there are still people out there who aren’t afraid of hard work! Thank you!!
Dave, Shelly & Clint,
Your comment about self-sufficiency is an excellent point. While we can’t all learn every trade, it is important that our nation doesn’t lose these skills. I know I have more than a few pieces of wool clothing that keep me warm during the North Dakota winters!
Thanks for your comments!
Kevin Tobosa