Meridian Jacobs

View Original

Shearing at the Timm Ranch

Last weekend I spent a day skirting fleeces with some of the Farm club members. We were at the Timm Ranch not far from here.IMG_6463             After a rainy and overcast week the sunny day was a welcome change and the ranch was a beautiful place to spend the day. IMG_6466

DSC_9723              The sheep were in pens when we got there.DSC_9730               We helped to move them toward the lane into the barn.IMG_6382              Most of the lambs were born much earlier but there were a few late lambs too.

The sheep are a ranch blend that were originally bred from Targhee, Polypay, and Rambouillet sheepIMG_6403             The shearer works in the old barn where there are signs of what shearing would have been like in the "old days" when there would have been hundreds of sheep to shear in the day.

DSC_9773                                                              We brought each fleece to the skirting tables...DSC_9736            ...and inspected them for strength, length, and VM (vegetable matter)

DSC_9744

My goal was to get at least 200 pounds, the minimum weight to send it to the mill I am using for this wool.

IMG_6418                  I ended up with 270 pounds of beautiful fleece.IMG_6441

image1

DSC_9780               We dragged it on a tarp over to the baler...DSC_9785                    ...where the shearer baled it.                  IMG_6462                       This is our 270 pound bale in the truck. I am grateful to Farm Club members for helping out on this day. It not only made the work easier, but it was fun to spend time together.

IMG_6427

A link to last year's Timm Ranch yarn is here.