Sheep Shearing Demonstration (2:00 PM)

with Kevin Ford and Emily Chamelin

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is pleased to have Kevin Ford of Charlemont, Massachusetts and Emily Chamelin of Westminster, Maryland as our sheep shearing demonstrators. Kevin will be demonstrating the art and technique of blade shearing. Kevin is a professional shearer and first began to shear on a visit to his ancestral Ireland in 1975. In 1991 after achieving blade shearer certification from the New Zealand Wool Board, he sheared for two months in the sheds of New Zealand’s South Island. He now shears more than 5,000 sheep and goats a year from New England to the Carolinas. He has taught numerous workshops and his book Shearing Day was published in 1999. Kevin was also the National Champion Blade Shearer in 2010.

A Carroll County resident and full time shearer, Emily has devoted her life to providing quality shearing to all shepherds in our region. Having attended the Maryland Sheep Shearing School in high school, Emily took her new skills out on the road and a career was born. Emily shears several thousand sheep and angora goats every year. She also continues to improve her shearing skills by attending and teaching at shearing schools in the region as well as competing in shearing contests all over the world. Emily shears with both a machine as well as with the blades and was the National Champion Blade Shearer in 2011.

There will be a general discussion of sheep, wool and sheep handling. There will also be a sheep shearing contest on Sunday. Please drop by to enjoy the show and ask questions.

Thank you to Peter Vorac of Voracs Suffolks for providing sheep for our competition.