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Tony Troendle wins
Contest
West Branch, Mich.
– The fifth Ogemaw County FFA Sheep Shearing Contest was
held August 19, 2011 at the Ogemaw County Fair. 16 professional
shearers and one junior shearer competed for jackpot prizes and
five titles: Top Overall Shearer, Best Shorn Pen, Fastest Time,
Best Michigan Shearer and Top Junior Shearer.
Tony Troendle of Rapid City, South Dakota, traveled to the contest
to defend his 2010 title – with great success. He earned
the Top Overall Shearer and Fastest Time awards for the second
year in a row.
The Best Shorn Pen title was won by Alex Moser of Lester, Iowa,
who has been shearing for 16 years and is the vice-president of
the American Sheep Shearers Council. The Best Shorn Pen is calculated
by board score (second strokes during shearing) and shearing cleanliness
(smoothness and lack of cuts).
Doug Hoolsema earned the Top Michigan Shearer plaque. Hoolsema
resides in Melvin with his wife Bonnie and has been shearing sheep
for 45 years.
Noah Matchett of Charlevoix, Michigan, won the Top Junior Shearer
title. Matchett enjoys shearing his family’s sheep with
his brother Isaac, who competed in the professional contest.
A traveling team award was also presented to the top three shearers
of the same state. This year the recipients were Hoolsema, Jim
Bristol (West Branch) and Sy Caryl (Davison) of Michigan.
In addition to the professional and junior rounds of sheep shearing,
young members of the audience were invited to participate in the
“pee-wee” round. Each child partnered with a professional
shearer to draw the shearing pattern with chalk on animals already
shorn.
The Ogemaw Heights and Whittemore-Prescott FFA chapters would
like to express their appreciation for great community support.
Sponsors of the contest were Charles Wangler Sales, Doug Hoolsema
Shearing, Fernelius Chevrolet, Heiniger Shearing Equipment, Jim
Bristol Shearing, Mary Kartes of Farm Bureau Insurance, Michigan
Sheep Breeders Association, Michigan Sheep Shearers Association,
Mid-States Wool Growers, Miller Construction and Equipment, Miller
Feed Inc., Ogemaw Agricultural Society, Ogemaw Veterinary Clinic,
Roger Noble of Farm Bureau Insurance, Team Hodges, West Branch
Veterinary Services and Willard’s Equipment.
#30#
For more information about the Ogemaw County FFA Sheep Shearing
Contest, contact Elaine Bristol at elainembristol@gmail.com or
(989) 329-9551.
2011 Ogemaw FFA Shearing Contest Participants
Carol Densmore demonstrates
carding
Photos from the Small Flock meeting at Ugly
Dog Farm:
Letty Klein discusses wool qualities
Michigan shepherds and fiber enthusiasts
gathered on Saturday June, 4th in Davison, Michigan at Ugly Dog’s
Farm for a clinic and potluck lunch sponsored by the MSBA Small
Flock Committee. The weather cooperated with sunshine and a beautiful
summer breeze which kept everyone comfortable while we ate a great
meal showcasing the outstanding culinary talents of our shepherding
community… nobody left hungry.
Carol Densmore from Cross Wind Farm gave a great
presentation on processing fiber. She brought a wide array of
fiber processing tools which she used to demonstrate picking,
carding, blending, and various other fiber preparation techniques.
Attendees saw clean raw fleece go from “locks of wool”
to a product that was ready to spin.
Veterinarian, Dr. Heather Ludlam from Windswept
Farms spoke to the group about various sheep health concerns.
Dr. Ludlam’s presentation covered a wide range of topics
of great interest to sheep producers in Michigan including parasite
control, common diseases affecting sheep, and good management
techniques to minimize risk of introducing disease into a flock.
Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions to a practicing
sheep vet who has the experience of raising her own flock.
Cindy Ciecewa and Margaret Van Camp from Pitchfork
Ranch shared the nutrition program they have developed over the
years to produce their award winning Romney and Bluefaced Leicester
sheep. The “Pitchfork” grain recipes utilize roasted
whole soybeans to provide protein and digestible fat at levels
higher than can be obtained in soybean meal. They also discussed
the importance of mineral supplements and selenium in maintaining
good flock health.
Letty Klein from Pine Lane Karakuls discussed
“fleece character”. Many attendees brought fleeces
which Letty used to demonstrate uniformity, handle (feel of the
fleece), strength of the fiber, and many other things she has
to take into consideration when she is asked to judge a fleece
competition. Shepherds left with great insight on what to consider
when presenting a fleece for show or for sale.
In addition to all of the great food, and informative
presentations, a local spinning group was on hand to show off
their spinning talents and several floor looms owned by Rich Fitz
and Wayne Barber of Ugly Dog’s Farm were warped and on display.
The farm’s Border Cheviot, Clun Forest, and Merino sheep
were grazing in the pastures and entertainment was provided by
bouncing lambs and a gregarious peacock who competed for attention
with the presenters as he screamed and showed off his beautiful
tail feathers.
Article & pictures submitted by Rich
Fitz
Free
MSBA Promotional DVD Available
The Michigan Farm Bureau has produced a DVD for
the MSBA to be used for interesting folks in becoming sheep producers.
It is free to anyone that would like to use it to promote sheep
production. Contact Pat Tirrell for a copy. MSBA members should
have a copy so you can contact one of them to show it at appropriate
functions. You can use the directory on this website to find members
in your area.
Click here to view the video on line or view video here:
