Shearing

Last Thursday Jake Michael from Nyowee Poll Merino Stud came in to give our sheep their annual haircut. Students from Mrs Lowe’s Year 10 Ag Class and Merino Wethers Studio, were on hand to learn how to work in a shearing shed, being responsible for collecting and throwing the wool (not as easy as it sounds) and ensuring that the fleeces were cleaned and sorted into different categories. Some students even had a go with the shears and did a great job removing the valuable fleece from the sheep. We also had visitors from the Balaklava Community Children’s Centre and Balaklava Primary School to see how a busy (albeit very small) shearing shed runs. Mr Noack’s Year 7 Ag class also came along for a crack at the shears! A big thank you to Jake for helping out with this very important management task and showing our students all the different aspects of shearing, some fun and some not so much, but all part of the experience.

Once the sheep were finished it was the Alpaca's turn! Alpaca shearing is certainly an experience and a big thank you to the Chapmans for coming in and performing this task. Alpaca shearing is a major production, with the alpacas receiving a toe trim and teeth procedure at the same time. If you live in Balaklava, you may have heard the protests! Again, a very important job and all the alpacas left the shearing shed looking fabulous.

A big thanks to David Pratt, who booked in all the shearing and worked really hard all day getting the shearing done.

Produce

Lambs will be sent off for processing in batches. I will contact you when your order is ready to be collected. I still have approximately two lambs available if there is anyone else still interested. There will also be a variety of cuts of lamb available for purchase for those not wanting to purchase an entire side. Please contact me for more details if this is something you may be interested in.

Hay has been cut, raked and rolled and is really for sale! Please contact me for varieties and prices.

Colleen Lowe

Science/Math/Agriculture Teacher

Student Engagement Coordinator