Cornell Professional Sheep Shearing School at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
This two day in-person training is for shearers with prior experience who are looking to make shearing a profession. Instruction will include the shearing pattern, blade sharpening techniques, physical fitness, hand piece maintenance, shearing resources from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), and more.
Event Details
Date
November 11 - November 12, 2022
Time
8:30am-4:00pm
Location
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Host
Cornell UniversityDoug
320-583-7281
Cornell Professional Sheep Shearing School at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

SAVE THE DATE
Cornell Sheep Shearing School
Friday November 11th, 2022 & Saturday November 12th, 2022
Daily Class 8:30am-4:00pm
A two-day sheep shearing school will be held at Cornell University Ithaca, NY on November 11-12, 2022.
- Instruction will include the shearing pattern, blade sharpening techniques, physical fitness, hand piece maintenance, shearing resources from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), and more.
- This school is focused on shearers with prior experience that are looking to make shearing a profession.
The school is sponsored by the Cornell University Sheep and Goat Program
Instructors:
- Primary Instructor: Doug Rathke -Lambshoppe LLC, Minnesota. Rathke is one of the top shearers and shearing instructors in the United States and has had extensive training from the New Zealand Wools. Rathke is skilled at both machine and blade shearing. Rathke has represented the USA Shearing Team for the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing Championships in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2019. In addition to competing in hand blade shearing, machine shearing, and wool handling Doug also serves as a USA representative to the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing Council.
- Aaron Loux - Aaron Loux's Professional Sheep Shearing, Massachusetts. Professional Sheep Shearer for over 15 years, trained in New Zealand, Australia, and Wales.
- Jim Baldwin - Foxfire farms, Ithaca, NY. Professional Sheep Shearer for over 24 years. Raising Merino Sheep for 30 years.
The registration cost is $225 per person. The class will be limited to the first 12 registrants to ensure a quality training experience for all.
Deadline for registration is October 21, 2022.
Shearing Equipment: Bring your own gear. It is recommended that you have a minimum of 3 medium-beveled combs and 9 cutters (3 cutters per comb). If you need gear or have any questions If you need gear or have any questions regarding shearing equipment, contact Doug at 320-583-7281
Upcoming Events
Organic Farmer-to-Farmer Meetings
April 4, 2023 : NYCO Field Crop Meeting
Geneva, NY
NYCO's field crops meeting has been rescheduled to April 4th, 2023 from 9 am - 1 pm. This meeting is free for all farmers to attend and participants are encouraged to bring a dish to pass for lunch.
How to Value Your Business, Planning for the Future
April 4, 2023
April 11, 2023
April 18, 2023
This three-week workshop series for livestock-based businesses will be held online. It is specifically targeted at existing meat, fiber, small ruminant dairy, or other livestock value-added processing businesses. A team of Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators will provide tools to assess your existing business and to assist in understanding options for business expansion or transfer. The workshop series will also be of benefit to livestock value-added business startups and is of relevance to both owners and employees in management positions.
Business Planning for Beginning Farmers
April 10, 2023
Jamestown, NY
Business plans for farms are often viewed as yet another chore to do and usually result in dusty binders taking up space on the office shelf. This discussion based workshop will walk you through the mental exercise of planning your future agricultural adventures. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the use of a business plan, the essential components, and a "to-do" list of things to think about to inform future planning efforts. Additional opportunities for one-on-one follow up will also be offered. FSA Borrower credits may be made available for your attendance. This workshop will be taught by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Team Leader and Farm Business Management Specialist from the Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program with Cornell Cooperative Extension. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science and Ag Business Management, and owns and operates a diversified livestock farm.
$5 per person REGISTER